The 22-acre (89,000 m2) Botanical Garden was laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale, then the Governor of Madras and is maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The original purpose of the Botanical Gardens was purely academic: to promote and study the various floras in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park.
The Botanical Garden is lush, green, and well-maintained.
A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every May.
The garden has a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree. One can find a diverse variety of flora, ranging from rare trees (like the cork tree, the paper bark tree, and the monkey puzzle tree), flowering bushes and plants, ferns and orchids.
Another major attraction is an Italian-style garden bordering a pool.
The place is an ideal location for bird watching.
The garden is divided into six sections namely – 1. Lower Garden, 2. New Garden, 3. Italian Garden, 4. Conservatory, 5. Fountain Terrace and 6. Nurseries