Nong Nooch stands for beauty. The sprawling garden of 600 acres 20 minutes away from Pattaya City is indeed a spectacular tourist destination not only worthy of your visit but also something to tell about. Dubbed “an island of serenity,” Suan Nong Nooch, or Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is one of the biggest and most beautiful gardens in Southeast Asia. Aside from its 27 huge gardens, Nong Nooch also offers elephant shows, cultural shows and many other events. Nong Nooch also breeds several species of orchids and unusual plants and trees.

Huge tropical ferns are noticeable almost immediately upon arrival, and the fragrance of flowers enhances the relaxing ambiance. “We have about 2,500 species of palm trees including those that were locally bred here,” says Adul Chaiparb, Nong Nooch’s tour coordinator. It also has a man-made waterfall that perfectly complements the natural surroundings, while the Nong Nooch Lake serves as the feeding ground of birds and fish indigenous to this part of Thailand. Experience the tranquility of it all by paddling a canoe on the lake. Also in the garden is a village and a cultural center.

Watch a performance featuring regional dances daily. Get a glimpse also of other Thai traditions, including martial arts, religious ceremonies. See craftsmen making handicrafts. Highly entertaining is the elephant show. These beasts of burden are surpassingly nimble and can perform a number of tricks. They can even dance and give a massage! Three shows are held daily (10:15 a.m., 3 p.m. and 3.45 p.m.). Try the best of Thai and international cuisine as well as seafood specialties.

Visitors can stay in Thai-style cottage houses made of teak. Facilities also include a swimming pool. Transport services available. For more information and booking, call 038-429321 or 038-425748. USEFUL INFORMATION The garden is constantly developing and evolving, creating new interests for returning visitors. Nong Nooch garden is also dedicated to education, preservation and research as well as the conservation of the world’s largest palm collection, the largest variety of Orchids in Thailand and other tropical flora and fauna.

How the garden started In 1954, Khun Prasit and Khun Nongnooch Tansacha acquired 1,500 rais of rolling hills and valleys at Km. 163 on Sukhumvit Road to be used as fruit plantation. But as fate may have it, Khun Nongnooch, during her trip abroad, was inspired by the beauty of the world-renowned gardens and decided to make property a botanical conservation garden. The garden was later turned into a tourist attraction with Thai style houses, cottages, villas, seminar halls, banquet halls, swimming pool, restaurants, as well as other facilities. Opened to the public in 1980, the garden was named “Suan Nong Nooch” after Khun Nongnooch. Suan means garden. At present, more than 2,000 visitors from around the world visit the garden daily.