Nong Nuch Tropical Botanical Garden, also called Orchid Park, is approximately 2 km square and is located at kilometre 163 on Sukhumvit Street outside Pattaya. It can be reached by tourist bus or taxi. The park was opened in 1980 on a plot of land that was purchased by a married couple, Pisit and Nong Nuch Tansacha, in the middle of the last century to grow fruit and vegetables. The park is currently managed by the son of these men, Kampon Tansacha.
The garden features mainly plants from Southeast Asia, the tropics of the Americas and Central Africa. The area of the park is divided into themed zones. The Cactus Garden and the Palm Garden are much admired by visitors. The organisers of Nong Nuch Park have set themselves the goal of gathering in one place the largest number of palm species in the world. The tropical greenhouse where different types of orchids are grown is magnificent. You can also buy them here. A little further on is the large French park, which was modelled on the Versailles park. Behind it is the Stonehenge Garden, with a replica of this megalithic monument in the centre. Not to be missed is the Garden of Pots, decorated with sculptures made of ceramic vessels.
In addition to strolling around the park, guests are offered a number of interesting activities. Several times a day the park organises performances where actors introduce tourists to religious rituals, dance, demonstrate Thai martial arts and give massages. A unique spectacle is the elephant show. Giants do wonders: they play football, draw on T-shirts, which you can buy after the show, balance on bollards. You can feed the elephants with bananas. To do this you have to sit in the front row.
The botanical garden has two restaurants, a small zoo where mostly pets are kept, and a hotel with a swimming pool.
