Takdah Orchid Centre

This is Takdah's crown jewel, and it deserves its reputation as one of the finest orchid collections in Asia, or at least it did in its prime, and it is being actively revived by the West Bengal Forest Department after years of neglect. The centre occupies a sprawling complex of glass-panelled greenhouse buildings, a short walk from the market area toward the 6th Mile junction. Inside, hundreds of species of Himalayan orchids, among them Dendrobium, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Pleione and more, glow in extraordinary variety under diffused light. The grounds include manicured lawns and the surrounding landscape of tea-garden slopes makes the setting as beautiful as the blooms.
Orchid enthusiasts should time their visit carefully: the centre is at its most spectacular between February and April, when the orchids are in full flower. Entry is Rs 20 per person. Opening hours run approximately 9am to 4pm. Photography is permitted and warmly encouraged.