The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden was inaugurated on January 27, 2025, near Cheruthuruthi, Kerala, marking a significant event for nature enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
Spanning 27 acres, the garden offers an immersive experience into 17th-century Kerala, inspired by the work of Dutch Governor Hendrik Van Rheede and local expert Itty Achuthan Vaidya, who documented the region's flora in the historic book, Hortus Malabaricus.
Minister M.B. Rajesh emphasized the garden's role as a living archive of Kerala's biodiversity, serving as a center for learning, conservation, and cultural celebration. The garden is home to over 1,200 plant species, including 721 from van Rheede's treatise, and 700 additional rare species endemic to the Western Ghats.
Led by the SciGenom Research Foundation, the project has been an extensive effort since 2016 to recreate the plant legacy of Kerala. The garden also honors the late Dr. K.S. Manilal, whose translations of Hortus Malabaricus made its knowledge accessible, featuring a dedicated Manilal Street in his honor.