Plant research center, Salyan is one of the research center of Department of Plant Resources under the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The department of plant resources was established in B.S 2016 with the main objective of identifying, studying, researching and developing technology for the proper utilization and development of plant resources. According to change in the departmental organizational structure of the fiscal year 2056-57, in the year 2056, the ministry of forest and environment (formerly the ministry of forest and soil conservation) under the department of plant resources established a plant research Center in Salyan (Formerly District Plant Resource office, Salyan). The office is located in mulpani-3 of Kapurkot rural municipality in Salyan district of Karnali province.

Mulpani Botanical Garden (MLBG) is located 2.5 km northwest of Kapurkot (a small emerging market) under Rapti Highway. The garden is situated at a height of 1420 m above sea level with an area of 5.5 ha. Since its establishment, the organization has been conducting activities like ex-situ and in-situ conservation of plants, scientific study, research technology development, a technology transformation to farmers and raising public awareness about medicinal plants.

While talking about the floristic composition of MLBG, altogether 551 species belong to 156 families and 405 genera are investigated including in-situ (257 species), ex-situ (294 species) and exotic ornamental plants. Out of 551 total species conserved in the MLBG area, based on their habit, the number of herb species is highly dominated by 248 species followed by trees 133, shrubs 99, climbers 37 and epiphytes 34 species respectively. On the whole, 495 plant species are angiosperms 19 are Gymnosperms, 37 are Pteridophytes. Of them, 201 species are conserved as ornamental. 34 species are found useful as avenue trees and 12 species are used as hedge plants inside the garden. 52 species are listed as exotic plants. Most of them are ornamental. Inside the Garden territory, 66 species are conserved as rare, endangered, threatened and CITES plants. Eight species are religious and six plants are invasive species. 245 species of plants are for medicinal use.

There are eight thematic units in this botanical garden viz: Rock garden, Physic garden, Aquatic garden, Dream garden, Educational garden, Ethnobotanical garden, Rare endangered garden and Taxonomical family garden and there are three germplasm conservation units named Fern house, Cactus house and Orchid house.

The important medicinal plants conserved in this botanical garden are Zanthoxylum armatum, Cinnamomum tamala, Cinnamomum glaucescens, Machillus odoratissima, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, Valeriana jatamansi, Bergenia ciliata, Adhatoda vasica, Sapindus mukorossi etc. About 30 rare, endangered, Threatened and banned species including Pistacia Chinensis, Oroxylum Indicum, Taxus wallichiana, Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Swertia chirata etc are conserved in the garden. Besides the Garden management part, PRC Salyan has been carrying out research in different sectors of plant science viz; Variety development, invasion of plants and its impact, Floral investigation including endemic plants, propagation technique of high value medicinal, indigenous ornamental and perennial ornamental plants etc.

The botanical garden opens every day around the year and is easily accessible to anyone during office time. Annually, 5000 people visit the garden. Also, the garden is developing as an educational hub for students, researchers and other passions. The visitors are often from Salyan, Dang, Banke, Rukum, Rolpa, Surkhet and Pyuthan districts. The MLBG is aiming to be an eco-tourism destination in Salyan and for the whole Karnali Province. You are welcome to MLBG at any time. Thank you!