Self-assembled monoclinic phase of novel floral beta-Ga2O3 nanorods were prepared using reflux condensation method by controlled precipitation of metal cations with urea. The structural and morphological properties were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscope. Single-crystalline nanorods with size 100 nm involved in the self-assembly process to form flowery pattern have diameter similar to 1 mu m with surface area 40.8 m(2)/g confirmed from transmission electron microscope and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The band gap energy of 4.59 eV was evaluated from the UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum and the photoluminescence spectrum displayed the characteristic luminescence and blue-light emission peaks. Further, the photocatalytic activity of novel beta-Ga2O3 floral nanorods towards the photodegradation of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution under ultra violet light irradiation showed better photocatalytic activity than the commercial photocatalyst Degussa P25 TiO2. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.