Botanical Gardens

Peradeniya Gardens is known as the largest garden in Sri Lanka - an elegant and spacious 147-acres (60-hectares) situated in the hill country. 68 miles off-Colombo, 4 miles off Kandy this garden dates from 14th century reign of king Vikrama Bahu III. There are nearly 4,000 different species of plants at Peradeniya Gardens.  The best know attraction of the garden is the orchid House, which houses more than 300 varieties of exquisite orchids.   Highlights of the collection include the Giant Bamboo of Burma, capable of growing to 40 meters’ height (130 feet), with a 25-centimetre (10-inch) stem diameter, the century-old giant Javan fig tree, The Cannonball tree, Double Coconut Palm.  A spice garden gives you a first hand introduction to the trees and plants used for the traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Mahaweli river, Sri Lanka's longest river surrounding this garden gives an added beauty to this garden.  One would need plenty of time to stroll imposing Avenue of Royal Palms.

 

Hakgala Gardens, about 27 hectares which is 10 kilometers outside Nuwara Eliya town, are different. Hakgala is one of the places one visits as an essential part of a pleasant journey in the famous hill resort of Nuwara Eliya.  It was once the pleasure garden of Ravana of the Ramayana epic and according to many, it was one of the places where the beautiful Sitha was hidden by the demon king. The present botanic gardens were founded in 1860 by the eminent British botanist Dr. G.H.K. Thwaites who was superintendent of the more famous gardens at Peradeniya, near Kandy.  

Best known for their roses and tree ferns, which grow well in this chilly climate.  Hakgala was the site where tea was first cultivated in Sri Lanka.  An English oak, introduced around 1890, commemorates the "hearts of oak" of Britain's vaunted sea power, and there is a good-looking specimen of the camphor tree, whose habitat is usually in regions above 12,000m.

The best time to visit would be from mid March to end April when the gardens put up its' best display of vibrant annual flowers, roses and orchids.

 

Gampaha Gardens just 27 kilometers (17 miles) inland and northeast of Colombo, display the ruins of Sri Lanka’s first rubber tree, planted in 1876.  The Gampaha gardens also showcase about 1,500 types of other plants. The orchid house is also worth a visit to marvel at the variety of colours and forms that these exquisite flowers can take, from pink to blue, brown and green.