Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens, embellished with a motley of ornamental flowers and exotic plants, are perceived as jewels emblazoned in the picturesque land scape of the island. These gardens are a rich store house of a variety of flora collected from all across the world.

Peradeniya Botanical Garden
This beautiful garden is situated in the serene Hill capital, Kandy. Located 4 miles off Kandy, the garden dates back to the reign of king Vikrama Bahu III, 14th century. Peradeniya is is home to a large variety of ornamental plants and other creepers that are used to produce the special spices of Sri Lanka. There is a flourishing growth of huge tropical trees along the lawns. But the orchid house is the prime attraction of this garden. Tourists will find more than 300 varieties of exquisite orchids blooming in profusion. The spice garden sustains trees and plants used for the traditional Ayurvedic medicine.The scenic splendour of the garden raised to ethereal heights by the Mahaweli river which flows through its fringes.

Hakgala Botanical Garden
Just 10 kms away from Nuwara Eliya City, it is the place where flora from far and wide are seen at home. The site has a mythical connotation with many believing that it was once the pleasure garden of the demon king Ravana of the epic Ramayana epic and the very place where the beautiful Sitha was hidden. It was only in 1860 that the present botanical garden was founded by the British botanist Dr. G.H.K. Thwaites. The exotic plants found in Hakgala include conifers and cedars from Australia, Bermuda and Japan, and cypresses from the Himalayas, China and as far flung places as Persia, Mexico and California. A special variety of pine was introduced from New Calendonia and there are specimens of this genus from the Canary Island as well. Another interesting tree that adorns this garden is an English oak, planted around 1890, in memory of the famous "hearts of oak" of Britain's naval power. In addition, there are , for the tourists’ delight, the rose garden and the fernery. The garden will surely send a visitor into reverie.

Accessibility
Nanu Oya is the nearest railway station. From here tourists can hire or taxis to Hakgala. Buses are also available, but they generally remain crowded.