Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens

 

Overview

Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens is just 6 kms away from the charming city of Kandy. It is home to an array of exotic and the most eye-catching blooms and plants. It is definitely not just a garden with pretty flora and a landscape. Its history dates back to 1371 it is a place that is not be missed if you are around Kandy.

In ancient times the garden has been frequented by royalty as King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha has used it as his courts. With the colonial rule in Sri Lanka the garden received its official botanical garden state when Edward Barnes was the governor. It is said that the plants were even brought from the Kew Gardens to the Peradeniya gardens when the British were giving a new look to the Royal Botanical Gardens. The first tea seedling that was planted in Ceylon was at this Botanical Garden during Edwards Barnes’s time. During the Second World War it has been used as the headquarters of the South East Asia Command by Lord Mountbatten. Today it bears some of the exquisite orchids, indigenous plants and herbs and memorable plants like the Cannonball tree that was planted in 1901 by King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom.

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

This is the most extensive and the largest Botanical garden in Sri Lanka that covers about 146 acres in ground. The most famous and classical Avenue of Palms gives a stately look to the Botanical gardens and the most popular feature is the orchid house that has a magnificent collection of orchids and it is especially renowned for the diverse range of orchids grown in the greenhouse. The garden features about 400 species of the plants and the sheer beauty and the exquisiteness of the plants and flowers attract about 2 million visitors per year.

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

If you happen to visit the Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya make sure you see the dome-like mammoth Javan fig tree that covers about 2500 square meters. You would be dwarfed at the mere sight of this tree that is located in the great lawn. The Herbarium at the Gardens has preserved more than 200,000 dried and preserved specimens over the garden’s 180 year existence. Medicinal plants used for Ayurvedha treatments, over 110 endemic plants, the exquisite collection of orchids are only some of the noteworthy plants that are featured in the Garden.

It is better to visit the Botanical Gardens before the sun scorches you. It would be an enjoyable visit without the sweat and heat to enjoy the scenery. So make sure you visit in the morning before 11 am or in the evenings after 4pm to have an unforgettable experience strolling down the palm avenue or enjoying the view of the most beautiful orchids. Pack some snacks and you can have a picnic there under the leafy canopies or in the shade of gigantic trees.

Gallery

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Situated in the ancient kingdom in the central highlands of the country Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy also known as Dalada Maligawa is considered one of the holiest and sacred sites for Buddhists.

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