Located approximately 5.5 kilometres to the west of the cultural capital of Sri Lanka – Kandy, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens or the royal botanical garden is one of the must-visit destinations in Sri Lanka. Read on to know more about this wondrous place.
Overview
Attracting over 2 million visitors annually, the Garden is home to an exclusive display of plants which includes orchids, roses, a variety of endemic plant species, medicinal plants and so much more. The plant collection here is inclusive of over 4000 varieties.
The Geographical location and climate
Located next to the Mahaweli River and 460 metres above sea level, the gardens are perfectly placed in a location where plants can thrive. Also, the region which the Garden is located receives rainfall throughout the year approximately for 200 days.
Visiting there and accommodation options
You can visit the gardens from the city of Kandy by a tuk-tuk. There are also plenty of hotels in Kandy near the gardens the likes of Amaya Hills Kandy where you could spend the night in peace after a tiring day of exploration.
A brief history
The garden was created during the year of 1371 by King Wickramabahu the third as part of a temple premise. Later when the British took control over the city of Kandy the temple that was located in the midst of the garden was destroyed and the land was utilized for the cultivation of cinnamon and coffee plants. It was not until 1912 when the Department of Agriculture turned the land to an organized garden which we see today.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+