Located in Peradeniya, the royal botanical gardens are the most popular botanical gardens in the country, attracting millions of visitors every year. Encompassing over 147 acres of lush greenery, the botanical gardens are celebrated for its wide variety of trees, a large collection of colourful flowers and intricate system of pathways that allow visitors to view the very best of each section. A small park once reserved exclusively for the use of the royal court, the grounds was officially turned into the botanical gardens by the British in the mid-18th century. Since then it has continuously grown to include spice plantations, medical plants and the largest collection of orchids in the country. Prominent exhibits include the Giant Bamboo of Burma, the Cannonball tree which was planted by King George V and the decade-old giant Javan fig tree.