emma lathen
As some of the most picturesque tourist attractions in the island Sri Lanka's botanical gardens are breathtaking spaces worthy of exploration. Here are some of the country's top botanical hotspots.
Spread out across a an impressive 28 hectares the Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of Sri Lanka's most visited horticultural attractions to date. Occupying a scenic location beneath the shadow of Hakgala Rock the Hakgala Botanical Garden is a main point of interest for visitors touring the country's hill station of Nuwara Eliya. Abloom with thousands of flora all year long spring season is the busiest season of all for the Hakgala Botanical Garden. Home to a whopping 10,000 flora varieties the garden welcomes 500,000 visitors each year. Some of the main highlights at the venue include its picturesque Rose Garden, its indoor plant species and its Orchid collection. As a subtropical garden located in the hilly landscapes of Nuwara Eliya the Hakgala Botanical Garden maintains a cool and temperate climate for most of the year.
Although the Henarathgoda Botanical Garden is a lesser known botanical hub in the Emerald Isle it is no less impressive in its beauty and vast collection of plant species. Located near Gampaha town centre the Henarathgoda Botanical Garden holds the distinct honour of being the locale where the first rubber plant was planted in the island. Occupying an area of 36 acres when it was first established the garden is now spread out over 43 acres. Located at an altitude of 33 feet the garden's main attributes are its Brazilian tree collation. The best time to visit the garden is after the monsoon rains as the blooms in the enclave are especially spectacular during this time of the year.
Located in Avissawella's Ilukovita area the Seetawaka Botanical Garden is officially known as the Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanical Garden. Having opened its gates to the public as recently as October, 2014 the venue is located next to the equally verdant Indikada Mukalana Forest Reserve. Littered with Terminalia Arjuna trees a natural stream also flows through this breathtaking garden.
Situated in the district of Hambantota the Mirijjawila Botanical Garden is the only botanical endeavour introduced to the islands dry zone. With a total area of 300 acres the newly established garden hopes to showcase medicinal plants and ornamental floral species, and lesser known flora species in its native land.
As the country's most famous and expansive garden space the Peradeniya Botanical Garden is not only a horticultural space but also a cultural institution in its own right. Sprawled across 60 hectares the largest garden in the country is also one of the first botanical endeavours in Sri Lanka. Divided in to several sections the garden's most popular areas include the Avenue of Royal Palms while the Octagon Conservatory and its spice garden are equally intriguing. The Ebony Collection and the garden's Herbarium are also worthy of exploration in addition to the Cactus House, the Fiscus Collection, the Medicinal Garden and the Cycad Collection. Visitors based in Heritance Hotels in the hill capital of the island or similar luxury hotels Sri Lanka counts among its best rests can book a tour of the garden via the hotel.
