How to Explore Peradeniya Botanical Gardens—A Magical Realm of Colour

The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens are located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Kandy is known as the hill capital of the island and is a beautiful region famed for its mountains and lush surroundings. The gardens are located about 5 km from the Kandy City Centre and date back to ancient times when Kandy was the last kingdom of Sri Lanka. It was officially established as a botanical garden in 1843 when plants from Kew Garden in London were added there. The Peradeniya Gardens are quite an experience.

Important Facts

Botanical Garden of Peradeniya | Image via Wikimedia Commons

The Peradeniya Gardens are huge, spanning a total of 147 acres. It’s located at an elevation of 460 metres and offers a conducive environment for relaxing and interacting with nature. There are over 4,000 types of plants in the garden with orchids, tall palm trees, medicinal plants, herbs, and spices taking centre stage. The garden was established in the time of King Wickramabahu III in 1371 but was properly established and curated as a botanical garden by Alexander Moon in 1821. Today the parkland is managed by the Division on National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture and also by the National Herbarium. Peradeniya is one of the best places to visit in Kandy, a region steeped in ancient history and loved for its beautiful surroundings. Learn more about the historical value of the place by exploring blogs such as Kandy Escapes.

The Gardens Enjoy a Prominent History

During WWII, the Peradeniya Gardens became the headquarters of the South East Asian wing of the Allied Forces. And it was listed in 2018 as one of the world’s top 10 botanical gardens by The Guardian.

Explore the Orchid Gardens and Palm Avenue

There are over 300 varieties of orchids in the orchid house. Visit the place and enjoy the riot of colour as these royal blooms cover every corner of the orchid house in pretty hues. Take your cameras and head over to the palm-lined walkway, which is one of the iconic attractions in the park. The massive palms that line the walkway are like towering centenaries guarding the place and offer you a chance to click some impressive social media photographs. The palm collection, consisting of over 200 varieties is listed as one of the best in Asia and is another attraction not to be missed.

The Memorial Collection

This section features a variety of foliage planted by prominent personalities who visited the gardens. Those who planted trees there include royalty, astronauts, heads of state and other visiting dignitaries. Noteworthy is the Ironwood tree planted by Nicholas II of Russia in 1894, the huge Amherst planted by Prince Albert of Belgium, a tea plant brought down from China and planted in 1824, which is also considered the very first tea plant grown on the island that was not propagated for commercial reasons, a Camphor tree planted by the world’s and Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1972, and a pretty yellow Trumpet tree planted by the Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess of Japan in 1981. There is also a Sorrowless tree that was planted in 1981 by Queen Elizabeth II.

Enjoy the Splash of Colour

Some of the plants growing at the Peradeniya Gardens are even more resplendent in Sri Lanka than in their original location in Kew Gardens London. Gorgeous creepers flourish on manmade arches and are known by fancy names such as Saritaea and Beaumontia while the pretty Petraea adds a beautiful baby blue splash of colour to the gardens growing and flourishing even better than its counterpart in London. The vibrant tapestry of colours and the flourishing diversity of plants make a leisurely stroll through the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens an enchanting and unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and visitors alike.