Colombo
Colombo is the major commercial and business centre in the country, strewn with State Ministries and Departments, airline offices, banks and embassies and is one of the busiest ports in South Asia. Colombo’s tourist attractions are many and varied. For those interested in history, the National Museum established in 1877, holds a large number of interesting antique possessions including the throne of the last king and other items that display the cultural heritage of the country. The Wolfendhal Church and the old Dutch House on Kumara Veediya formerly Prince Street, date back to the Dutch colonial period. There are old churches, temples, mosques, the stately old parliament facing the Indian Ocean and the expansive white Town Hall facing the public park in the heart of the city. This park known as the Vihara Maha Devi park is generously covered with large trees with plenty of shade and is a luxury to have in a commercial city. In addition the Galle Face Green adjoining the colonial Galle Face Hotel to its south, bordered by the Indian ocean to its west, provides ample space for a cool long stroll along the beach.
Going on a shopping spree in Colombo, one finds surprisingly westernized shopping centers with gents’ clothing to ladies’ and children’s attire, shops with local silk sarees, dresses, colourful handloom cottons and handicrafts. The Departmental Store Odel, Majestic City, Liberty Plaza and Crescat offer good quality items. Newly established open-air markets overflow with delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. Several star-class hotels adorn the city and provide comfortable lodging to tourists and businessmen alike. A large number of restaurants within the city offer menus with a marvellous variety of local, Asian, and Western foods. Banking services and internet facilities are easily available. One can easily explore Colombo on foot or taking a tuk-tuk (three-wheeler) ride or even public transport. Sight-seeing tours are organized in and out of Colombo to tourist destinations throughout the country.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Right from the beginning, it was thought that it would attract local as well as foreign tourists, which indeed proved to be true. Each year families, large numbers of school children and foreigners visit Pinnawela to watch the elephants being fed, taking their routine walks and making a bee-line to the river for their daily baths, playing with one another enjoying themselves. It is a treat to watch the baby elephants being fed with milk. This Elephant Orphanage makes a popular attraction where one can see elephants roaming free within the coconut plantation.
Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
Anuradhapura , the ancient capital of Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its well preserved ruins depicting the illustrious ancient Lankan civilization. Situated in the North Central Province, it lies 205km north of the commercial capital Colombo. The ruins themselves lie among large historical reservoirs built by ancient kings and reveal that the city was home to vast monastery complexes where Buddhists monks lived in thousands. Anuradhapura bears ample witness to blending of religion and royalty in ancient Sri Lanka.
This city, sacred to the Buddhists, holds the highly venerated Sacred Bo tree ‘the Sri Maha Bodhi’ venerated by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike and had been planted in 288 B.C. from a cutting of the original fig tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The duty of caring for this precious tree had been handed over to a special caste by royalty and their descendants look after the tree even till today.
The sacred city covering an area of over 40 square kilometers is home today to a large number of monasteries and possesses great stupas believed to be some of the tallest amazing buildings pointing to the glory of the old world.
There are several interesting locations one can visit, namely, the majestic Ruwanweliseya Stupa, one of the largest structures of the ancient world, Brazen Palace with its 1,600 stone columns showing the remnants of a multi-storied residence for monks, Isurumuniya rock carving of 'The Two Lovers', the twin ponds used by Buddhist monks as a bathing pool and Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest Dagoba in the country believed to enshrine the collarbone of the Buddha himself and several other dagobas. Anuradhapura is visited by thousands of people daily and becomes a sea of heads in June during the annual Poson festival. Worshipping the ‘Atamasthana’ or the ‘eight great places’ has almost become an annual religious rite for devout Buddhists. Anuradhapura makes an interesting site for educationists, archaeologists, historians and nature lovers wishing to spend their time discovering the ancient history of Sri Lanka, exploring the picturesque countryside, spending time in meditation or watching the thousands of white-clad pilgrims worshipping and meditating at the Sri Maha Bodhi and at various other holy shrines. A visit to the museum in Anuradhapura carrying many centuries old artefacts and a leisure walk along reservoir bunds are things a visitor should not miss
Sigiriya World Heritage Site
Gazing at the rock from its bottom one would think it beyond one’s imagination to climb the steep slopes and reach the summit. However, rocky steps with several landings on the slopes of the rock provide access to the summit nearly one and quarter hectares wide. On the way to the summit, one comes across the world famous charming frescoes which are a feast to the eye keeping visitors engrossed in the minute details of these painted figures even after centuries.
It is a known fact that some visitors make a trip to Sri Lanka just to visit Sigiriya and enjoy this experience of a life time. It is a stately and majestic site and one cannot rush through the climb. Be ready to spend a whole day enjoying the frescoes, relaxing at the Lion’s paw, climbing to the summit, and then slowly winding down the steps back, to enjoy a walk at the sprawling Sigiriya gardens, not forgetting the herbal garden.
Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site
Polonnaruwa, is a World Heritage Site comprising of ancient ruins of monuments built by the Cholas and those of the magnificent garden-city created by king Parakramabahu I. This period was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa in the 12th century. The site holds outstanding ruins of the Royal Palace, the Audience Hall, Gal Viharaya, frescoes and colossal statues of reclining Buddhas. Other interesting features include a statue believed to be that of King Parakramabahu and the expansive Parakrama Samudraya reservoir extending as far as the eye can see.
The old city on the shores of Lake Thopawewa had been made with manual labour alone, a formidable task in the 12 th century. The rectangular city wall holds the remains of the ancient city with its numerous palaces and temples. One can view the well preserved foundations of the royal palace and the king's audience hall. Irrigation systems coming down from the times of kings supply water till today for paddy cultivation. An outstanding site in Polonnaruwa is the Galviharaya known as the Cave of the Spirits of Knowledge. Set against the natural environment, it carries giant standing and reclining sculptures of the Buddha carved out of natural rock and is an ideal place for meditation. Walking through this awe-inspiring ancient city ruins, one cannot but wonder what its real state must have been in ancient times
Dambulla World Heritage Site
The World Heritage Site Dambulla comes down to us from the 3 rd century B.C. It carries the largest cave monastery in Sri Lanka with Buddhist mural paintings and as many as 157 statues of various sizes. This has long been a site where pilgrims worship the Lord Buddha and has been continuously occupied until the present.
The rock itself consists of five caves the first one carrying a recumbent image of Lord Buddha in meditation, the statue itself being 47-foot long and inspiring. Other caves carry statues of gods and Buddhas marvellously carved in gold and preserved to this day by ancient kings and 20 th century rulers. There are mural paintings extending to an area of 2,100 square metres. The rock ceilings are painted in brilliant colours and there are intricately detailed images of holy figures. It is an easy climb to Dambulla rock and reaching the top, apart from the ancient statues and paintings in the caves, one can enjoy the vast landscape where the country’s mountain region begins with long stretches of luscious green paddy fields lying at the bottom. Dambulla stands at cross roads to eastern and western dry zones and is the entry point to the hill country from the west
Minneriya Safari Game Drive
Minneriya National Park located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa consists of a veritable 8,890ha of evergreen forest, jungle and open grassland. The historical Minneriya Tank built by King Mahasen in 3 rd Century AD makes the park a uniquely beautiful nature reserve. This tank provides an incredible location to watch Sri Lanka’s wild elephants during the dry season.
A large number of open jeeps drive local as well as foreign visitors around the park during the dry season, to watch and enjoy the extraordinary diversity of wild life that exists here. The most important feature of such a safari drive is to watch the “Gathering” of wild elephants congregating around the grassy outskirts of Minneriya tank, supposed to be the largest gathering of wild Asian elephants. There are around 300 elephants that come out of the forest during the dry season from June to October. They emerge in the cool of the evening and though they look like one huge herd of elephants, a closer look reveals their formation into small groups of families, with young ones, mothers, new born babes hanging on to their mothers protected by other family members and an imposing matriarch. Once they come out, the grassland around the Minneriya tank is all theirs, for eating, playing, bathing, drinking and feasting freely. In addition to wild elephants, Minneriya is also a site for enjoying prolific flocks of birds, spotted deer and sambhur and sometimes even a leopard if one is lucky. The rich biodiversity observed in this Park makes it a unique environment for nature lovers
Kandy World Heritage Site
Kandy where traditional culture abounds was the last stronghold of Sri Lankan kings conquered by the colonial rulers. It is richly set against tea and spice lands, surrounded with hills through which the Mahaweli the longest river in the island beautifully winds its way. The Dalada Maligawa, the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, is the major tourist attraction in Kandy and is located spectacularly against a vast serene lake. The Tooth Relic is a symbol of sovereignty and receives state protection.
Among locations of interest is the 14 th century Natha Devale (temple), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dedicated to a guardian deity of Sri Lanka. It is built on a stone platform having a traditional archway at its entrance and amazing architecture within. There are three other 18 th century temples dedicated to three guardian deities, with unique architecture. The Audience Hall or the Magul Maduwa consists of wooden pillars with elaborate carvings. “The Esala Perahera” is a spectacular annual cultural event held in July-August to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha and obtain the blessings of the guardian deities on the leaders and citizens of Sri Lanka. Called “Asia’s grandest pageant” it is adorned with groups of richly clad dignitaries, musicians, dancers and caparisoned elephants that parade the heavily lit streets of Kandy over 7 nights.
The royal palace has been transformed into an archaeological museum. The preserved stuffed tusker that ceremoniously carried the tooth relic in the past during the annual parade is an inspiring sight. There are also British colonial buildings coming down from 1815. The Royal Botanical Gardens established in 1832 holds a magnificent collection of flora within 57ha of land bordering the Mahaweli river and its orchid house is a feast to the eye. Opposite the Gardens is the University of Peradeniya set against nature’s bounty. The approach to Kandy from Colombo is breath-taking especially by rail providing a picturesque view of the mist covered mountainous region.
Up-country train ride with local community
A visitor to Sri Lanka never misses a trip to the up-country full of luxurious tea plantations and waterfalls. One can tour the hills through automobile or train. For a relaxed and convenient journey, the latter is preferred. The railways in Sri Lanka were built by the British during the colonial times. These sometimes bypass the hills, go round the hills, pass along bridges between hills and most importantly they go through tunnels in hills.
The train journey to the hill country is an experience even for a Sri Lankan, so much so that one has to book seats much ahead of travel dates. There are train journeys to Kandy, Matale, Nanu Oya, and to Badulla passing through breath-taking views of the hill country, its valleys, mountains, greenery, streams, and more. The morning train to Badulla from Colombo has an Observation Salon with a limited number of seats. Yet if one wishes to travel with the local community, the second class would be comfortable. As the train winds its way towards the hills, at various stops one finds vendors passing through compartments with tender coconuts complete with straw for quenching one’s thirst and succulent fresh fruits and fried cadju nuts and peanuts. Later on come hot vadai made of Mysore dhal and prawns. One is never in want of food on this train journey. To the sight seers, the train journey is quite an experience. One can deviate to Kandy or Matale along the route or leave at Nanu Oya for proceeding to Nuwara Eliya just 10km away or go right down to Badulla. As the train moves up the hills it gets colder and mistier and some of the railway stations are fully covered with mist. One passes through quite a number of tunnels and the scenery becomes more and more breath-taking as one views the green topped terrains with tea plantations as far as the eye can see, interspersed with milky white water falls and enjoy the picturesque scenery of the hill country. The train journey to the up-country is simply an unforgettable experience
Nuwaraeliya Tea Country
Nuwara Eliya situated 2000m above sea level, is a small town set amongst hills, developed by the British colonial rulers, resembling an English country village complete with many English style bungalows and buildings, post office and small shops. It is rightly called “Little England”. Earlier the tourist season was restricted from March to May when fruits and well kept spectacular gardens full of flowers abound. Yet in present times people visit Nuwara Eliya at any time of the year.
Due to its cool salubrious climate ranging from 16 0C down to even 3 0C, the British grew expansive tea plantations in this area making it the heart or the capital of the tea industry. On one’s way up to Nuwara Eliya, one finds only tea plantations on either side of the road stretching for miles whatever route you may take. The lush tea plantations with various shades of green that roll over from hill to hill with large and white tea factories scattered in between, make a marvellous feast to the eye. A visit to a tea plantation and a tea factory is a must for any tourist. In addition Nuwara Eliya offers golfing, horse riding, boating in Gregory’s Lake and hiking, not forgetting a visit to Hakgala Botanical Gardens coming down from 1861, just beyond 10km from the town. Hakgala is considered to be at the highest elevation at which a botanical gardens is found in the world.
Trekking at Horton Plains
The Horton Plains is a protected forest and wildlife sanctuary and offers a breath-taking and unforgettable view of Sri Lanka 's highest plateau. Situated above 2,130m above sea level, the southern part of the plains suddenly ends plunging down to a shear depth of 1000m that it is rightly called the “World’s End” and those fearing depths should take care not to view the deep below. From here one can view the southern foot hills and on clear days, may even get a glimpse of the far horizon down to the sea. Horton plains, is named after the animal hunter Sir Robert Horton, the British Governor of Sri Lanka.
Large Savannah plains, crystal clear water flowing from numerous waterfalls, silent forests and wildlife make this an area extremely rich in bio-diversity. A number of endemic flora and fauna abound in this wilderness including a leopard endemic to Sri Lanka. One needs to trek through the numerous routes to enjoy the site of various ferns, orchids, wild flowers, butterflies and birds. Trekking is done best with a tour guide for maximum benefit.
Established as a nature reserve in 1969 and declared a National Park in 1988, Horton Plains is a veritable paradise to a nature lover.
Yala Safari Game Drive
Yala National Park situated on the south east coast of Sri Lanka is 309km from Colombo along the coast line. Yala contains different habitats such as jungles, scrublands, inland freshwater lakes, lagoons, a wide and generous stretch of the beach and even rivers, all giving rise to wide biodiversity. As a result, one finds wild elephants and other animals such as leopards, wild boar, deer, gray languor, crocodiles and peacocks and other birds, all in their natural habitats. Yala is considered the best place in the world to watch leopards in their natural habitat.
One needs to spend two to three days leisurely to view and enjoy the entire park. Tours through the Yala sanctuary are generally made in open jeeps and elephant tracks and leopard tracks within the park are known to tour guides. Apart from enjoying wild life, one can enjoy the vast beach stretch along the deep blue sea that makes a beautiful and relaxing sight for the visitors. As the park is bounded along the south by the coastline, once the visitors reach the beach, they can freely enjoy the open beach, the sand dunes, the natural bays and the mangroves that line the lagoons. Those wishing to visit the Yala sanctuary need to note that it is closed in September and October
Bird Watching at Sinharaja World Heritage Site
The Sinharaja Rain Forest in Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989, is an evergreen tropical lowland rainforest consisting of rolling terrain ranging from 300m to 1300m above sea level. It is situated towards Sri Lanka’s south west, gradually increasing in height towards the Morningside hills and covers an area of 11,250ha of forest land. The wide stretch of land as it increases in height presents a variety of natural environments and ideal ecosystems to a wide diversity of floral and faunal species which are mostly endemic to Sri Lanka. Sinharaja is home to 95% of indigenous bird species of Sri Lanka which make bird watching in this rain forest as interesting as ever to both ornithologists and amateurs. This forest is famous for the presence of bird flocks consisting of mixed species that present an interesting and colourful sight to bird watchers. The red-faced malkoha, green-billed caucal, blue magpie and Sri Lankan spur fowl are a few of the endemic birds that can be sighted within this forest reserve. Within a single bird watching tour within Sinharaja, it is estimated that one would be able to sight a considerable number of bird species endemic to Sri Lanka.
White water rafting
Sri Lanka offers wonderful opportunities for white water rafting in one of its major rivers, the Kelani river. This river is fed through clear springs and numerous streams flowing gracefully into it as it winds its way through the mountainous region right down to the capital Colombo where it flows into the sea by the side of the harbour. Along its route the river winds through sections that are scattered with rocks and boulders and passes through tropical jungles and rubber estates. The section of the river in Kitulgala with its multiple rapids provides an ideal stretch for white water rafting. The experience is one of adventure and thrill. This sport does not require swimming skills and both amateurs and professionals participate in this activity and enjoy passing through these rapids. The rafting tours can be short or long as desired by those participating. Along the tour, rafters pass the location at which the award winning film “The Bridge on the River Kwai” was filmed. Families, office staff, trainees, all alike make it a point to participate in this adventurous sport not only for enjoyment but also for building self confidence and grit
Whales & Dolphins Watching (seasonal)
Whales and Dolphins watching is done in Sri Lanka off Dondra in the south coast, Kalpitiya in the west coast and Trincomalee in the east coast. In fact, large scale whale watching commenced almost three decades ago and was a lucrative past time off the coast of Trincomalee where whales and dolphins move closer to the coast during certain parts of the year. Whale watching is done during the times of the year when the sea is not rough. This is a recreation that is gaining importance in the south in Dondra where both blue whales and sperm whales can be sighted by viewers. In Kalpitiya, one can mostly sight dolphins in large numbers freely moving and playing in the water and this being a fishing area, the dolphins are quite used to humans moving around in boats all the time and do not shy away when sighted. To those interested in whale and dolphin watching as a past time, there are these three locations off the coast of Sri Lanka, which is a luxury for a small island such as Sri Lanka. It only takes one to join in a boat trip out into the ocean through any of these three locations
Golden Beaches
Sri Lanka has long been famous for its wide stretches of golden beaches which have been major tourist attractions over the years. One finds hotels, resorts, beach restaurants and bars and other eateries housed within vast stretches of the beach mostly along coconut plantations and lagoons. The fishermen with their traditional sailing boats along most of the beaches are a delightful sight.
The Negombo beach on the west coast was Sri Lanka's first beach resort and Marawila just 30km north of Negombo is known for its beautiful tranquil beaches. To the south of Colombo, the colonial beach resort Mount Lavinia provides a safe and popular bathing spot with calm waters. This beach stretching about a mile is called the “Golden Mile” and is full of tourists and local families enjoying an evening out and dining almost daily.
Wadduwa, Induruwa and Balapitiya along the western coast carry quiet beaches untouched by mass tourism. With Beruwala starts a long stretch of the major beach resort area on the western coast leading to the resorts of Aluthgama and Bentota. This area has been in international tourism for over three decades as a well established beach resort with its many five-star and other hotels. Aluthgama carries a stretch of land strategically sandwiched between the lagoon and the sea, spotted with hotels and restaurants and ideal for watching spectacular sunsets. Further south, Hikkaduwa, an international tourist location is famous for its colourful coral reefs in shallow sea which are viewed from glass bottomed boats and is a life time experience. On the east coast the 30km stretch of beach running uninterrupted from north of Trincomalee, is a luxury for anyone wishing to enjoy beaches. This stretch is used both by Sri Lankans and foreign tourists for swimming, surfing, boating, whale watching, sport fishing and leisure strolls. Nilaveli is the most famous spot along this stretch with golden sands and clear water. Pasikudah in the east has also been a famous tourist location where one can walk into the shallow sea for almost a kilometre until one reaches the coral reef
Sita Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya
The Sita Amman temple dedicated to Sita, the wife of King Rama, situated in Sri Lanka’s mountain city Nuwara Eliya, is supposed to be the only such temple in the world and is found about 5km down the road from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. History has it that this is the place where Sita was held imprisoned by king Ravana, in the story of Ramayana. The temple has been reconstructed according to South Indian style and is set beautifully against a clear flowing stream.
There is also another temple believed to carry signs of the monkey-god Hanuman’s feet and the place where he rested after the battle rescuing Sita from Ravana. People also believe there is a rock on the opposite bank of the river where Sita sat and meditated. Visitors are eagerly shown the place where Sita bathed, the stone she sat on and where she spent time in prayer. Devotees are convinced that this episode of the Ramayana epic historically took place here and is increasingly becoming important as a tourist location.
Kataragama Sacred city
The remote town of Kataragama situated in the south east of Sri Lanka adjoining the famous Yala National Sanctuary, is one of the most popular and sacred pilgrim sites of Sri Lanka. It is 283km from Colombo along the coastline. Devotees of all religions be they Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims or Christians frequent this shrine to offer homage and make vows interceding for divine assistance.
Kataragama is believed to be the domain of God Skanda and one finds a Buddhist temple, Hindu shrine and Islamic mosque depicting the multi-religious nature of this hallowed place. Sri Lankans believe that God Skanda also called Kataragama Deviyo is one of the four guardian deities of the country. He is called the Benevolent God, having six faces and twelve arms. The history of the shrine dates back to the 2nd century B.C. the time of the king Dutugemunu. The waters of Menik ganga considered sacred by devotees separate the town from the worshipping area. An annual festival held with a grand procession in July-August draws large crowds from all over the country as well as foreign tourists. Devotees from north and east trek along jungle lands and arid dry zones for two months to participate in this festival which ends with ‘Fire Walking’ (treading on red hot coal beds) and performing various penitential acts for fulfilling vows and demonstrating their faith in God. Sella Kataragama located 5km from Kataragama is also visited by devotees and is the place where God Skanda is supposed to have first met his consort Valli Amma
Uda Walawa National park
The Uda Walawa National Park is an expansive nature reserve of 30,821ha situated 230km south-east of Colombo and is one of the best places to view wild elephants in their natural environments. Situated along the southern stretch below the south central hills, it also encompasses the Uda Walawa reservoir man-made some years ago for irrigating farmlands that abound in this region and for generating hydro-electric power. The park itself is mostly scrub jungle and grassland devoid of overarching large trees so that one can view wild life freely on a safari jeep along the many gravel roads and lanes within the park.
The park is bordered by the Walawe river into which a number of streams flow through the park. One can view elephants in large herds sometimes counting up to more than hundred, closer to the river banks and also along the exposed areas of the reservoir, drinking water and bathing and spending time playing leisurely. The best to view elephants within the park is the early morning hours when the sun comes up and wild life starts to roam around the park. An electric fence round the park keeps the elephants from roaming into nearby villages and damaging crops and houses. In addition to elephants, rich wild life abounds and one can view the deer, sambhur, sloth bear, fox, monitor lizard, crocodile, giant squirrel and birds including dancing peacocks. Close to the nature reserve is also the Elephant Transit Centre (Eth Athuru Sevana) where baby elephants are cared for until they are released into the wild. As in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, here too one can enjoy the sight of baby elephants being bottle-fed with milk
Bundala National Park
Along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, passing Hambantota towards the east, one reaches the expansive Bundala Nature Reserve, protected by a sand dune bordering the deep blue sea. Located 250km south-east of Colombo within the dry arid zone, it expands to 6,216ha. It is made of mostly thorny scrub jungle, brackish water lagoons and mud flats.
The park consists of rich biodiversity with a large variety of plant and animal species, and is especially famous for its aquatic bird life. Sri Lanka’s jungle fowl is also seen here and the Bundala Salterns within the park provides an ideal site for watching large birds such as flamingos and pelicans in open environment. Large numbers of peacocks roam free within the park. Sri Lanka being the last landing point on the migratory route of birds, the Bundala park with its wetlands makes an ideal location for water birds weathering the winter. One can observe thousands of migratory birds that fly down even way up from Siberia to Bundala during the latter part of the year and leaving around March. This park gained international importance when it was declared a ‘Ramsar’ Wetland under the Ramsar Convention.
Wild elephants roam the park and move in small herds into waterholes in the evenings. Along the routes within the park or even along the beach, one may find lone elephants too. There are the spotted deer, sloth bears, jackals, pangolins, giant squirrels, crocodiles, monitor lizards and other reptiles. Going through the park beyond the sand dune, there exists a most unexpected sight for the visitor. One finds a long stretch of the golden sandy beach facing the deep blue Indian Ocean, where sea turtles come to lay their eggs by night. One can spend hours relaxing at the beach here and there are shallow spots where one could even dip in for a sea bath.
Royal Botanical Garden in Kandy
Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya is located close to the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. It includes more than 300 varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall. It is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture.
The classical Avenue of Palms is located in this Garden. One tree with a significant history is the Cannonball Tree planted by King George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary in 1901. The tree is bent with its fruits, which look like cannonballs.
During the Second World War, the Botanical Garden was used by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the supreme commander of the allied forces in the South Asia, as the headquarters of the South East Asia Command.
Haggala Botanical Garden in Nuwaraeliya
Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of the three botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. It is the second largest garden in Sri Lanka. The garden is contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve.
Garden established in 1861 as an experimental cultivation of Cinchona, a commercial crop thriving at the time. Once after the Tea replace the Cinchona, it was turned into an experimental Tea cultivation. In 1884 it transformed to a garden since then many sub tropical and some temperate plants were planted in the gardens.
There are over 10,000 species of flora planted here and during the Spring season in Nuwara Eliya thousands of visitors come to see the blooms here. Number of annual visitors is around 500,000. The garden is famous for number of species of Orchids and Roses are planted there.
|
