Sri Lanka’s hill country has a tremendous assortment of beautiful attractions, both natural and man-made to be experienced, but where Kandy is concerned, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens are a must.
Background
The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens are found just over five kilometres west of the city of Kandy, and quite close to the Mahaweli River, the largest of its kind on the island of Sri Lanka.
Royal Origins
The story of the garden begins in 1371, which was a time when King Wickramabahu III maintained a court in the area, making it a prominent place for royalty and the nation’s elite. Eventually, a temple was built at the site of the garden.
Enter the British
After the British invaded Sri Lanka in the 1800s, the temple was destroyed and the groundwork for the garden was laid by Alexander Moon. Initially, the garden was used for the cultivation of coffee and cinnamon. In 1843, the garden was formally established and many plans were brought in from Kew Garden in Colombo.
The Garden Today
Presently the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens happen to be one of the area’s most famous attractions, with an annual footfall of 2 million. Travellers staying at many hotels in Kandy the likes of Earl’s Regent generally make it a point to visit these majestic gardens during their adventure.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+