A Simple Guide to the Royal Botanical Gardens – Looking through Sri Lankan Botany
Main Description
Covering nearly 150 acres, these gardens are renowned for their remarkable collection of orchids, towering palm avenues, and the iconic giant Javan fig tree. Originally reserved for Kandyan royalty, this lush paradise now welcomes visitors to explore its diverse flora, winding paths, and tranquil ponds.
Spice Garden
For spice enthusiasts, this section of the Royal Botanical Gardens is a true delight! It’s fascinating to see familiar spices in their natural state before they’re ground and added to our spice racks. It’s also quite educational to observe how they grow – for instance, discovering that black pepper grows on a tree is eye-opening! Some of the nutmeg trees planted as far back as 1840 still thrive in Peradeniya Park today. Located near the Main Entrance, the spice garden is easy to visit either on arrival or departure.
The Orchid House
The Orchid House at Peradeniya Park showcases a stunning collection of orchids in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes. Before visiting, it will be hard to imagine just how diverse the orchid family could be. Sri Lanka is home to over 70 native orchid species – but it’s unclear how many of these are in the gardens themselves.
Palm Avenues
The palm avenues are truly breathtaking, with some trees towering over 20 meters high! It’s no wonder this spot is one of the most popular photo locations in the park, as the palms create a striking, natural frame along both sides of the avenue. If you’re a couple staying in some of the finest honeymoon hotels in Sri Lanka, such as the Hunas Falls Hotel Kandy
Double Coconut Palms
The Double Coconut Palms are undoubtedly the most impressive of all the palm species in Peradeniya Park, producing the largest seeds or fruits of any plant. Interestingly, botanists classify coconuts as seeds, fruits, and nuts all at once—a bit confusing, isn’t it? According to the park’s printed guide, it takes around five years for the coconuts on these palms to fully mature.
