In the 21st century, technological advancements are being made at a rapid pace and these advancements have begun to pose serious threats to the environment resulting in issues relating to climate change, changing of weather patterns and deforestation. As a result, botanical gardens are becoming a natural tool through which states and organisations strive to assure the continuity of unique plant life for the future. In Sri Lanka, two main botanical gardens can be found in the central highlands, namely, the Peradeniya Botanical Garden and the Haggala Botanical Garden. While the latter is famous for its Rose Garden and attracts tourists staying in a hotel Kandy Sri Lanka who are willing to make the excursion to Nuwara Eliya, the Peradeniya Gardens are the most famous in the island.
Located within a convenient distance from hotels such as Hill Top Hotel Kandy, the Peradeniya Garden is formally known as the Royal Botanical Gardens where its royal status was granted during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe. While the Haggala Botanical Garden is famous for its roses, the Peradeniya Gardens is well known for its Coco de Mer, a rare plant whose fruits are believed to be the largest in the world. This garden also enjoys the distinction of being the largest in the country and many tourists and locals alike flock to its gates hoping to experience its beauty and the solitude it offers.
The Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya is an ideal place to relax, unwind and seek a change of pace from the hectic everyday life and its location in the central highlands provides the gardens with a welcome and pleasantly cool climate. Make your way to the botanical gardens in Peradeniya, stroll through its beautifully manicured paths and enjoy the mild climate as the Gardens offer a refuge against the hustle and bustle of the world.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.