Queen Victoria Park – A Brief History
Established in 1897 to commemorate the 60th Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s Coronation, Victoria Park was once part of the research field for the Hakgala Botanical Gardens which is located approximately 4 km away from the centre of Nuwara Eliya.
The Beginning
Victoria Park was named for Queen Victoria. It celebrated the 60th jubilee of the queen’s coronation and celebrated her visit to Sri Lanka back when it was a colony of the British empire.
Establishment
Since its establishment, the park was initially serving as a research base for Hakgala Botanical Gardens, which was one of the gardens that experimented on crops brought to Nuwara Eliya by the British as it mirrored English climate.
The Park and Its Inhabitants
It is an established destination for those that check into holiday bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, the park is famous among visitors to the highlands even today. It is 27 acres and has about 90% of the plant species were foreign imports. It is not too far from Scottish Planter if you’re planning an early morning visit.
The park is visited also by a massive number of birds. It is great for birdwatching, especially if you want to see birds like Indian Blue Robin, Scaly Thrush, Kashmir Flycatcher and Pled Thrush.
The Kids
Victoria Park has a mini railway for the children’s park in Victoria. There’s plenty of space for children to play around and enjoy a small picnic in the sunshine.
