₹ 161 onwards
View Nuwara Eliya PackagesWeather :
Label :
Tags : Garden & Park
Timings : Gardens: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM; Nursery: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
Entry Fee : LKR 1500 for adults; LKR 750 for children
Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question
The Hakgala Botanical Garden is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka. It is a part of the Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve and was established in 1861. It has a wide variety of plants and some exotic animal species with the entire garden divided into different sections, dedicated to different plant species, like ferns, cacti, orchids, etc. It is situated on the Badulla Highway and is about 5 kilometres away from the city of Nuwara Eliya. It is said that the Hakgala Gardens was in fact, 'Ashok Vatika'', from the Hindu epic 'The Ramayana''. Since these gardens are on an elevated ground, the climate mostly ranges from cool to moderately hot.
The Hakgala Botanical Garden is the second largest, and one of the few famous botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1861 by Dr G.H.K. Thwaites, for experimenting with the growth of Cinchona. The garden has different sections, where each part hosts a particular plant species. The garden forms brilliant biodiversity, where exotic birds and animals coexist with the rare plants grown there. The average temperature of the garden ranges from 16°C to 30°C, making it cold to moderately hot throughout the year.
The Hakgala Botanical Garden is on the Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi Highway, near the famous Seetha Amman Temple. It has a lot of historical significance since the Hindus believe that this was where King Ravana had his famous pleasure garden - The Ashok Vatika. The garden takes about two hours to explore and provides the facility of moving around in a golf cart. It has various exotic plant species, and some rare wildlife, hence creating beautiful biodiversity within itself. It is one of the many places in Sri Lanka, that is closely associated with the Ramayana. So whether you want to get a taste of the Hindu culture, or you want to experience being one with nature, the Hakgala Gardens are a must-visit.