Nestled in the suburb of Peradeniya, just a short drive from the Kandy city centre, the Royal Botanic Gardens is a floral haven that nature lovers simply cannot miss. With acres of beautifully curated landscapes, this garden isn’t just about pretty plants… it’s a captivating experience for the senses.
Orchid House and Arboretum
Prepare to be wowed by the spellbinding beauty of the Orchid House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, easy to visit from hotels like Kandy Myst by Cinnamon. In this section are exotic blooms like Vanda and Phalaenopsis, while around the Orchid House, you can also see the Grammatophyllum speciosum, which happens to be the world’s largest orchid species! Don’t miss the Arboretum, a sprawling 20-hectare area with towering trees, some over a century old. Suffice it to say, it’s leafy, lofty and utterly lovely!
Flower Garden and Fernery
Right near the Orchid House, you will find the Flower Garden with colourful blooms, making it one of the best places to visit in Kandy for Instagrammers, too. You can see beds of perennials and annuals with a striking coleus border that practically begs for a photo-op. Follow the path into a conservatory, and afterwards, meander into the cool, shady Fernery where tree-draped vines and creeping foliage give off full jungle vibes!
Spice Garden and Great Lawn
Sri Lanka is famed for its spices, and a great place to see (and smell!) them is at the Spice Garden, home to cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg and cardamom growing fresh and fragrant. Some of the nutmeg trees have been here since the 1840s… talk about vintage! Also, don’t miss wandering around the Great Lawn, home to the spectacular Java Fig Tree, which is so massive it looks like a natural pavilion built just for shade seekers.
Plant House and Cactus House
If you love quirky plants, don’t skip the Plant House, which features eye-catching varieties like begonias, African violets, and bromeliads. Nearby, the Cactus House steals the show with over 800 ‘spiky stars’ including agaves, aloes, and other hardy beauties that thrive with barely a drop of water. It’s like a desert garden, but in the middle of a tropical paradise, nestled amidst the mountains of Kandy.
