In the cool, green hill country of paradise Sri Lanka there is a garden that some might say is the Garden of Eden…And to this garden it’s not just butterflies and birds who flock to relish its lush splendour, every year a staggering 2 million visitors are attracted to these gardens to revel in all its glory. So what are these gardens you ask? They are the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, gardens that were once a secret to the royal family but now known and sought after by the whole world…
Situated about 15 minutes away from Kandy and 3 hours away from Colombo, the Royal Botanical Gardens aka the Peradeniya Gardens consist of 147 acres consisting of over 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Thus, the gardens are one of the main attractions of the majestic city of Kandy. If you’re planning a visit to see these beautiful gardens and is in search of bungalows in Kandy that are within convenient distance, you will be delighted to hear that the century old Mountbatten Bungalow by Theme Resorts & Spas is just a mere 7 minutes distance away! Not only will you be close to the gardens in this refurbished, Victorian- style bungalow, but you will also be just 15 minutes away to Kandy’s other main attraction, the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli River making the gardens exclusive only to the royals. But in 1843 the British formerly established the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo, and the Kalutara Garden in Kalutara. Today when you enter these magnificent gardens you will be welcomed by a profusion of exotic, colourful flowers and plants. The Peradeniya Gardens are renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. More highlights of the gardens include the Cannonball Tree planted by King George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary in 1901, classical Avenue of Palms, Artificial Lake, the giant Javan fig tree on the great lawn that resembles a giant, living geodesic dome and so much more!
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Melissa Somawardana, concealed under the name of Kanya Mae, writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media.
