Nestled in the hills of Sri Lanka, the Hakgala Botanical Gardens draw pleasant images in the minds of those who have visited it previously. The vivid hues and evergreens are made possible by the high altitude which brings with it several advantages such as a cool breeze, mild climatic conditions and consequently subdued rays of the sun. Among the many flora there are more than one hundred varieties of beautiful roses and many varieties of exotic orchids that will amaze plant lovers.
Hakgala got its name from the massive rock situated nearby resembling the jaw or ‘hakka’ of an elephant. The botanical garden is situated 16 km down the road to Badulla from Nuwara Eliya, which is most famously dubbed ‘Little England’ due to its chilly climatic conditions. The gardens were established originally as a nursery to cultivate Cinchona in Sri Lanka and subsequently used as a nursery for tea prior to gaining its current stature as one of the leading botanical gardens in the country. It is open to the public from 8.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily. The best time of the year to visit when all the flowers are in full bloom is from March to the end of April.
As you enter, the beautiful flowers will thrill you, the landscape of the garden and the view of the picturesque mountains and its surroundings will take your breath away. The century old grand trees provide shade when the sun is high and the low humid cool air makes walking around the garden so pleasant an exercise that you will not feel the time go by.
The gardens comprise a spice house, rose house, orchid house, cactus house and small plant house, all of which are patches dedicated for the said cultivation. There is plenty of space to ramble aimlessly once you are done with the educational trip within the premises and there is an abundant scope for picnics.
Those who have taken tours to Sri Lanka before and been to Nuwara Eliya, long to come again. Hence, most opt for Sri Lanka tour packages which provide a great opportunity to fulfil all their sightseeing wishes. Sri Lankan Dreams offers a range of such tour packages that let you truly discover what this island paradise has to offer.
