The Botanical garden of Hakgala is a tremendous hill country tourist destination of Sri Lanka. Purposely the garden was established to promote and experiment cinchona cultivation. It was originated in 1861 and declared as a garden in 1884 due to the sub-tropical and herbs planted in the premise. Today the garden has earned a reputation cause of the wide range of Roses and Orchids planted in the garden. Most visitors prefer to visit the garden during the months of March- April, with the beginning of the Nuwara Eliya season. During these months, the garden is brimmed with exclusive exhibitions of flowers.
Here you are able to entertain the minimum and coolest temperature of Sri Lanka. The minimum is recorded as 3C while the maximum is 15C. The annual rain fall is about 2300mm. The garden is enriched with exotic plants gifted from Australia, India, Japan, China, and Persia. Never the less it can be identified as a mixture of English and Sri Lankan flora. It is hard to believe that those are grown in Sri Lanka. An English oak tree planted in 1890 and a variety of pines are distinctive of the Colonial era. Obviously, The Botanical garden of Hakgala is a great place to enjoy your holiday trip to Sri Lanka. Above the Hakgala botanical garden is the Hakgala natural forest.
The garden is linked with a myth dates back to the reign of demon king Rawana. In addition to the legend, He used to hide queen Seetha in Hakgala area. The garden was founded by a British botanist called Dr. G.H.K Thwaites. Yet Nuwara Eliya is famed as a stunning, Hakgala gives you the best collection of floral and flora. Hakgala a garden covers an area about 28 hectares in extinct. The garden is designed in accordance with a shape of several terraces. A panoramic view of the Uva valley brings you the Knuckles mountain range and Madulsima. The clean and cool atmospheric conditions are a treat. The garden is well maintained and well kept.
During the south west monsoon, the area becomes windy and refreshing throughout the whole area. During the months from Oct- December is rainy. Hence the natural beauty of the garden is embellished with the small water streams and wooden bridges built over them. Many more tourists are visiting the garden every day and teenagers love most. You will find few hotels around the garden. And also remember not to harm the flowers and plantations.