These stunning gardens, 6km from Kandy, were once reserved exclusively for Kandyan royalty. Today, even commoners are allowed in to enjoy the most impressive and largest (60 hectares) botanic gardens in Sri Lanka.
Highlights include a fine collection of orchids, a stately avenue of royal palms, the extraordinary, aptly named cannonball fruit tree and 40m-high Burma bamboo. Another big hit is the giant Javan fig tree on the great lawn, with its colossal central trunk and umbrella-like canopy of branches.
You'll share the gardens with thousands of wing-flapping fruit bats, hundreds of monkeys and dozens of canoodling courting couples.
Inside the grounds are an overpriced cafeteria (mains Rs 550 to Rs 1000), serving Western and Sri Lankan food, and a small cafe by the exit gate. A better option is to stock up on picnic items before you come.
Bus 644 (Rs 16) from Kandy’s clock-tower bus stop goes to the gardens. A three-wheeler from Kandy is about Rs 500 one way. Many taxi drivers incorporate a visit to the gardens with the Kandy Three Temples Loop.
Last entry to the gardens is 5pm.
