Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
One of Asia's grandest botanical gardens, spread over 60 hectares in a loop of the Mahaweli River.
🕑 07:30–17:00
⏱ ~2.5 hr
🎟 Entry: LKR 3000 (foreign)
Peradeniya
A leafy university town just west of Kandy, famous for the sprawling Royal Botanical Gardens on a loop of the Mahaweli River.
Overview
Peradeniya sits about 6 km from Kandy and is best known for the Royal Botanical Gardens, one of the finest in Asia. The town is also home to the University of Peradeniya, set across a green riverside campus. It makes an easy half-day trip from Kandy and is a relaxing counterpoint to the busy city centre.
History
The botanical gardens at Peradeniya date to 1821 under British administration, though the site had been a royal pleasure garden of the Kandyan kings long before. During the Second World War the gardens served as the headquarters of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of South-East Asia.
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Travel tips
- Allow at least 2-3 hours to walk the botanical gardens; they are large and shaded.
- Visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds of local families.
- Bring water and sun protection; there is little shade on the great lawns.
- Watch for the huge fruit-bat colony roosting in the tall trees near the river.