PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDEN

 

Peradeniya is located about 5.5 kilometers west of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. In 2016, the park was visited by 1.2 million domestic tourists and 400,000 foreign visitors. It is located near the Mahaweli River (Sri Lanka's longest river). It is famous for its collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the "National Herbarium of Sri Lanka". The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at an altitude of 460 meters above sea level and with an annual rainfall of 200 days. It is managed by the National Botanical Gardens Department.

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 the Mahaweli river. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy.

Then, in 1821, Alexander Moon laid the foundation for a botanical garden. He used the garden for coffee and cinnamon plants. The Peradeniya Botanical Garden was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Gardens, Colombo Avenue. Kalutara Kalutara Park. The Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens became more independent and expanded in 1844 under George Gardner as superintendent. He served until he resigned in 1879, and was succeeded by Henry Trimman, who served until 1895.The garden came under the administration of the Department of Agriculture when it was established in 1912.

River Drive has trails like Cook's Pine Trail, Palmyra Palm Trail, Double Coconut Trail, Cabbage Palm Trail, and Royal Palm Trail. The park is home to the classic Palm Avenue. One item with significant history is the Cannonball Tree, planted by King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom in 1901. It is often filled with fruits, which are thought to resemble cannonballs.

During World War II, the Botanic Gardens were used as the headquarters of the Southeast Asia Command by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Allied Commander in South Asia.

The gardens were used as a location in the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai.