Largest Rose Garden in Sri Lanka

HAKGALA BOTANICAL GARDEN
Hakgala Botanical Garden is the second largest garden among the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka and is contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, which is the home to a variety of wild life, including bears, monkeys and birds. Situated some 10 kilometres South of Nuwara Eliya, the road to Hakgala along the Badulla road is a pleasant downhill drive, mostly through pine forests. The comfortable cool weather that prevails throughout the year compliments the exotic flora and fauna, creating a true paradise. It boasts of over 10,000 species of flora.

The rock of Hakgala (Jaw Rock) rises 450 meters (1500 feet) above the gardens & believed to be one of the two places (the other being the cave at Ella) where King Rawana held Sita, consort of Lord Rama of great Indian epic Ramayana. The soil of the area around Sita Eliya temple close to the Gardens is darker than elsewhere in the island. According to the legend, it was in this area Lord Hanuman, in his rage, wreaked havoc on the villages & the forests: his tail was set on fire by King Rawana. The darkened soil is said to be no accident or design of nature. The strange circular depressions in the rock by the adjacent stream are believed to be the footprints of King Rawana's elephant. Of course all of these tales belong to Mythology in Sri Lanka.

The Spice garden
The shady Spice garden to the right on main entrance bears a fine selection including cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Some of the oldest nutmeg trees planted in the year 1840 still in fine fettle.

The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden, twin terraced block of land is home to more than 100 varieties of Roses. Some of the varieties of the Roses were imported & planted by the British colonial rulers of then Ceylon. The glass house, indoor garden displays blooming species & varieties of Begonia, Peperomia, Saintpaulia, Primula, Glaxinia, Steptocarpus & Pelargniu.

The Orchid House
The orchid House shows off a captivation of exotic blooms of Cattleya, Dendrobium, Arachnis, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda & their hybrids. Around the orchid House are several hardy orchids including the largest orchid in the world (Grammatophyllum speciosum) which produces flower spike up to 2.5 m long & the green orchid (Coelogyne meyeriana).

Small Plant House
Close to the Orchid House is a small Plant House containing a variety of green house plants such as ferns, begonias, African violets, Episcia diffenbachia, Phildendron bromelia & Anthuriaum.

The Cactus house & the Flower Garden
The Cactus house exhibit over 800 species including Agaves, Opuntia, Kalachoe, Cereus, Rebutia, Rhipsalis while the Flower Garden displays numerous annual flowers arranged according to the height & colour of the plants.

The fernery
The fernery provides shaded atmosphere. Among the ferns are Tree fern (Cyathea crinita). Many species of native ferns grow in the shades of tall trees. This section also house old bushes of Tea (Camellia sinensis), which were used for experimentation of tea cultivation in hill country. This collection forms the very introduction of Assam tea hybrid brought to Ceylon in 1967.

Rock garden
The main rock garden established in 1921, provides an environment for many kind of herbaceous plants. These plants thrive well in beds laid out among rock & boulders. The pond below the sloppy lawn is home to water lily (Nymphea maxicana).

The arboretum
The arboretum is one of the most important sections of the garden. This section covers a large area behind the rock garden. Various native species as well as species introduced from subtropical countries abound herein.

Bulb garden
Bulb garden established in 1924, contains a collection of subtropical bulbous plants like Lillum varieties, Watsonia, Agapanthus varieties, Galdiolus, Hemerocallis, Amaryilis, Alstremeria & Zantedeschia.

The wooded areas
The wooded areas of the gardens include numerous majestic Monterey cypresses from California, U.S.A & fine old cedars. There are areas of enormous tree ferns, stands of Japanese camphour, & pines & eucalpyts, a shaggy cluster of bark-shedding Australian melaleucas.

A network of small creeks, complete with wooden bridges, is seen throughout the garden, creating a magical atmosphere for the magnificent rose garden, conifers, cedars, cypresses, variety of pines and English oaks that make their home in the garden. The flora of the garden include Old tea trials, Eucalyptus, Camphor, Pinus, Melaleuca, Casuarina, Cupressusmacrocarpa, Cinnamomumcamphora, Syncarpiaglomulifera, Rhodoleiachampioni, Michelianilagirica, Rhododendron zeylandicum, Streptosolenjamesonii, and Santolinachamaecyparissus.