Hakgala Botanical Garden

The Hakgala Botanical Garden is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka . It is situated in the central part of the country, in the Badulla District, about 60 km southwest of the city Badulla . The Hakgala Botanical Garden was founded in 1861, for experimental cultivation of cinchona as a commercial plant. Later, the area was used for growing tea, and only in 1884 it was transformed into a botanical garden by the famous British botanist Thwaites. There are more than 1,000 species of plants. The Hakgala Botanical Garden is famous for several species of rare orchids and roses. The vast lawns are highlighted by huge tropical trees and various species of bamboo.