Birth and growth of Hakgala gardens

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Endemic to tropical South America, Cinchona or less known as Quina, was once a miraculous medicinal plant in controlling the malaria epidemic in the 1800s. Linnaeus named the tree as cinchona in 1742 after Countess Chinchon, the wife of a Viceroy to Peru which, according to historical records, was introduced by the natives in 1638 for its medicinal values.

With the high demand for quinine, derived from the bark of cinchona, to treat the malaria epidemic in the nineteenth century cinchona cultivations started spreading in to other tropical regions especially in India and Sri Lanka introduced by the British and in Java introduced by the Dutch.

As history records, Clements Markham has brought cinchona seeds and plants to India and Sri Lanka from South America in 1860. In January 1861, cinchona was planted in Sri Lanka in Hakgala. British planter James Taylor was one of the pioneers for cinchona plantation.

Then Ceylon, became a major exporter cinchona to the world market. It is recorded that in 1883 about 64,000 acres of land was cultivated in Ceylon. In this backdrop, a research centre for cinchona cultivation was established in Hakagala in 1861. Cinchona exports have reached around 15 million pounds in 1886.

Later, with the introduction of other successful drugs to control malaria, demand for quinine decreased thus rose the tea plantation. And what happened to the cinchona research centre in Hakagala? This historical centre stands even today, not as a research centre but as the charming Botanic Gardens of Hakgala reminding us a landmark in the history of Sri Lanka. A specimen of cinchona is still seen on the grassy slopes close to the rock garden. The beautiful Hakgala Botanic Garden relieves the pain and calms the nerves of hundreds of local and foreign visitors everyday. One would surely find tranquillity in the middle of multicoloured rose and balsam beds or under the shade of gigantic cyprus and fern trees.

Located nine and a half kilometres from Nuwara-Eliya towards Welimada, the Botanic Gardens spreads across an area of slightly over 550 acres, at 1745 metres above the sea level. Out of which 68 acres of land is open for visitors. The garden is basically located over the lower slopes of the rock as several terraces facing the Uva valley. The garden is in the subtropical climate range which results an alpine atmosphere with a temperature that ranges from 3-15 degrees of centigrade. Both the South-West and the North-East monsoons bring rain to the garden at an annual average of 2300 milimetres. Plants of the garden represent indigenous, montane flora plus plants from other subtropical regions introduced from foreign countries. Plants are arranged in number of specific plots thus dividing the garden in to different mini-gardens. It is parted in to rose garden, fernery, upper and lower flower gardens, rock garden and Japanese garden. Lilies are found in the bulb garden. Colourful mixed flower beds structured according different horticulture techniques border the neatly cut lawns. Success story of this beautiful landscape is not a bed of roses. It is the dedicated, hard labour of the garden staff from the curator to the worker who attend to the flower beds. "Staff of a botanic garden need to be on the job around the clock," said Curator D.J. Senaratne. "We have workers quarters within the garden and very recently it was completely repaired at a cost of Rs. 2.9 million as part of the development program for the garden," said Senaratne. Today the Hakgala Botanic Garden is managed under the Department of National Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya under the Ministry of Economic Development.

Vast development programs are carried out to upgrade the level of national botanical gardens of Sri Lanka under the directives of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. In shaping up the Hakgala Garden development work takes place in two phases - i.e building and structural reconstructions and land improvements. Under these development activities structural renovations, repairing the circuit bungalow and the poly tunnel, preparing maps and signboards for visitors is under way this year. More than Rs. 5.8 million is allocated for development in 2010.

Signboards displaying details of the plants is available at every point which systematically educate visitors of the value of flora, irrespective of the tourists' intention of the visit. With a total allocation of around Rs.1.4 million the circuit bungalow is reconstructed and 80% of the work is completed up to date. Concrete slabs are laid along the foot paths making the journey through the garden easier for visitors coming from all walks of life. According to the curator foot paths of the rock garden only remains and by finishing the repairs of these tracks repair works on foot paths will be totally completed by end of this year. A vehicle park is under construction along the side of the road on either side of the entrance to the park. "At times we get a large number of visitors mainly during the season and parking the vehicles at the owners risk was creating huge road traffic. So the new vehicle park is under construction and will be completed soon," said Senaratne.

The hard work bears fruit. The Garden succeeded in earning over Rs. 12.9 million as at August 31, 2010. Compared to the total earnings for 2009 which is approximately Rs. 11.5 million this year is a great achievement. Nearly 514,790 people - both local and foreign tourists - have visited the garden in 2009 and within the first eight months of 2010 the total number of visitors are 337,769. As at end of August this year 6,493 foreigners have visited the park whereas only 3,650 visited during the corresponding period of the last year. In 2009 the garden earned approximately Rs. 9.6 million from the entrance fees. The sum in 2010 just within the first eight months was over Rs. 11 million. The total income in 2010 up to end August is over Rs.12.9 million - nearly Rs. 1.4 million more than 2009 income.

Supporting these success stories Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs. 10 million as instructed by Minister Rajapaksa to further upgrade the Hakgala botanic gardens completing the most urgent requirements. "To expedite our service not only the worker staff but we need to have our officers within the garden premises as well. So next step to include constructing officers' quarters as well," Senaratne said. Plans are drafted to set up a laboratory in order to expand the ex-situ conservation of montane flora as a part of the responsibility the garden shoulders. While protecting and preserving the religious and historic trees and spreading information and knowledge of flora and floriculture the garden staff conduct training courses for public on plant conservation, floriculture and landscaping.

The most stunning phase of the Hakgala Gardens is yet to come. Garden staff will start readying the garden by December for the big show in April next year. They will prune the rose bushes by January to have beautiful flowers by April. So the next time you visit Hakgala Botanic Garden be not surprised if it looked like the heaven fallen on earth.