Hakgala Gardens
Founded by eminent British botanist, Dr G.H.K. Thwaites in 1860,
Hakgala was set up to supply the British Empire with cinchona to fight
the scourge of malaria. The cinchona is long gone and instead Hakgala
has plantations of roses, shrubs, orchids, ferns, camphor, eucalyptus,
and montane woodland. Situated 10km from Nuwara Eliya at an elevation of
1,670m, it enjoys magnificent views east to the steep hills of the Uva
Province.
 Hakgala has many special features and attractions. As you walk from
the lower gardens near to the entrance and past the pond you can admire
the lotus lilies and make your way up to the Rose Garden through paths
marked with camellias, scented by jasmine and brightened by yellow
marigolds. Trees provide shade though they are high enough above and far
enough in-between for you to have an open view of the valley below. In
keeping with the horticultural theme of Nuwara Eliya there is a Fruit
Garden that you can visit, while an outside path leads to an old tea
plantation, and also to a camphor plantation.
There is an Orchid section at the top of the gardens, with many
montane orchids endemic to Sri Lanka, a Japanese Garden and Scented Herb
Garden. The Glass House is worth a look as it is beautifully arranged
around a mossy tree with familiarly scented geraniums, and the blues,
mauves and purples of the primula plants. Looking down the mountainside
from here yo
Founded by the eminent British botanist, Dr G.H.K. Thwaites in 1860,
Hakgala was established at the height of imperial botany to supply the
British Empire with cinchona to fight the scourge of malaria. The
cinchona is long gone and instead Hakgala has plantations of roses,
shrubs, orchids, ferns, camphor, eucalyptus, and montane woodland.
Situated 10km from Nuwara Eliya at an elevation of 1,670m, it enjoys
magnificent views east to the steep hills of the Uva Province.
The garden is aesthetically pleasing in every way and you experience
an enchanting and magical part of Sri Lanka that you never dreamed could
exist
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