Peradeniya Botanic Garden

The Peradeniya Botanic Garden is about 5.5 km to the west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. In 2016, the garden was visited by 1.2 million locals and 400,000 foreign visitors. It is near the Mahaweli River - the longest river in Sri Lanka. It is renowned for its collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall. It is managed by the Department of national botanic gardens.

The Peradeniya Garden is the best and largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka.

This garden was established in 1821 for the receipt and experimentation of plants introduced for economic and environmental development. Currently the garden is engaged in activities related to authentication, ethno-botany, floriculture and primarily ex-situ conservation of plants. However its history dates back to the 14th century when Royalty ruled the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It was a Royal Gardens from 1780 – 1798.