Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the main gate on the Peradeniya Road the line goes north past the Spice Garden to the Palmyra Palm Avenue, on round the north-east of the gardens and west to the Great Lawn, then south along River Drive on the west side, past the Lanka Pond, which may be the Lake the Department's page lists, to South Drive, and back along Lake Drive to the gate. The Department of National Botanic Gardens says the gardens (රාජකීය උද්භිද උද්යානය in Sinhala on OpenStreetMap) were established in 1821, occupy a loop of the Mahaweli river and hold more than 4000 species of plants. Its page names the Orchid House, Fernery, Great Lawn, the Lake, Spice Garden, Double Coconut Palms, Flower Garden, Plant House and Cacti, Bamboo Collection and the Arboretum, and advises walking round the gardens to see them; the line does not aim for the Orchid House or the Flower Garden, which OpenStreetMap does not name.
It is 2.5 km round and flat, with 19 m of ascent by the router's heights; allow about an hour and a half with stops, as there is a great deal to look at. The grade is Easy: every metre is on a paved footway or path.
The Department's page for Peradeniya gives opening hours of 7.30 AM to 6.00 PM, ticketing hours of 7.30 AM to 5.00 PM and says it is open 365 days. It lists an entrance fee for overseas tourists of LKR 3,540 for an adult (over 12), LKR 2,360 for a student (proof needed) and LKR 1,770 for a child of 5 to 12, per ticket. It lists no fee for Sri Lankan visitors and carries no date, so ask at the gate. Its cafe and restaurant open 08.00 AM to 5.00 PM.
The street-side parking 'Peradeniya Garden' on OpenStreetMap is 60 m from the main entrance, and Peradeniya Junction railway station is about 1.4 km away. OpenStreetMap maps toilets and drinking-water points in the gardens. The Botanical Garden Suspension Bridge at the north-west corner is tagged as no access and is not used. The FCDO warns of heavy rain, flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka; inter-monsoon rain falls mainly in the afternoon or evening.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The Department of National Botanic Gardens says the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya were established in 1821, occupy a loop of the Mahaweli river, and hold more than 4000 species of plants
- The Department gives the extent as 147 acres (59 hectares) in one place and 61.25 hectares in another
- The Department's page lists the Orchid House, Fernery, Great Lawn, the Lake, Spice Garden, Double Coconut Palms, Flower Garden, Plant House and Cacti, Bamboo Collection, and the Arboretum, and advises visitors to walk round the gardens to explore this compact garden
- OpenStreetMap maps the gardens' drives as footways and names Palmyra Palm Avenue, River Drive, Lake Drive, South Drive and Monument Road
Getting there
Start: Royal Botanic Gardens main gate, Peradeniya. 7.26817, 80.59678
Directions to the start
By train: Peradeniya Jct. station is 1.4 km from the start.
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Royal Botanic Gardens main gate: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.