Hakgala Botanical Gardens

Hakgala Botanical Garden lies about 10 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya. The garden is the second largest in the island with a fine rose garden, a Japanese garden, tall cypress trees and an exquisite orchid collection. It was established in 1861 as an experimental Chichona cultivation under the directions of George Henry Kendrick Thwaites, however when tea became the main crop it was converted to an experimental tea cultivation. Later in 1884 it was fully converted into a botanical garden.