Hakgala Botanic Gardens
Hakgala Botanic Gardens
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4.0
649 reviews
Excellent
262
Very good
238
Average
110
Poor
22
Terrible
17
Nimasha vithanage
Yatiyantota, Sri Lanka10 contributions
Feb 2021 • Friends
This story is about a beautiful experience i had when i was in high school. Even though the school teachers say it's an educational trip, it's a really a fun trip for us. One day we took abus to cold Nuwara Eliya with my friends. We sang and danced until we reached the tourist spots, but after getting of the bus, we made sure to preserve the school's reputation. The first stop on the trip is the Peradeniya Botanic Garden. There was a special reasonto choose the botanical garden. It's a " landscaping " lesson. We looked closely at the different methods plants were grown on a large scale. Whatever the plants, it was beautifully cultivated to a certain patters. The next stop was the " Adisham Bungalow" in Bandarawela, Badulla. It is a flower garden in the fullest sense of the word. The eyes are unbelievably pink. Surrounding plne plants. Phineas is a plant that i reallt love, even if it's meaningless. Finally we entered Hakgala park. Many foreign tourists also came to seeit. As the day was coming to an end, I bega to feel the coolness of the environment. I walked around the garden and saw the beauty of the flowers and palnts and did not forget to take photos with my friends in the evening, everyone gathered in one place and the other school friends sang ang danced in the garden. The teachers looked at me with a smile and i went to one side and applauded and sang school time is the foundation of the future life. There is no doubt that the experience gained through it will never be forgotten.
Written January 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelfather59
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia485 contributions
Jan 2020
WE had the advantage of a lovely day at these gardens. I suggest a buggy which is cheap to cover the entire gardens. We stopped by a number of attractions here. There was the cactus and succulents gardens which was worth. It was not rose season as we were told it blooms in April. albeit was worth spending half a day here. thia is also a bird watchers paradise
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Khalaf K
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates283 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
HAKGALA Botanic Gardens in Sir Lanka is not like other botanical gardens I visited before. The variety and organization of the garden is something noticeable. Although I visited during December and it’s not a preferable seasons. I’m very impressed about it and number of plants planted and the size of the garden. If I will suggest something it will be about the signage of direction that can be improved and enhanced.
Also if you had a chance to visit during April - July will be even better since it is spring and will see the flowers totally different.
Also if you had a chance to visit during April - July will be even better since it is spring and will see the flowers totally different.
Written December 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lenb277
40 contributions
Dec 2019
This is an amazing botanical garden outside Nuwara Eliya. We loved exploring the small paths up the hill, especially the fern garden. Definitely worth a visit (ideally when you aren't pressed for time).
Written December 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saif A
Muscat608 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
It is a very good garden but hilly and you have to be physically fit to spend 2.5 hrs walking around to admire the garden. Alternative you can rent a golf cart with driver for 2 person total 1000 rupees for 1hr. Entrance fee for foreigners is 2500 per person some usd 15. First time to see green roses.
Recommended
Recommended
Written December 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Uday V
Pune, India79 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
This is a must see. Golf carts are available & must be used because the driver is also a good guide who can educate you about the flora & fauna. Neatly labled garden with local, international species surviving. Supposed to be associated with great Indian epic Ramayana.
Written December 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AZVI A.B.M
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka154 contributions
Apr 2018
Hakgala Botanical Garden is situated on the Nuwara Eliya-Badulla main road, 16 km from Nuwara Eliya. The garden has a cool temperate climate because of altitude is 5,400 feet above the sea level. The mean annual temperature ranges between 16 °C to 30 °C during course of a year. From December to February it has a cold climate, while the warm climate persists from April to August.
Written September 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HardieBoys
Sydney, Australia270 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
The Hakgala Botanic Garden, just outside of Nuwara Eliya, is definitely worth a visit. As some have noted, the entry fee for foreigners (LKR1500) may seem a little expensive, but as a visitor, you can see where the entrance fee is going. An army of gardeners keeps this place very well tended.
The garden is at an altitude of around 1700 metres, and features a lot of temperate plants and trees. Monterrey Cypresses features prominently here, but there are also Bunya Bunya Pines and Norfolk Island Pine Trees from Australia. There's a rose garden, several greenhouses, a rock garden, and also a Japanese garden. I thought the Japanese garden was lovely, but struggled to see much relation to traditional Japanese gardens. There is also a section of the garden that was part of a tea plantation, where camellia sinensis trees have been allowed to grow out. I was fascinated to see them, as they grow to 10 - 13 metres once they're no longer pruned tightly.
I'd recommend getting to the gardens early, as they are pretty popular. There's a small canteen inside, but there are a lots of small shops immediately outside the gates.
I'll let the photos of this place speak for themselves...
The garden is at an altitude of around 1700 metres, and features a lot of temperate plants and trees. Monterrey Cypresses features prominently here, but there are also Bunya Bunya Pines and Norfolk Island Pine Trees from Australia. There's a rose garden, several greenhouses, a rock garden, and also a Japanese garden. I thought the Japanese garden was lovely, but struggled to see much relation to traditional Japanese gardens. There is also a section of the garden that was part of a tea plantation, where camellia sinensis trees have been allowed to grow out. I was fascinated to see them, as they grow to 10 - 13 metres once they're no longer pruned tightly.
I'd recommend getting to the gardens early, as they are pretty popular. There's a small canteen inside, but there are a lots of small shops immediately outside the gates.
I'll let the photos of this place speak for themselves...
Written December 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beverley_13C
Vilnius, Lithuania34 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The entrance to the gardens is impressive and they are extensive and seem to be well laid out. There was quite a lot of renovation/maintenance taking place. We visited on a very rainy day so some areas were too wet, slippery or muddy to get to. It is not the best time of the year for many of the flowers but the trees are magnificent. At 1500 SLR per person it is much more expensive than the beautiful gardens in Kandy.
Written November 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaniz K
Dhaka City, Bangladesh4,643 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
A nice Botanical Garden with lots of trees, shrubs, flowers, bushes on hilly terrain. For foreigners, it is a bit expensive, Rs.1500 (USD =10). Those who can not walk on hilly areas, are discouraged. Lots of ups and downs. I was getting tired. On my way took lots of pictures of flowers and trees. Nice place to relax. The area is quite huge and takes lots of time. I walked for about an hour and then started to get down. My husband decided to stay on the road and have tea as it was difficult for him to walk up hill. Walking shoes, raincoat, or umbrella for sudden rains, Caps and camera will be helpful. Many places are not very even, so walk carefully. I went there alone but did not feel scared. Many local tourists were there. Part of the park was quiet and had a deserted look.
Written July 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,, yes you can see flower. There are two season. First is April, and the next is during the month of August.
August is seen as the mini season, and generally is not as grand as April.
Written June 21, 2017
Can we drive a SUV car inside the garden?
Written March 14, 2017
No. But you have ample parking near the gates.
Written April 18, 2017
Yes, but limited supply of fresh flowers. If you are looking for flower plants, this would be the cheapest location to buy. Some nice plants are sold Rs 20, Rs 25, Rs 50 which could be easily priced more than Rs 100 out side.
Don't miss very nice collection of succulent plants are there.
Written April 18, 2017
There are no rooms at the Kakgala Botanic Gardens. We stayed at the Hill Club when we were there.
Written May 7, 2015
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