Highlights
- A hill garden of flowers, ferns and tall trees
- Started in the 1860s to grow cinchona for quinine
- Formal flower beds and a famous rose garden
- One of the highest botanical gardens in Sri Lanka
Overview
Hakgala Botanical Gardens lie on the slopes of Hakgala Rock, about 10 km from Nuwara Eliya on the road to Welimada. Started in 1861 as a cinchona plantation, used for making quinine, it was later turned into a botanical garden. It is one of the three main botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, with Peradeniya and Gampaha.
What you see
- The rose garden: beds of many rose varieties, best in the flowering season.
- Ferns and tree ferns: a fernery with species from Sri Lanka and abroad.
- Flower beds and lawns: terraced on the slope, with views towards the hills.
- Cloud forest: on the upper slopes, with birds and sometimes monkeys.
The Ramayana link
Tradition says Hakgala was the pleasure garden where Ravana kept Sita, and that the rock is part of the mountain Hanuman carried from the Himalaya. The Seetha Amman temple is close by.
Fees (2026)
Foreign adults pay an entry fee of roughly LKR 3,500 according to 2026 guides; check the current rate at the gate. This was not confirmed by official sources; check at the gate.
How long it takes
About one to two hours.
When to go
Morning, before mist rolls in. April and May are often good for flowers.
Getting there
About 20 minutes by road from Nuwara Eliya. Buses to Welimada pass the gate.
Practical tips
- Paths are steep in places; wear good shoes.
- Bring a jacket.
Combine with Divurumpola, or see things to do in Nuwara Eliya and Nuwara Eliya hotels.
Prices are as of October 2026 and may change.