Hakgala Botanical Garden

Last updated
Hakgala Botanical Garden
Hakgala Botanical Garden.jpg
Entrance of the garden
Hakgala Botanical Garden
Type Botanical garden
LocationHakgala, Nuwara Eliya
Coordinates 6°55′38.5″N80°49′12.2″E / 6.927361°N 80.820056°E / 6.927361; 80.820056 (Hakgala Botanical Garden)
AreaNuwara Eliya
Created1861
Operated byDepartment of Agriculture, Sri Lanka
Visitors563,586 (2023)
StatusOpen all year
Website Department of National Botanic Gardens

Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The other four are Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden and Seetawaka Botanical Garden. It is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka. [1] The garden is contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve. [2]

Contents

Location and climate

Hakgala Botanical Garden is situated on the Nuwara Eliya-Badulla main road, 16 km from Nuwara Eliya and extends for about 28 hectares. The garden has a cool temperate climate because its altitude is 5,500 feet above sea level. The mean annual temperature ranges between 16 °C to 30 °C during the course of a year. From December to February, it has a cold climate, while the warm climate persists from April to August. [3]

History

The garden was established in 1861, under George Henry Kendrick Thwaites as an experimental cultivation of cinchona, a commercial crop thriving at the time. Once after tea replaced the cinchona, it was turned into an experimental tea cultivation. In 1884 it transformed into a garden. Since then many subtropical and some temperate plants have been planted in the gardens. [3]

Mythology

In Hindu mythology, it says that the Lankan King Ravana, after abducting Sita, kept her hidden in this area, and the area was offered to Sita as a pleasure garden. The place finds mention in the Ramayana as Ashok Vatika.[ citation needed ] The area was named "Sita Eliya," and "Sita Amman Temple" was built on the site. [3]

Visitor attraction

Over 10,000 species of flora are planted here and during the spring season in Nuwara Eliya, thousands of visitors come to see the blooms here. The garden is famous for several species of orchids and roses present in this garden. [3] In 2023, 548,742 domestic and 14,844 foreign tourists visited the garden. [4]

Notes

  1. "History and Introduction". agridept.gov.lk. Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  2. Green, Michael J. B. (1990). IUCN directory of South Asian protected areas. IUCN. pp. 211–213. ISBN   2-8317-0030-2 . Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Abeywardena 2004: pp. 344-45
  4. "Annual Performance Report 2023" (PDF). parliament.lk. Department of National Botanic Gardens. 2003. p. 15. Retrieved 16 December 2024.

Related Research Articles

<i>Cinchona</i> Genus of plants, source of quinine

Cinchona is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae containing at least 23 species of trees and shrubs. All are native to the tropical Andean forests of western South America. A few species are reportedly naturalized in Central America, Jamaica, French Polynesia, Sulawesi, Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, and São Tomé and Príncipe off the coast of tropical Africa, and others have been cultivated in India and Java, where they have formed hybrids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandy</span> City in the Central Province of Sri Lanka

Kandy is a major city located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Historically the local Buddhist rulers resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial expansion and occupation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuwara Eliya</span> City in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means "city on the plain " or "city of light". The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is known for its temperate, cool climate – the coolest area in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pussellawa</span> Place in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Pussellawa Sinhala: පුස්සැල්ලාව. Tamil: புசல்லாவ, is a l town in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. It is located along the A5 road between Gampola and Nuwara Eliya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Sri Lanka</span>

The primary form of agriculture in Sri Lanka is rice production. Rice is cultivated during Maha and Yala seasons. Tea is cultivated in the central highlands and is a major source of foreign exchange. Vegetables, fruits and oilseed crops are also cultivated in the country. There are two Agriculture Parks abbreviated as A. Parks established by the Department of Agriculture. Out of the total population in Sri Lanka, 27.1% engages in agricultural activities. Agriculture accounted for 7.4% of the GDP in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya</span> Botanical garden in Sri Lanka

Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya are 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. 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. Attached to it is the "National Herbarium of Sri Lanka". 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashoka Vatika</span> Legendary garden described in the Ramayana

Ashoka Vatika is a grove in Lanka that is located in the kingdom of the rakshasa king Ravana. It is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and the Hindu epic Ramayana of Valmiki, and all subsequent versions, including the Ramacharitamanas written by Tulsidas, where it finds mention in the Sundara Kanda. The Vatika has garden houses around it, built by Vishvakarma himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve</span>

Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve is one of the three strict nature reserves in Sri Lanka, the only one in the wet zone. The reserve is an important although isolated cloud forest which supports a number of faunal species including some endemics. The area was designated a strict nature reserve on 25 February 1938. The reserve is adjacent to and contiguous with the Hakgala Botanical Garden which was founded in 1860.

Nuwara Eliya electoral district is one of the 22 multi-member electoral districts of Sri Lanka created by the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka. The district is conterminous with the administrative district of Nuwara Eliya in the Central province. The district currently elects 7 of the 225 members of the Sri Lankan Parliament and had 457,137 registered electors in 2010. The district is Sri Lanka's Electorate Number 06.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seetha Amman Temple</span> Hindu temple in Sri Lanka

Seetha Amman Temple, or Seetha Eliya Seethai Amman Thirukkovil, also known as Ashok Vatika Sita Temple, is an ancient Vaishnavite Hindu temple located in the Nuwara Eliya District of Central Sri Lanka. The temple's folklore is deeply connected to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. According to the epic, after Sita was abducted by King Ravana of Lanka, she was brought to this location. Ravana sought vengeance against Rama and Lakshmana to avenge the disrespect shown to his sister, Shurpanakha.

Ginigathena is a small town in Sri Lanka located within Central Province in the Nuwara Eliya District. It is the central point to reach Hatton and Nawalapitiya. The Beauty of Tea Estates of Nuwara Eliya District starts from Ginigathena. Ginigathena is populated with Sinhalese and Tamils. Aberdeen Falls, one of the least known waterfalls of Sri Lanka is situated in Ginigathena. One of the very few real tree houses and the only pine tree house of Sri Lanka, "The Tree House" and Hotel Breeta's Garden also situated in Ginigathena. Ginigathena has the majesty of accumulating the branches of Kelani and Mahaweli rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hakgala</span>

Hakgala is a mountain situated in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka at 2,169 m (7,116 ft) above mean sea level, most parts of the mountain are covered with forest belonging to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve. Hakgala Botanical Garden is situated on the northeastern slope of the Hakgala Mountain. The southwestern side of the mountain has a wet climate compared to the northeastern slope since the southwestern part faces directly to the southwest Monsoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talawakelle</span> Place in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Talawakelle is a town in Nuwara Eliya District in the Central Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is the centre of the Dimbula tea planting district, the largest tea growing area in Sri Lanka. It is situated on A7 Colombo-Nuwara Eliya highway. The altitude of Talawakelle is 1,198 metres (3,930 ft). Talawakelle railway station is one of the major stops of Udarata or Main railway line. The town is administered by Talawakelle-Lindula urban council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya</span>

Victoria Park is a public park located in Nuwara Eliya, next to the Nuwara Eliya Post Office in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walapane</span> Town in Sri Lanka

Walapane is a town located in Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. It is a high country area with many green mountains. It was called Wathtumulla in the past. The name Watumulla derived from the former tea factory which was located in the heart of the Walapane town and now demolished since the production of Wattumulla Plantation declined. Walapane is administered by the government of *Sri Lanka through *Walapane Divisional Secretariat.

Lion Brewery or Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC is a predominantly Sri Lankan owned and operated brewery. The company is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and its stock is part of the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index. Lion Brewery produces the highest selling beer, Lion Lager, in both Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

<i>Aspidura trachyprocta</i> Species of snake

Aspidura trachyprocta, the common rough-sided snake, known as දලව මැඩිල්ලා in Sinhala, is a colubrid species endemic to Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seethawaka Botanical Garden</span> Botanical garden in Sri Lanka

Seethawaka Botanical Garden, or Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located in Sri Lanka which mainly serves as a research area and a conservation area for threatened and vulnerable endemic plant species in the Sinharaja Rain Forest region. Improving export floriculture, ex situ conservation of wet lowland plants, and bamboo cultivation are also promoted in this garden. The garden was opened to the public in late October 2014 and it is the most recently constructed botanical garden in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tea production in Sri Lanka</span> Production of tea in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a climate and varied elevation that allows for the production of both Camellia sinensis var. assamica and Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, with the assamica varietal holding the majority of production. Tea production is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, and accounts for 2% of GDP, contributing over US$1.3 billion in 2021 to the economy of Sri Lanka. It employs, directly or indirectly, over 1 million people, and in 1995 directly employed 215,338 on tea plantations and estates. In addition, tea planting by smallholders is the source of employment for thousands whilst it is also the main form of livelihood for tens of thousands of families. Sri Lanka is the world's fourth-largest producer of tea. In 1995, it was the world's leading exporter of tea, with 23% of the total world export, and Sri Lanka ranked second on tea export earnings in 2020 after China. The highest production of 340 million kg was recorded in 2013, while the production in 2014 was slightly reduced to 338 million kg. India has additionally guaranteed Sri Lanka a shipment of 65,000 metric tons of urea. Sri Lanka's troubled execution of an organic agriculture initiative had pushed the country perilously close to an agricultural crisis. Given the surge in global fertilizer prices, it is improbable that Sri Lanka could procure fertilizer at prevailing market rates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Spearman Armstrong</span> Irish-born pioneer of tea and cinchona in Ceylon

Charles Spearman Armstrong (1847–1924) was an Irish-born pioneer of tea and cinchona in British Ceylon, where he arrived in 1863.

References