Quick answer
Hakgala Botanical Garden lies roughly 10 kilometres south-east of Nuwara Eliya on the Badulla road, at about 1,700 metres beneath Hakgala Rock. It was begun in 1861 as a cinchona plantation for quinine and later became a garden for temperate plants. Highlights are the terraced rose garden, ferneries, a stream and cloud forest with purple-faced langurs. Allow two to three hours. Roses are usually best from roughly March to May. Foreign visitors pay an entrance fee; confirm the amount on the day.
Key takeaways
- Hakgala Botanical Garden is roughly 10 kilometres south-east of Nuwara Eliya, a 20 to 25 minute drive.
- Hakgala Botanical Garden was begun in 1861 as an experimental plantation of cinchona, the source of quinine.
- The terraced rose garden at Hakgala is usually at its best from roughly March to May.
- Purple-faced langurs, an endemic monkey, are often seen in the trees around Hakgala Botanical Garden.
- The Seetha Amman Temple lies on the same road as Hakgala, about four to five kilometres closer to Nuwara Eliya.
What Hakgala Botanical Garden is
Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of Sri Lanka's three main botanic gardens, alongside Peradeniya near Kandy and Henarathgoda at Gampaha. It sits at about 1,700 metres on the slopes below Hakgala Rock, roughly 10 kilometres south-east of Nuwara Eliya, and specialises in plants of cool climates.
Hakgala Botanical Garden was begun in 1861 to grow cinchona, whose bark yields quinine, then vital against malaria. When cinchona declined, the garden turned to trials of temperate crops and ornamentals. Many of the vegetables and flowers now grown around Nuwara Eliya passed through it.
Highlights of the garden
Hakgala Botanical Garden's most famous feature is its terraced rose garden, with beds of many varieties climbing the slope. Ferneries hold tree ferns and smaller species from Sri Lanka's cloud forests. A stream runs through the garden, crossed by small bridges, and lawns are dotted with old conifers and flowering trees.
Hakgala Botanical Garden also has a Japanese-style garden, a cactus house, orchid displays and views up to the rock. Above the garden, the Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve protects montane forest; visitors cannot enter the reserve but can see its edge.
- →The rose garden: terraced beds, best roughly March to May.
- →The ferneries: tree ferns and endemic species.
- →The stream and bridges: the most photogenic corner.
- →The view of Hakgala Rock above the garden.
Monkeys and birds
Hakgala Botanical Garden is a good place to see purple-faced langurs, an endemic leaf-eating monkey with a pale face and dark coat. Troops move through the trees near the upper paths. Do not feed them. Toque macaques are also present and bolder.
Hakgala Botanical Garden's birdlife includes hill species such as the yellow-eared bulbul and Sri Lanka white-eye, and wintering migrants from about November to March. Early morning is best for birds and for quiet paths.
- →Purple-faced langur: endemic, usually shy.
- →Toque macaque: bolder; keep food out of sight.
- →Birds: best before 9am.
The Ramayana connection
Hakgala is linked in popular tradition with the Ramayana. Some accounts say the rock is part of the Himalayan mountain carried by Hanuman, and the surrounding area is identified by many devotees with the garden where Sita was held. The Seetha Amman Temple, a few kilometres back towards Nuwara Eliya, is the focus of that tradition.
Hakgala's legends draw many Indian visitors, who often visit the garden and the temple on the same morning. Whatever you make of the stories, they add another layer to a place most people come to for roses.
Visiting practicalities
Hakgala Botanical Garden is roughly 20 to 25 minutes from Nuwara Eliya by car or tuk-tuk on the Badulla road. Foreign visitors pay an entrance fee; the amount changes, so confirm on the day. Paths are steep in places and slippery after rain. There is a café and toilets near the entrance.
Hakgala Botanical Garden takes two to three hours at a relaxed pace. Lankan Stays & Trails usually pairs it with the Seetha Amman Temple and a strawberry farm on the same road, returning to Nuwara Eliya for lunch.
- →Time needed: two to three hours.
- →Best time: morning, before cloud.
- →Footwear: shoes with grip for the steep paths.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Hakgala Botanical Garden from Nuwara Eliya?
Hakgala Botanical Garden is roughly 10 kilometres south-east of Nuwara Eliya on the road to Badulla, about 20 to 25 minutes by car or tuk-tuk. The Seetha Amman Temple lies on the same road, closer to town.
How long do you need at Hakgala Botanical Garden?
Most visitors need two to three hours at Hakgala Botanical Garden to see the rose garden, ferneries and stream at a relaxed pace. Garden enthusiasts and birders can easily spend half a day. Paths are steep in places, so allow extra time.
When is the best time to visit Hakgala Botanical Garden?
The best time to visit Hakgala Botanical Garden is in the morning, from roughly March to May, when the roses are in bloom and skies are often clear. January to March is also clear but cooler. Avoid April weekends if you dislike crowds.
Is Hakgala Botanical Garden worth visiting?
Hakgala Botanical Garden is worth visiting for anyone who enjoys gardens, ferns or roses, and it is the best half-day trip from Nuwara Eliya after Horton Plains. Combined with the Seetha Amman Temple, it makes a varied morning.
What is Hakgala famous for?
Hakgala is famous for its botanical garden, especially the terraced rose garden, and for Hakgala Rock, which looms above it. It is also linked in tradition with the Ramayana. The garden began in 1861 as a cinchona plantation for quinine.
Can you see monkeys at Hakgala?
You can often see monkeys at Hakgala Botanical Garden, including the endemic purple-faced langur and the toque macaque. Langurs are shy and stay in the trees; macaques are bolder. Do not feed either, and keep food out of sight.