Hakgala Botanic Gardens:

A Floral Paradise Beneath Elephant’s Jaw Rock Perched at an altitude of 1,745 meters, just below the dramatic Hakgala Rock (locally known as “Elephant’s Jaw”), the Hakgala Botanic Gardens are a botanical haven in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Spanning 28 hectares, this enchanting garden offers panoramic views of the Uva Valley and Namunukula mountain range, all set against the backdrop of a cool, misty climate.

🌡️ Climate: 3°C–15°C
🌧️ Annual Rainfall: ~2,300 mm
🌸 Best Time to Visit: Mid-March to April – during the famous Nuwara Eliya Season, when the gardens are in full bloom.

📍 Garden Layout & Highlights

🚪 Main Entrance

Iconic “HAKGALA” sign in stone and metal.
A scenic flower-lined driveway with mixed floral borders sets the tone for your visit.

💦 Central Pond & Bulb Garden

Tranquil pond dotted with yellow water lilies.
Towering Bunya Bunya Pine and native Mihiriya trees provide shade and drama.
The 1924 Bulb Garden blooms with lilies and gladiolus sourced from Holland and Japan.

🌷 Lower Flower Garden
Explosions of seasonal color with annual blooms like the flame bush (Streptosolen jamesoni).
Exotic trees including:

Camphor (China)
Silkworm Oak (Japan)
Visit the 1910 Summer House, built in memory of former curator J.K. Nock.

🌹 Rose Garden

Twin terraces filled with vibrant English and American rose varieties.
Behind the rose beds, discover herbaceous borders bursting with color.

🏺 Glass House

A treasure trove of tropical indoor plants:

Begonias
African violets
Cacti and succulents

🌺 Upper Flower Garden

Home to a miniature rose collection and blooming Jacaranda trees (mauve blossoms).
Botanical wonders include:

Montezuma Pine (Mexico)
Japanese Cedar

🌿 Fernery & Arboretum

A lush, shaded space with woolly tree ferns, moss-covered paths, and rare highland species.
Spot endemic trees like Elaeocarpus montanus.

🚪 Exit Drive

Vibrant borders of Azaleas and Camellias.
Lined with a striking Monterey cypress hedge (California origin).

🚗────── 🏞️ ✈️ 🏕️ ──────🚗