Botanical diversity and university theatre culture come together in Peradeniya as two distinct themes. The Royal Botanic Gardens give the area a clear botanical focus; several stages are associated with the University of Peradeniya and its performances. The landscape is also distinctive: the Mahaweli River loops around the garden grounds, except on the south side, where the main road forms its boundary.

Royal Botanic Gardens: Plants and Garden Spaces

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya were founded in 1821. More than 4,000 plant species grow on the grounds, including trees and shrubs, palms, ferns, orchids and bushes; the number of species may change over time. The Orchid House is one of the gardens’ main attractions. It displays flowers from Cattleya, Dendrobium, Arachnis, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis and Vanda, as well as hybrids of these genera. The plant display may vary.

Exploring the gardens on foot is recommended. The Fernery is next to the Flower Garden: Intersecting paths and tall, shade-providing trees define this area, which is home to a collection of about 100 native and exotic fern species. The Great Lawn is near Monument Road. At its center stands a Java Willow, also known as the Java Fig Tree (Ficus benjamina), which dominates the lawn like a large living umbrella.

The shaded Spice Garden to the right of the main entrance features cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and nutmeg, among other plants. Some of the oldest nutmeg trees were planted in 1840 and still bear fruit. Together with the Fernery and the Great Lawn, this garden area shows how varied the botanical themes are within the grounds.

Theatre and University Culture

The Sarachchandra Open Air Theatre is south of the Arts Building. It is associated with performances of plays by the University of Peradeniya and external groups. The University of Peradeniya’s Drama Festival is also associated with this theatre. It is named in honour of Professor E.R. Sarachchandra, recognizing his contribution to Sinhala drama during his time at the University of Peradeniya.

Other performance venues associated with the university include the E.O.E. Pereira Theatre in the Engineering Faculty and the Little Theatre in the Student Centre. Both are associated with performances of plays by the University of Peradeniya and external groups. Visiting the Museum of Human Anatomy at the Department of Anatomy of the University of Peradeniya, however, requires prior permission from the Vice Chancellor. The museum displays elegant portraits and artworks by a talented artist and also serves as an art gallery.

Discoveries Nearby

The Agro Technology Park Gannoruwa is near Peradeniya. It has more than 30 agricultural demonstration plots, as well as a model home garden, a museum, a spice garden and a traditional Hela Bojun Food Court, among other facilities. The park offers a different focus from the botanical collections, with agricultural demonstrations and related facilities taking center stage.

The architecture of the University of Peradeniya campus is also considered a major tourist attraction. The university is in central Kandy, making it a separate point of interest nearby. The gardens in Peradeniya and the campus architecture can therefore be explored as distinct themes without conflating them into a single location.

The botanical focus ranges from great species diversity to clearly distinct garden spaces, while the theatre and museum offer further cultural points of interest. If you choose Peradeniya, you will find both specific nature-related attractions and university-related culture; nearby, the Agro Technology Park adds agriculture and spices to the mix.

Discover more destinations: Gampola, Daulagala, Digana, Nawalapitiya, Hedeniya, Wattegama, Kadugannawa, Kandy.

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