Hambantota Botanical Garden

Sri Lanka's first-ever botanical gardens in the dry zone, soon to be the largest in the island, is now being developed at a 300-acre site at Mirijjawila, Hambantota. On the Suriyawewa-Hambantota Road, the Gardens is aimed at conserving the massive green patch and bio diversity in the area, according to National Botanical Gardens Department Director General Dr. Cyril Wijesundara.
He told the Business Times that this space will be like Central Park in New York, on completion, and pave the way to attract both domestic and foreign tourists to this southern town, fast turning out to be a hub of the south with the development of air and seaports and other facilities. This is the country's first new botanical gardens built in Sri Lanka in 130 years after the Senarathgoda Garden in Gampaha in 1876, and the Peradeniya Gardens long before that.
The first phase of the Hambantota project will be completed in November this year at a cost of Rs.500 million. Construction work of the internal roads underground pipe lines, irrigation canals and plant nurseries has been completed and the planting of trees like burutha (Burma teak), domba, ehela, gammalu, hal milla, helamba ingini, kaluwara, khomba, kon, kottamba, etc is now underway.The park will be opened to the general public next year. The main purpose of the new gardens is to showcase dry and arid zone plants (ex-situ conservation). The garden will also provide opportunities for ecotourism and economic development in the area and model dry zone landscape improvement.
Dr. Wijesundara noted that the new botanical gardens will provide for the conservation of dry and arid zone flora. Additionally, researchers and interested parties would be able to study less known and under-utilized plants in the dry zone. "When it comes to a tourist attraction, foreign tourists especially are keen on learning about the dry zone landscape improvement, herbal industry promotion etc.
Moreover the botanical gardens will be an educational and training centre of Botany and flora," he said. Experience of running the national botanic gardens of Peradeniya and Hakgala has demonstrated the business case for tourism, with both gardens being profitable. The new Dry Zone Garden will follow this established, and tried and tested pattern, he said.
Dr. Wijesundara said that the new gardens will be an educational resource for educational institutions of all levels, from junior school through to higher education. The gardens will also be a source of expertise, particularly in the long term where diploma courses and other formal educational provision in Floriculture and Herbal industries will become more important - and popular - within the educational curriculum.
Future courses in biodiversity and conservation will also benefit from having a national resource to draw upon, a location for student volunteers (national and international programme potential) and a place where research projects can be carried out too, he said.
The herbal industry will be supported as the gardens will hold a specialized herb collection. The dry zone has a large number of medicinal plants that are used in Sri Lanka presently. Dr. Wijesundara said that these are valuable plants which can be used in the development of the herbal industry, one of the fastest growing industries in other countries in this region.
The gardens will become a centre for the promotion of the herbal industry; one which can be sustainable in the future is managed well today. Another area of plant based industries is production of bio-fuel.

   

A group of school children walk through the unfinished Botanical Gardens when they attended a recent workshop on biodiversity for AL students in the area. Resource persons at the workshop were Samantha Gunasekara (Customs Dept.), Jagath Gunawardena (Environmentalist), Anslem de Silva (Reptile expert) and Upali Ekanayake (Bird expert). Pic courtesy Dept. of National Botanical Gardens.

Source - Sunday Times 

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Ambuluwawa Bio Diversity Complex, Gampola.

 

The Ambuluwawa biodiversity complex is a unique combination of nature and human creation. The 327-acre complex in Gampola, few kilometers away from Kandy is considered the fourth botanical garden in the country. Manmade constructions there include an international level conference hall, an agrarian training centre and a Buddhist worship area, including a Stupa 157-foot tall. From Ambuluwawa biodiversity complex, one could have a panoramic view of Sri Pada, Piduruthalagala, Namunukula, Bathalegala, Alagalla, Hantana and Knuckles and several other mountains.

  Ambuluwawa Tower -View from Gampola Town

 When the planets and stars disappear trom the sky and when the nectar appears in or drops from flowers on tree tops and when the sun spreads its rays as it rises over the mountain of the east, you may set off trom Ambuluwakada happily.

Ambuluwawa – Biodiversity

Biodiversity at Ambuluwawa has a more complexed expansion than that of the common examples of biodiversity. Ambuluwawa is a rock mountain but it is different trom rock mountains commonly seen in Sri Lanka . It is made of special type of rock known as "Inselberg" and is least subject to erosion caused by natural forces.

Experiments on the diversity of vegetation at Ambuluwawa are still in progress. According to the research work so far done, there are about 200 varieties of plants belonging to 80 plant families. The soil here is red or brown and belongs to the latezoic type. Medicinal plants known as 'iramusu ', ' muva kiriya ' and ' nawa handi ' are the common plants grown in the area.

Surrounding the mountain there are uniformly spread ever green forests, groves of blossomed flower plants and creepers which make the breeze around the mountain cool. Panoramic view of the mountain ranges is enticing and impressive. Clearly visible mountains such as Pidurutalagala in the east, Bathalegala or Bible Rock in the west, Sri Pada or Adams Peak in the south and Knackles range in the north enrich the scenic beauty of the place. Apart from these, mountain ranges associated with Alagalla and Kadugannawa, mountains like Hanthana and Hunnasgiri and mountains in Nuwara Eliya district are also clearly visible and they add beauty to the surroundings.

There is no other summit than Ambuluwawa which is surrounded by a large number of mountain ranges of scenic beauty in Sri Lanka . The precious water of the Mahaweli the life blood of up country people and the long tracts of paddy fields fed by Mahaweli water make the

Ambuluwawa rock more attractive. Thousands of rival, houses and the crowded streets of Gampola town can be seen at a single place - Ambuluwawa and the view is unique and impressive.

Modern Vision

Modern development of Ambuluwawa has converted it to a reserve for folk museum based on a clear cut vision. Three tanks built on the Summit provide water down to the bottom of the mountain. Stones being an essential element of the environment the Stone Park which displays a collection of stones is a new experience. Local and foreign scholars who wish to conduct research can have necessary facilities here in a calm and quiet atmosphere. The Bo sapling obtained from the Sri Maha Bodhi grows upon the summit offering a sense of tranquility to everybody.

Beautiful entrance, twin ponds, water parks and stone parks are unique features of the Ambuluwawa summit. Herb gardens and nature bring immense relaxation both to mind and body. Spine plantations and orchards are fine examples which tell us that local agro economy should be developed. International Conference Hall is equipped with all the necessary facilities for conferences. Area above the tank is a forest haunted by deers and sambhars making the environment lively. Roads with sleeps and precipices give you frightening experience. The sub-way below the summit gives you excitement. A restaurant is run in an enchanting location. "Govi Sevana" has been established for the farmers to congregate. An image house of the latest style is being constructed to place the Buddha statue made of stone. The observation room on the top of the mountain provides facilities to admire the superb panorama. An inscription has been installed explaining the objective of the biodiversity complex. Hon. D.M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister creating this wonderful biodiversity complex with relentless pursuit.

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Nuwara Eliya, The Little England.

Nuwara Eliya, also called as Little England is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located 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 town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka.

The city was founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. Nuwara Eliya's climate lent itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called Little England then, was also a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting,elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.

 

Although the town was founded in the 19th century by the British, the whole district is today visited by native travelers, specially during the month of April, the season of flowers, pony races, go cart races and auto rally.

The town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to see various species, particularly the Indian Blue Robin, Pied Thrush or Scaly Thrush lurking in the denser undergrowth. The Kashmir Flycatcher is another attractive bird species found in the park. Galway's Land Bird Sanctuary, close to Lake Gregory, is another wildlife site of 0.6 km².

Climate

Due to the high altitude, Nuwara Eliya has a much cooler climate than the lowlands of Sri Lanka, with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C. But the temperature changes and sometimes it can be as low as 3°C. In the winter months it is quite cold at night, and there can even be frost. although it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs higher during the day.

Places around to visit

Victoria Park

The lovely Victoria Park at the centre of town comes alive with flowers around March to May, and August and September. It’s also home to quite a number of Hill Country bird species, including the Kashmir flycatcher, Indian pitta and grey tit.

Gregory Lake

This lake is one of the significant tourist attractions in Nuwara Eliya It is about 91.2 hectors in extent. There is a boat yard for visitors for both boating and rowing. Now there is a sea plain service to this lake from Colombo.

Lovers Leap Waterfall

Lover's Leap..Born as a fountain in the wilds of Piduruthalagala,2484 m-Srilanka's highest mountain.The 30m high fall, located off the Kandapola Road. The water is taken to brew the famous Nuwara Eliya Beer.

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club

The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club is Spread over 90 acres, just a walking distance from the town center, the 18 holes golf course is one of Nuwara Eliya’s biggest attractions. Reputed to be the only Gulf Course where all the holes are visible from the Club House. A great tourist attraction for all those visitors who feels like doing a little golfing for relaxation.

Hakgala Botanical Garden

The gardens take the shape of several terraces upon the lower slopes of the rock and face the Uva Valley, across which some magnificent views of the Madulsima and the Namunukula range of mountains are seen in the distant landscape. The climate of the Gardens is subtropical, cool, fresh and somewhat similar to an alpine atmosphere. It boasts 100 year old Monetary Cypress trees from California, Japanese Cedars, Himalayan Pines and English Oak. The gardens put up their best display of temperate annual flowers, Roses and Orchids during this period.

Festivals

The town really comes alive in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, and it is difficult to find accommodation as Sri Lankans holiday in the region during this period. The festive season starts on April 1 annually in a ceremonial manner. The ceremony consists mainly of a band show in which all the local school bands participate.
Main attractions during April season include the numerous motor racing and horse racing events. Motor racing comes alive with the Mahagastotte and Radella Hill Climbs, the former being run since 1934. The Nuwara Eliya Road Race and the 4X4 Lake Cross on edge of Lake Gregory attract a fair share of enthusiasts. Parties are held nightly in the hotels, and the season culminates in the nine furlong (1811 m) Governor's Cup, Golf Tournaments and the flower show at the end of the month.

Source - Wikipedia 

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