Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

I’ve been to Kandy eight times now but never been to the historical Botanical gardens developed in the early 1800s and inspired by Kew Gardens, South West London. I’ve tried on several occasions but Joe always had a better plan! Gill was much more amenable and in fact was positively keen to go. We wanted to take pictures for our gardening friends to enjoy and get some inspiration for our own gardens back in England.

It was the perfect day to conclude our Sri Lankan trek with an amble around the colourful 147 acre gardens full of indigenous and exotic flora, forna and medicinal spices. Monkeys hung out in their troops and a cauldron of bats hung from the trees. It was fun to bounce across the suspension bridge which spans the Mahaweli river, the longest river in Sri Lanka.

The wonderful wood carving workshop on Kandy hill

The wood carving workshop was a marvel! Thousands of hand-carved elephants, Buddhas and ornate tables and chairs had been made from mahogany and ebony. Gill bought a beautiful 5kg wooden painted Buddha for her garden to help her improve her meditation practice!

Next up: Hanging up our boots for a while and round up with our top 3.

If you missed Blog 13 and would like to see it please click here.

Further sponsorship – If you’d like to sponsor us on this trek whilst being assured that every penny will go to those who need it, then please donate by clicking on this link Marcia Summers is fundraising for Their Future Today (justgiving.com). Don’t forget that if you’re a tax payer to declare ‘gift aid’ when doing so which will increase your donation by 25% at no cost to you. Alternatively, if you know anyone or of an organisation that may have an interest in these causes please forward this blog and above link on to them.