Royal Botanic Garden

Some people mistakenly assume that this sprawling botanical garden is actually located about 15 minutes south of the city center, but in Kandy rush-hour traffic, the trip here can take much longer, so plan accordingly. The 150-acre garden was originally conceived as the queen’s pleasure garden during the reign of Kandyan King Wickramabahu III, and then was turned into the Royal Botanic Gardens by the British in the mid-19th century. Today, it serves as a popular escape into greenery for Kandy locals, including students from the nearby Kandy University. Especially the bamboo grove and the three long coconut alleys should not be missed; New Yorkers will be amused to find a “great lawn” here as well.