Paradeniya garden

PARADENIYA BOTNICAL GARDEN

The history of the Royal Botanic Gardens dates as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli Ganga. Later, in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe from 1747 to 1780 this was made a Royal Garden and from 1780 – 1798 King Rajadhi Rajasinghe resided therein, where a temporary residence was erected for him.

A vihare and dagoba were built in the reign of King Wimala Dharma which was improved by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. The vihare and dagoba were destroyed by the English when they occupied Kandy. The famous historical battle of Gannoruwa between Rajasinghe II and the Portuguese was fought on the Northern side of the river. A priest resided here till the Gardens were formed by Mr. Alexandar Moon in 1821 six years after the final conquest of the Kandyan Kingdom. In 1810 under the advice of Sir Joseph Banks a garden named Kew was opened in Slave Island and Mr. William Kerr was appointed as its Superintendent. In 1813 the garden was moved to Kalutara for the reception of economic plants which could be cultivated there on a larger scale than was possible at Slave Island. Kerr died in 1814 and under the rule of his successor Mr. Alexander Moon this Garden was finally moved to Peradeniya in 1821 as it was found to be favourable and better adapted for the proposed Botanic establishment. The transfer of exotics from the Kalutara Garden was made by successive Superintendents at least up to 1843. During Moon’s superintendence the opening of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, can be said to have commenced though at first only the South West portion of the Gardens was cleared and opened and it was mostly planted with cinnamon and coffee. Moon published his “Catalogue of Ceylon Plants” in 1824 in which was given the Botanical and native names of 1,127 plants, indigenous to the island. After the appointment of Mr. George Gardner in 1844 the institution started upon its more active independent and useful existence that it has since maintained. Only 40 acres of the 147 acres were in cultivation when Gardner took charge and the chief use made of the land was to grow jak, coconuts and vegetables for sale by the Government Agent in Kandy. Gardner effected many important improvements in the condition of the Gardens but his chief work was the exploration of the country for the collection and preparation of its flora. He died at Nuwara Eliya in 1849 and was succeeded by Dr. Thwaites who for over 30 years maintained the Gardens in a high state of efficiency, added largely to our knowledge of the flora of the Colony and gave the establishment its world-wide reputation. Thwaites was succeeded by Dr. Henry Trimen, under whose rule and capable management the beauty and usefulness of the Gardens were very considerably advanced. He established the Museum of Economic Botany, opened branch Gardens at Badulla and Anuradhapura and began the publication of his work, “The Flora of Ceylon” which however was finished by Sir Joseph D. Hooker after Trimen’s death in 1896. In 1896 Trimen was succeeded by Dr. J.C. Willis and from that date a new extension of scientific work took place. In the early years work was mainly directed towards the introduction and acclimatization of useful and ornamental plants but in later years activities developed towards Economic botany and Agriculture and led to the development of the Department of Agriculture in 1912. Mr. H.F. Macmillan who was appointed Curator in 1895, was made the Superintendent of Botanic Gardens in 1912 and Mr. T.H. Parsons the Curator in 1914. During Macmillan’s superintendence the Gardens were improved and extended and his great work “A Hand Book of Tropical Planting and Gardening” was published. Macmillan retired in 1925 and Mr. T.H. Parsons continued as Curator till 1945. Mr. D.M.A. Jayaweera who was appointed as the Superintendent in 1945 contributed a lot to our knowledge on medicinal plants and orchids of Sri Lanka. Mr. D.T. Ekanayake who became the Superintendent in 1971 pioneered the floriculture in Sri Lanka. Mr. D.B. Sumithraarachchi, as the Director National Botanic Gardens improved the condition of the botanic gardens tremendously and conducted many useful taxonomic works until leaving the gardens in 1998. Dr. D.S.A. Wijesundara assumed duties as Director in December 1998 and served the gardens in that capacity until August 2006. In August 2006 the Department of National Botanic Gardens was established and Dr. Wijesundara was appointed as the Director General.Today, the responsibilities of Royal Botanic Gardens include the management and development of Garden attached to the Kandy Official residency of His Excellency the President and the maintenance of religious and ancient trees.

Horton Plains

Horton Plains National Park is in the highlands of the country belonging to central province. This is the highest plateau in the country. This was declared as a National Park in 1988. The park area is 3160 hectare. 

The second & third highest mountains of the country namely Kirigalpotta & Thotupola respectively are found within the borders of the park. Park receives rainfall from both northeast & southwest monsoons as well as inter-monsoonal rains. Frequently occurring mist and clouds are one main source of precipitation. With annual precipitation of about 5000mm Horton Plains is the most important catchments area of the country. Three major rivers of the country start from this area namely Kelani, Walawe & the Mahaweli the longest river of the country. There is a slight dry period between January to March. Due to altitude the area is comparatively cold. Mean annual temperature is around 15�C and during colder months it will go down further where it is cold enough to create ground frost.

Park consists of montane cloud forests embedded in wet montane grasslands. Horton Plains has rich biodiversity. Most of the fauna and flora found in the park are endemic and furthermore some of them are confined to highlands of the island.
 
Forests are dominated by Calophyllum sp. & Syzygium sp. Giant tree fern Cyathea sp. and colourful Rhododrendron are among the main attractions. Park is also famous for beautiful flowers of endemic Nellu (Strobilanthes sp.), Bovitiya (Osbeckia sp.), Binara (Exacum trinervium) and many other orchid species. Endemic dwarf Bamboo (Arundinaria densifolia) dominates the edges of the river while Chrysopogon zeylanicum and Garnotia mutica dominate the grasslands.

Though this was one of the best elephant habitats in the country they are locally extinct due to poaching & sports hunting occurred during the British colonial era. Leopard and Sambhur & wild boar are the most common large mammals in Horton Plains. Endemic Bear Monkey, Rusty- Spotted and Fishing cats, Otter, Black napped hare and Giant Squirrel are among other mammals. Many species of endemic & threatened rats & shrews are also found in the park. Diversity & endemicity of reptiles (Lizards) and amphibians are remarkably high.
Though this is cold highland plateau the bird diversity is very high. More than 70% of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds are found here.

srilankan higest water falls and bakers fall

Sri Lanka is one of waterfall paradises of the world. Sri Lanka has many waterfalls. Majority of them include to Nuwaraeliya district and Badulla Districts. Maximum waterfalls is available in Rathnapura district. Highest waterfall of Sri Lanka is Bambarakanda Waterfalls(241m). Bambarakanda, Diyaluma, Dunhinda, Ravana, Bomburu Falls, Ravan Falls, Mana Falls and such several waterfalls at Badulla district. Garandi Falls, Abardeen Falls, St. Clair falls, Devon Falls, Kurundu Oya falls, Ramboda falls and several beautiful falls at Nuwaraeliya District. Bopath Ella falls, Kalthota Duwili Falls and Sinharaja Falls are available at Rathnapura district. Some other falls are available in Kegalle District, Galle District, Sinharaja, Sri Pada, Horton Plains, Dumbara mountains and such places.

Highest five waterfalls of Sri Lanka     

1. Bambarakanda falls(241m)

2. Kurundu Oya falls (189m)

3. Diyaluma falls (171m)

4. Lxapana falls (115m)

5  Raththna falls (111m)

Baker's waterfall is one of the very beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka. This waterfalls is height about 22 meters. Bakers Falls is situated at Horton Plains of Sri Lanka. On the way to Worlds End gap via Horton plans easy to access to the waterfall. The falls is at closed to the border of Badulla, Nuwaraeliya and Rathnpura districts and really in Nuwaraeliya district. Nuwaraeliya, Nanuoya, Bandarawela, Badulla, Welimada areas are the closing towns to this waterfall. There are two main roads to access this waterfall. Those are Nuwaraeliya Entrance and Bandarawela Entrance. This falls can be access from Nuwaraeliya entrance via Welimada, Nuwaraeliya and Ambewela Pattipola areas. About 35km far away from Nuwraeliya to Pattipola and 4Km s to walk into the falls. And also about 40Km from Bandarawela or 30Km from Haputale via Boralanda and Ohiya. In otherwise there is a special secret way to access Horton plains and the falls via Kalupahana, (Between Colombo - Badulla road / A5), Bambarakanda falls, Udaweriya State, Ohiya Upper Estate and Horton Plains. This way is some what damaged and 4wheel vehicle should be needed to travel.

The Fall is very beautiful because various corners and various views shows various beautiful scenery. The waterfall looks like a  step view. In top side of the fall like a long pool. There is a point at fall which divides more than thousand of parts and made beautiful scenery in middle of the fall. Below the middle part there has another waterfall available. It also very beautiful. Include all things and fall become to most beautiful waterfall in Sri Lanka. There is a tree which in front of Baker's Waterfall. It gives more valuable to the falls. Taking photographs with covering whole tree is some what difficult task.
This falls is part of Horton plains. When travels to Worlds End via Horton plains don't miss to visit this valuable and beautiful fall. There are some restrictions on this Falls. That is visitors haven't permissions to bath at this waterfall because several lives had missed with bathing.

Camping area also available at closed to Bakers Falls. Permission from Wild Life department is needed to do it.

Waterfalls in our motherland

Sri Lanka has more than 300 of waterfalls. Rathnapura district has most waterfalls and here the details of some of them.