A visit to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens is one of the most sought after leisure trips around Nuwara Eliya. Located 16 kilometres from the town itself, these picturesque gardens let you discover a fine array of over 10,000 species of plants, including sub-tropical plants, orchids and roses. Established in 1861, the gardens were often found at the heart of legendary tales with its account of King Ravana’s abduction of Sita being a noteworthy occurrence.