Henarathgoda Botanical Garden
Western Province
About Henarathgoda Botanical Garden
Henarathgoda Botanical Garden at Gampaha holds a quiet claim on economic history: it was here, in 1876, that rubber first grew in Asia. Seeds of Hevea brasiliensis, smuggled from the Amazon and germinated at Kew, were shipped to Ceylon and planted in this new garden - and from these few trees descend, quite literally, the great rubber industries of Asia. The most famous survivor, tree 'No. 6', lived into the 21st century as a pilgrimage point for botanists, and its story is told where it stood. Beyond the history, Henarathgoda is a lovely, easy garden: forty acres of lawns and champion trees - giant Java figs, palm avenues, an orchid house - threaded by streams and much loved by Gampaha families and wedding photographers. Thirty minutes from the airport, it makes a gentle green first or last stop that most tourists never discover.
Top Activities
- ✓The first-rubber-tree heritage site
- ✓Champion trees and palm avenues
- ✓Orchid house
- ✓Streamside picnics
- ✓Easy stop near the airport
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
It's 30–40 minutes from the airport - a calm first-day leg-stretch.
Weekends bring wedding shoots; weekdays are tranquil.
Ask the gardeners for the rubber-history corner - it's easy to walk past.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round; mornings
Weather
Warm and humid; generous shade throughout.
Estimated Daily Budget
7.0928°N, 79.9964°E
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