The Royal Botanic Gardens of Sri Lanka are just 5kms outside Kandy and surrounded on three sides by the Mahaweli River.

They were established in the early 1800s while Sri Lanka was still the British colony of Ceylon, and today are an extremely popular place to visit attracting over a million locals and almost half a million tourist a year.

This is a large botanic gardens by world measures housing over 4,000 species in around 150 acres and although very close to equator, it is elevated by almost 500m so the climate is a fraction more comfortable for visitors.

Kandy Botanic Gardens are famed for the collection of Orchids which thrive in the hot and humid climate, as do Palms, Spices and other exotic medicinal plants.

In the Orchid house you'll find a huge collection including Dendrobium, Cattleya, Arachnis, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda and the world's largest orchid - Grammatophyllum speciosum.

You will need plenty of time to visit here as there is a lot to see including a Fernery, Spice Garden, Flower Garden, Lake, Great Lawn, Cactii House and massive Bamboo collection which includes the world's largest bamboo - Dendrocalamus giganteus which can reach up to 40m in height.

The second most famous collection here are the palms which include the remarkable Double coconut, Lodoicea maldivica and probably the world's most elegant tree, Pheonix canariensis or the Canary Islands Date Palm.

Follow the numbered circuit to ensure you see everything and don't miss the huge Javan fig whose branches (supported by posts) cover an area of 1600sqm - it's an amazing sight.

It is quite easy to spend a whole day wandering in the lush, tropical tranquility of these gardens.