Hakgala Botanic Gardens
I had plans to travel about but this is such a relaxing place that I decided to do just one excursion .. Hakgala Botanic Gardens, 27 kms away. Car and driver 3500 Rupees ( £16 Pounds). Hardly any straight road for 27 kms as we passed through vegetable growing country (leeks, potatoes and strawberries all figure large in the local economy). The field patterns are far more erratic than in the tea plantations and this gives the hills a patchwork look which is pleasant. The small towns had no tourist facilities ; there was the occasional isolated guest house or sign for Rooms. This is not particularly a tourist zone. Hakgala Botanic Gardens are built on the lower slope of a mountain dominated by a huge rock. They were established in 1861 to cultivate Cinchona, the tree from which the anti malarial drug quinine is derived.
The elusive rock mountain
The rock rises 1500 feet above the gardens and I was disappointed that there was a fence along the top side of the park which prevents you from getting up the mountain for good views of either the rock or surrounding hills. The lower portion of the gardens is a the traditional affair with flower beds, rock garden a 'JapaneseGarden’ (don't get me started!!).
The real delight of the place is in following the trails which weave their way up the hillside through magnificent trees. in a landscape strewn with lichen covered huge boulders. It really feels like a natural forest through which paths have been cut, but that illusion ends when you get to the top fence and see the dense jungle on the other side which is the true state of affairs. This is what I would consider a cloud forest .. clouds hover around the peaks above and occasionally drop down bringing mist and moisture. There as actually rain for a short period but I was lucky .. 5 minutes out of a 2 hour visit was good going.
The fine print
Date of travel : November 2007
Country information :
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html