5/5 Roshan Kalpa T. 2 years ago on Google
The
history
of
the
Royal
Botanic
Gardens
dates
as
far
back
as
1371
when
King
Wickramabahu
III
ascended
the
thrown
and
kept
court
at
Peradeniya
near
Mahaweli
river.
Later,
in
the
reign
of
King
Kirti
Sri
from
1747
-
1780
King
Rajadhi
Rajasinghe
resided
therein,
where
a
temporary
residence
was
erected
for
him.
A
vihare
and
dagaba
were
built
in
the
reign
of
King
Wimala
Dhamma
which
was
improved
by
Kind
Rajadhi
Rajasinghe.
The
vihare
and
dogaba
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
favorable
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
superintendent
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
Gardener
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
worldwide
reputation.
Botanic
Gardens
at
Hakgala
was
established
in
1861
for
introduction
of
Cinchona
into
the
island
and
in
1876
Gampaha
(Henarathgoda)
Botanic
Garden
was
started
for
the
introduction
of
Rubber.
1 person found this review helpful 👍