Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

These sprawling gardens are home to a few special tree species. The giant Javan fig tree is one of the most interesting, with its tangled branches and gnarly roots. Keep an eye out for the unique cannonball tree and the huge Burmese bamboo. To see everything without breaking a sweat, rent an electric cart at the gates and drive around the massive grounds at your own pace.

Peradeniya’s meticulously manicured pathways take you winding through 147 acres of plants, trees and flowers. Marvel at myriad shoots of rail-straight bamboo, sprawling boughs of a hundred-year-old Javan fig tree, and the unusual fruit of the cannonball tree. Tropical flora flourishes in beautiful variety everywhere you look, with species including a prized collection of orchids.