If you visit the city of Kandy on your Sri Lanka trip, a long visit to the Royal Botanic Garden of Peradeniya, just 6 km away, is definitely worth it. A tuk-tuk will get you there in no time. It's wonderful to be able to escape the hustle and bustle of Kandy into this green tranquility. The garden is located on a 150-hectare peninsula framed by the Mahaweli River. Several thousand plant species from all over the world are nurtured in this magnificent park. A well-developed network of paths allows you to explore, gaze at the languidly flowing river, feel like an ant in the giant bamboo forest, rest on the expansive meadows, and watch the baby monkeys frolicking around. Be sure to go to the suspension bridge at the northern edge of the park. It's definitely worth a photo, even though it was closed in August 2025 and you couldn't walk across it. Very close to the suspension bridge, there is also a gigantic colony of Indian giant fruit bats, which hang around in the trees and occasionally take short flights.