Title: Illustrated guide to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya /
Authors: Macmillan, H. F., 1869-1948,; Yapa, Vijitha,; Yapa, Lalana,; Macmillan, H. F., 1869-1948.
Year: 2010
Subjects: Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya Guidebooks.
Abstract: "The history of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya dates as far back as 1371, when King Vikramabāhu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaveli Ganga. Later, in the reign of King Kītri Śrī Rājasiṃha from 1747 to 1780, the sprawling green mass was made a Royal Garden. From 1780-1798 King Rājādhi Rājasiṃha resided therein, where a temporary residence was erected for him. The gardens were formed by Mr. Alexander Moon in 1821, six years after the final conquest of the Kandyan Kingdom by the British. in 1810 under the advice of Sir Joseph Banks a garden named Kew (named after the Kew Gardens in London) was opened in Slave Island, Colombo-2. In 1813 the garden was moved to Kalutara, and in 1821 to Peradeniya, as it was found to be more favourable and better adapted for the proposed Botanic establishment. This book ... celebrates the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Kew Gardens in Slave Island, Colombo 2, in 1810"--