Discover Gampaha: Botany, Agriculture and Culture

When choosing a hotel in Gampaha, it is worth first considering which aspects of the destination you want to shape your trip. Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens represent plant collections and garden history; rice fields and an irrigation structure add a landscape dimension. Other highlights include pineapple cultivation, Ayurveda, religious sites and a historic railway station. These themes appeal to different interests and give you a basis for considering Gampaha as a destination that suits your own priorities.

Botanical history at Henarathgoda

Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens in Gampaha were established by the British in 1876 for experiments with exotic crops. The gardens’ origins connect the site with a specific history of plant cultivation. Their important collections include around 2,000 species from Sri Lanka and other countries; this is an approximate figure that may change over time. Visitors are recommended to explore the garden areas on a walk through the grounds. This allows the historic purpose, the diversity of the collection and the way of exploring the gardens to be considered as one botanical focus.

Water engineering, rice fields and riverbanks

Water engineering and agriculture are central at Ketawala Anicut. The structure crosses the Attanagalu Oya amid an expanding rice field. It was built to supply water to almost 1,500 acres of paddy land and attracts local tourists. Its location and purpose connect the river and fields with a specific irrigation function. The Kelaniya Temple Jogging Track runs along the banks of the Ooruwal Oya and Attanagalu Oya. The landscapes differ: the anicut is about irrigation and paddy land, while the track follows the banks of both rivers.

Pineapple cultivation and agriculture

Pineapple cultivation in the Gampaha area has a history spanning more than six centuries. In Belummahara, tourist activities include visits to pineapple plantations, agricultural studies and agritourism. Pineapple stalls in Belummahara and Mudungoda are visited by Sri Lanka Tourist Board tour groups as well as private tour operators. Unlike the plant collections at Henarathgoda, the focus here is on pineapple production and agricultural activities.

Ayurveda, religion and history

The Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute was founded in 1929 as Siddharyuveda Vidyala to disseminate knowledge about Ayurveda. Ayurveda is regarded as a traditional system of medicine in India and Sri Lanka. The institute is associated with visits to Ayurveda treatment centres and Ayurveda studies. For travellers interested in the history of medical knowledge, these themes complement the botanical and agricultural aspects with an educational dimension.

Kadjugama Indigolla Church is associated with pilgrimages and photography. The new church was consecrated in 2003 and can accommodate almost 1,000 worshippers. Asgiriya Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient cave temple in Asgiriya, within the Gampaha Divisional Secretariat. Railway history is another historic theme: Henarathgoda Old Railway Station is among the earliest railway stations in Sri Lanka.

Discover more destinations: Kiribathgoda, Dalugama, Ja-Ela, Gampaha, Welisara, Siyambalapitiya, Negombo, Katunayake, Bopitiya.

See the overview of the wider region: Western Province.