Visit a spice garden from Kandy

On the road from Kandy to Dambulla, where the famous Golden Temple is located, the Spice Gardens have become a real phenomenon. These places, entirely devoted to the observation and sale of spices, offer free visits. There are many of them on this winding road, which has been renamed the Spice Road.

Visit one of Matale's spice gardens en route to Dambulla!

A visit to a garden doesn't last very long. Take advantage of this visit to make a stop on the road to the Golden Temple of Dambulla. Check out our article on the Golden Temple and our itinerary through Sri Lanka's Golden Triangle.

Although slightly different each time, visiting a spice garden consists of a few simple steps:

Accompaniment by a Sri Lankan guide

When you arrive, you will be met by a guide. He or she is there to accompany you during your visit. He or she will show you the plants and explain their uses and medicinal properties. He will show you the seeds of each plant, and talk about growing them. A spice garden in Sri Lanka includes plants both native and non-native to the country, such as cinnamon, various peppers, nutmeg, coriander and much more. Visiting the garden and seeing where pepper comes from, what a curry leaf looks like or where curcumin comes from is an interesting and rewarding activity.

The garden's souvenir shop, enough to make anyone happy

After the tour, you don't have to pay anything for the guide, except a tip if you wish, but you do have to visit the souvenir shop. You are under no obligation to buy anything, even if the sellers are sometimes insistent. If you wish, the souvenir shops in the spice gardens can be a goldmine for souvenirs and gifts.

There are many spice gardens on the road from Kandy to Dambulla. To avoid tourist traps and scams, here is a selection of our 3 favourites:

Euphoria Spice and Herbal

A beautiful spice garden on the road to Matale, which also offers the chance to take a Sri Lankan cookery course. Address: Arunaloka farm Madawalaulpatha , matale, 21000, Sri Lanka Opening hours: 8.30am - 4pm, daily.

Ranweli Spice Garden

Large spice garden with the option of a guided tour in French. A new garden called the "New Ranweli Spice Garden" has opened close to the Peradeniya garden in Kandy. So you can visit both at the same time. See our article on the colonial botanical garden. Address: No 99, Kawudupelella 21000, Sri Lanka Times: 7.45am - 5pm, daily.

Luck Grove Spice Garden

Spice garden with a pretty greenhouse and a beautiful outdoor perimeter. Address: Palapathwela 21300, Sri Lanka Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

"This spice garden was recommended to us by our guide. We stopped for lunch and a guided tour of the garden. The guides were very knowledgeable about their subject and recommended medicinal plants." Véronique, on a family trip.