The most beautiful natural sites to discover Kandy

Kandy Lake is known as Kiri Muhuda, or "the Sea of Milk". It was created at the foot of the Temple of the Tooth in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Kandy, in an area previously occupied by rice fields. Today it is part of the last vestiges of the Sri Lankan Kingdom. It is an artificial lake of 1.8 km long and 300 m wide. Initially owned by the King, it was later used by the British as a recreational base. On its northern bank and near the temple, one can see the old royal baths, transformed during the English colonization into a library and, in the center, a small island. This lake is surrounded by a wall, the construction of which has not been completed. In 1815, the King was arrested and imprisoned by the British and never finished his project. The walakulu wall (wall of theclouds) is therefore still in place.

Today, the lake is a pleasant place for everyone to come and relax and take a walk during the day or evening. The shaded path around the lake offers a beautiful view of the hills and the city. It is particularly popular with walkers and joggers. Boat trips are possible as well as shuttle transfers from one shore to the other. The place is secure because it is guarded by guards. The only drawback is that during the day, you may be solicited by a few assiduous sellers, looking for tourists.

Bible Rock, also called Bathalegala, owes its name to its rectangular shape, reminiscent of a bible. This huge rock, 798 m high, has a certain resemblance with Sigiriya. A path leads to the top, count about 30 minutes (easy ascent) to enjoy the splendid panorama. A small temple is located in the southern part of the hill. It is perfectly visible from Kadugannawa Pass on the A1 road between Colombo and Kandy. From Kandy, turn off at the village of Mawanella, then follow the road for 10 km.

It is a nature reserve located on the north-eastern heights of the city. The entrance is through its western flank, a 15-minute walk from the Temple of the Tooth. The forest was declared a nature reserve in 1856 before becoming a sanctuary in 1938. Well known to the local people, it is a good place to observe its flora and fauna, especially birds. More than 460 varieties of plants have been recorded, including 21 endemic ones. The canopy is home to nearly 80 different species of birds. Two circuits are available: one of 3 km and another of 5 km.