Kandy Lake - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 2 km from Kandy Railway Station, Kandy Lake is an artificial lake located at the center of the hill town of Kandy in Sri Lanka. Situated next to the Temple of Tooth Relic, it is one of the popular places to visit in Kandy.

Also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk, Kandy Lake was built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy. Later in 1810, the king built a dam across the paddy fields, for the purpose of reaching the opposite side of the lake. According to the folklore, several minor local chiefs protested this because their people objected to laboring on the project. In order to stop the protests, they were put to death on stakes in the lake bed.

The extent of Kandy Lake is 6,544 sq. m and the circumference is 3.21 km. There is a building located on a small island in the center of the lake, together with some ancient ruins, was known as Diyatilaka Mandapaya in the past. It is believed that the Kings used this pavilion for relaxation. The British later used it as an ammunition store and added a fortress-style parapet around its perimeter. Tourists can also see the Ulpan or Queens Bathing Pavilion, situated partly in the waters of the Kandy Lake. The wives and concubines of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe used the pavilion when bathing in the lake. After the British captured the city they added another storey and used the building as a library. It is currently used as a police post.

Over the years, it was reduced in size. It is a protected lake, with fishing banned. However, the lake looks magnificent at any time of the day or night, with flowery floating islands and a calm and serene path that runs around its entire edge. It's a popular place to enjoy a peaceful walk. Various vendors roam around in this area selling everything from balloons to cashew nuts. A stroll around beautiful Kandy Lake is an experience you should not miss.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free