When talking about Kandy, the places that readily come to mind are the Temple of the Tooth, the Kandy Lake and the Peradeniya gardens. However, there is a place which very few visit that is right in the middle of Kandy town, in fact just behind the Temple of the Tooth. This is Udawattakele - a Royal Forest that was forbidden to all but the King just a few hundred years ago.
To reach Udawattakele, travel along the road leading to Trinity College. Less than half a kilometer thereafter is the entrance to the sanctuary.
Udawattakele was a forbidden forest which no one save the Royal family were allowed to enter. Even today, when walking through the numerous paths in the forest there is an aura of mystery that does not go away even when you remember that you are surrounded by a city.
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| A little history |
Udawattakele is home to many small and medium sized animals, porcupines, wild boar and mouse deer are some of the animals you can spot if you are lucky. You are however guaranteed to catch more than a glimpse of a number of monkeys.
While the fauna in Udawattekele may not be extensive, the same cannot be said about the bird life. There are plenty of bird watching opportunities for bird lovers.
Even if you are not there to see animals, a pleasant stroll through the many paths in Udawattekele is bound to take you away from the stressful hustle and bustle of city life. If you want to engage in something slightly more strenuous, you can venture up one of the footpaths leading to Kodimale mountain - the highest point in the forest.
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| Map of the many trails in the forest |
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| Entrance to the forbidden forest |
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| It's time to decide which path to take |
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| Directions are available everywhere, so no chance of getting lost |
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| Some trails are nice and easy |
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| And some are harder - this is the start of one of the paths leading to the Kodimale peak |
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| A view point at the Kodimale peak - now sadly rotting away. |
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| Lovers Lane |
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