Kandy Lake

Dominating the center of the city, Kandy Lake (historically known as Bogambara Wewa) is a beautiful, man-made body of water that acts as a scenic anchor for the surrounding town. The lake was constructed in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the final monarch of the Kingdom of Kandy. The king transformed a marshy network of paddy fields into a grand royal lake right next to his palace complex, despite protests from local nobles who viewed the project as an unnecessary use of royal labor.

The lake is surrounded by a low, decorative white stone wall known as the Walakulu Bemma (Cloud-Drift Wall). This architectural feature contains small triangular openings originally designed to hold oil lamps, illuminating the water's edge during royal festivals. At the center of the lake sits a small, tree-covered island known as Jayatilleke Mandapaya, which the king used as a private summer house for his royal queens.

Today, a broad, tree-shaded footpath runs completely around the lake, providing a popular scenic loop for casual walks. Walking along the path offers views of the surrounding hills, old British colonial hotels, and the golden roof of the Temple of the Tooth reflecting off the calm water. The lake is also a sanctuary for local urban wildlife. Visitors can spot large water monitor lizards swimming through the shallows, families of egrets and pelicans resting on wooden posts, and schools of freshwater fish gathering near the banks.