Udawattakele Sanctuary

Udawattakele Sanctuary

Udawattakele Forest has situated close to the Temple of Tooth relic in the heart of Kandy. This was originally used as a garden for pleasure by the Kings back in the past. It covers about 257 acres.

About the destination

In the past, during the time of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawattakele Forest was known as “Uda Wasala Watta” which means “the garden above the royal palace”. It has a large variety of plant species such as lianas, shrubs, and small trees. There are different kinds of mammals as well in here varying from small to medium size including snakes and other reptiles. This place was first designed as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938.

History of Udawattakele Forest

There are records where it states that a Brahim named Senkanda lived in a cave in this forest. There is a cave that is named as Senkandagala-Lena that collapsed in a landslide in 2012.  It states that a brahmin brought a sapling of Sri Maha Bodhi here and planted it in the present site of Natha Devala.

In the past, it was used by the Royal family and the pond in the forest was used for bathing. The public was restricted from accessing the forest hence the name Thahanci kele was given which means the forbidden forest.

How to reach your destination

From Colombo

Take the McCallum road then go on the Colombo-Katunayake expressway and exit from the Outer Circular. Turn right onto Colombo-Kandy road. Turn left onto Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha. Turn left onto Deva Veediya and turn left onto Lover’s Walk to reach your destination.

From Kandy

Go on on Baladaksha Mawatha to Getambe Kandy By-Pass and turn right onto Colombo Street. Turn left onto Deva Veediya and turn left onto Lover’s Walk to reach your destination.