Kandy Lake
An artificial lake beside the Temple of the Tooth, with a shore path of roughly three kilometres that works best in the late afternoon.
What Kandy Lake actually is
Kandy Lake is a man-made lake begun by Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last king of Kandy, around 1807. It sits directly below the Temple of the Tooth on the site of former paddy fields and was once known as Kiri Muhuda, the “Sea of Milk”. Sources give slightly different build dates and sizes, so treat any single figure with care.
The shore path is roughly 3.2 to 3.4 kilometres depending on whom you read, flat, shaded in places and used daily by joggers, schoolchildren and people on their way home. It is a town amenity first and a sight second, which is partly why it is pleasant.
There is one small island in the middle, which the king reportedly used as a pleasure garden and the British later turned into an ammunition store. You cannot visit it. The white scalloped wall along part of the shore is the Walakulu Bamma, or Cloud Wall, which was never finished.
Worth your attention
The Cloud Wall
The decorative parapet along about half the shore, with triangular niches said to have held oil lamps during the Esala Perahera. It was unfinished when the British took Kandy in 1815.
The Queen’s Bathing Pavilion
The Ulpange stands partly in the water near the temple end. The British added an upper storey and it has been used as a library and, now, a police post, so you look from outside.
Water monitors and waterbirds
Large water monitor lizards are common on the banks and in the island garden. Cormorants, egrets, wood storks and pelicans are listed by reference works; numbers vary by day.
The temple end at dusk
The walk is best finished on the side facing the Temple of the Tooth, when lights come on and families gather. It is a good way to get your bearings before or after the evening puja.
Before you go
Do this
- Start at the temple end and walk the full loop; the Cloud Wall is on the stretch near the temple.
- Keep a safe distance from the monitor lizards; they are wild and can bite if cornered.
- Combine it with the municipal market and the Temple of the Tooth, which are minutes away on foot.
- Carry a little water; there is shade but the afternoon sun is strong at this elevation.
- Watch your footing where the path narrows or is wet; there are no handrails on much of it.
Know this first
- Pollution is a long-standing problem. The water is not clean and there can be a smell in dry weather.
- Fishing is prohibited, so ignore anyone offering to arrange it.
- Touts and boat operators approach walkers; a polite no is enough.
- The island and the bathing pavilion are not open to visitors.
Getting to Kandy Lake
Most people see Kandy Lake as part of a stay around Kandy. Our Kandy guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Kandy — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Kandy guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
Kandy Lake — frequently asked
What is Kandy Lake?
A man-made lake in the centre of Kandy, begun by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha around 1807 beside the Temple of the Tooth. It has a public shore path of roughly three kilometres.
How long is the walk around Kandy Lake?
Sources give about 3.2 to 3.4 km for the shore. Allow an hour at a relaxed pace with photo stops.
Can you swim or fish in Kandy Lake?
No. Fishing is prohibited, and with pollution a known problem there is no reason to swim.
Is there an entrance fee?
None is reported for the shore path. Any boat ride or guide is a private arrangement, so agree a price first.
Also worth stopping for around Kandy
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