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Kandy lake. Author A.Savin

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Kandy Lake

The country of Sri Lank is a tropical paradise of natural treasures and significant monuments. Kandy lake is one of the monuments in the country.

Kandy lake is an artificial lake in the heart of the hill city of Kandy. The lake was built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe.

Kandy lake was reduced to the size of the years. It is also a protected lake with fishing banned.

The extent of Kandy lake is 6,544 sq. Meters. The circumference is 3.21 km. Kandy Lake has a depth of 18.5 metres.

Surrounded by a wall known as Walakulu Bemma. The wall extends to approximately half of the lake and still stands unfinished to this day.

 The building located at the centre of Kandy lake was known as Diyatilaka Mandapaya. The building has a few very old ruins.

Kandy Lake offers a place for a stroll or a jog. The shady path surrounding the lake provides a view of the hills and the town.

Let’s learn the top 10 outstanding facts about Kandy Lake

1. The lake was Formerly a Stretch of Paddy Fields 

Kandy Lake. Author Jamie Hamilto

Kandy Lake was formerly a stretch of paddy fields known as Tigolwela. It was constructed as a lake by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1807.

It was said that local tribes and chieftains opposed the King to the use of their people as labourers in constructing the lake. The King oppressed the uprising by putting the protesters to death on stakes in the lake.

2. The king Constructed a Dam  to Allow him to Cross the Lake Unobstructed

The king built a dam across the paddy fields. It started from the Paththirippuwa (octagon) side stretching across to the Poya-maluwa. According to D’Oyley, the dam was constructed between 1810–1812.

 The dam, upon which a roadway was constructed, allowed the king to go across to the Malwatte Vihare. There are legends surrounding this pathway, that this king built a tunnel underground, so he could leave and return to the palace without being seen. The tunnel was said to come out on the other side of the lake or more than 25 km.

3. It is also referred to as the Sea of Milk

The Kandy Lake is also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk. In the middle of the Tigolwela, there was a pond named Kiri-muhuda(a sea of Milk’). After the construction of Kandy lake, it was too named Kiri-muhuda.

4. The Extent of this Artificial Lake is over 6544 sq. Meters

Kandy lake extends over 6,544 sq. meters. Deveda Moolacharya was considered the architect of Kandy Lake.

The circumference of the lake is 3.21km and the deepest depth is 18.5 meters. Kandy Lake has a capacity of 704 acre-feet and the spill level is above 1749 M.L.S.

5. The Lake is Surrounded by an Unfinished Wall 

Kandy Lake. Author Alexey Komarov

Kandy lake is surrounded by a wall called Walakulu Bamma or Clouds Wall. The wall was built to increase the beauty of Kandy Lake.

It extends around half of the lake and took one skilled architect to build it. Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was unable to complete the wall before the city was captured by the British.

 He was forced to relinquish the Kandian kingdom. The Walakulu Bamma still lies unfinished. The triangular-shaped holes in the wall were used in the past for lighting oil lamps on festival days.

6. A Small Island in the Middle Features a Building with Ancient Ruins

Kandy lake. Author Ji-Elle

Kandy lake features a small Island in the centre. The Island was left behind by King while building the dam.

A building along with a few very old ruins is located at the centre of the island. It was known as Diyatilaka Mandapaya in the past. It is believed that the Kings used this pavilion for relaxation.

At first, the island was used as the Royal Summer House for the Queen and the ladies of the court to relax. The British later used it as an ammunition store and added a fortress-style parapet around its perimeter.

7. A Bathing pavilion for the Queens and Concubines Situated Partly in the Waters 

View of the Queen’s Bath from the south bank of Kandy Lake in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Author A.Savin.

Ulpange or Queen’s Bathing Pavilion is situated partly in the waters of Kandy Lake. The wives and concubines of the King 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.

8. Some of the Trees around the Lake are about 74 years Old

Kandy Lake. Author Z Thomas.

There is a variety of different trees planted around the lake. These include Nuga trees, palm trees fruit trees, Sal trees and Mara trees.

Some of these trees are about 74 years old. The trees are now maintained by the Municipal Council of Kandy.

9. Kandy lake Hosts several Bird Species

Kandy lake is home to several bird species. These include Indian cormorant, white egret crane, wood stork and pelican.

10. It is a Protected Lake with Fishing Banned

Kandy lake faces a serious problem of pollution. The government and the surrounding schools are always trying to decrease the problem by putting signs and operating environment societies.

 Until 1960 the Kandy water board used the lake to distribute water to the surrounding areas. They stopped pumping water from the lake because of the increase in pollution.