The city of Kandy was once the ancient kingdom of King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe and in its prime wielded power over the entire land. Many of the historic structures have been well preserved to this day. Among the many attractions in Kandy are three devalés, The Kandy Garrison Cemetery, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, The Tea Museum and Asgiriya Stadium but the Sri Dalada Maligawa or Sacred Temple of the Tooth with its adjoining Kandy Lake hold pride of place. Book a stay at The Secret Kandy and indulge in the old world charm of this traditional style bungalow, which is also conveniently located.
A five minute walk from the hotel will bring you to Kandy Lake that lies in all its serenity in the city’s centre. The lake was built in 1807 by King Rajasinghe, the last ruling monarch of Sri Lanka. A decision that stirred up much controversy because of the paddy fields that needed to be excavated for its construction. The king forged ahead with an iron will and completed what was essentially a water feature to enhance the beauty of the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
The lake was named Kiri Muhuda or Milky Ocean and legend has it that the name was inspired by a rare white turtle which was found at the site and believed to be auspicious. The Walakulu Bamma or Wall of Clouds refers to the white parapet wall that outlines the lake’s perimeter and remains unfinished to date because the king was captured by British colonists before its completion. This iconic wall design also continues around the temple. Looking out over the water you will see a central island that was used either to house the King’s personal harem or as a summer house for the royal family. The British took it over and used it to store ammunition.
Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+