A historic royal playground transformed into a forest reserve. It looks down on the Kandyan plateau and makes a beautiful sight when you look up at it from the centre of the city. If you are staying in a hotel in Kandy you can be sure to see this natural wonder from your hotel window.
The History
The forest was first recorded as being the haunt of a brahmin who dwelled in caves that have since caved in. It was this brahmin whose name derived Kandy’s oldest name which was Senkadagala. The gardens were forbidden to the public and were only used by the royal family.
Post-Kandyan Kingdom
During colonial times, the British stationed a garrison at the top of the mountain. After the Kandyan kingdom fell the forest began to deteriorate with a lot of logging and clearing going on. It was only declared a sanctuary only in 1938.
It is Important to Kandy Today
If you are staying withKings Pavilion you can make a quick trip in the early hours of the morning for a hike. The trails range from easy to difficult at this beautiful reserve that is now open to the public. Thanks to it being declared a sanctuary it has kept the vestiges of pollution away from the Kandyan plateau thanks to its forest cover.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+
