Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve
Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve is a beautiful natural sanctuary located near Kandy, Sri Lanka, offering a peaceful escape surrounded by lush greenery and rich biodiversity. Covering a large forest area around the Dunumadalawa Reservoir, the reserve plays an important role in protecting the region’s natural ecosystem and providing a valuable habitat for various species of plants and wildlife.
The forest is known for its scenic landscapes, winding roads, and tranquil environment, making it a popular destination for nature lovers, photographers, and those seeking a refreshing break from the busy city. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the forest-covered hills, the calm waters of the reservoir, and the cool climate that Kandy is known for.
With its untouched natural beauty and ecological importance, Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve represents the harmony between nature and conservation. It offers a unique opportunity to experience Sri Lanka’s tropical forest environment while exploring the peaceful surroundings of the Kandy region.
South of central Kandy, sitting right on the edge of the Hanthana Mountain Range, there's a forest most tourists never even hear about, and that's precisely why the people who do find it tend to talk about it so fondly. Locally known as Wakarawatte, a name carried over from its original identity as Walker's Estate, this was once an active tea, coffee and cocoa plantation before it was quietly abandoned and left to grow back into wild forest. The British originally shaped this land into a water catchment area to supply Kandy town, and that function hasn't really changed, it still forms the watershed feeding Kandy's main reservoir today.
Spanning somewhere around 1,000 hectares, give or take depending on the source, and owned by the Kandy Municipal Council, Dunumadalawa has grown into a genuinely dense mixed forest, mature Jak trees, wild tea plants left over from its plantation days, and wide stretches of ironwood all tangled together. Wildlife here reads almost like a checklist for hill country biodiversity, toque macaque monkeys, barking deer, wild boar, porcupines, civet cats, golden palm cats, fishing cats, and yes, a resident population of leopards too, though sightings are rare since they've settled into fully nocturnal habits.
Getting in isn't quite as simple as walking through a gate, though. Entry is restricted, and visitors need permission from the Kandy Municipal Council or the reserve warden before heading in, a small bit of admin that keeps the place notably quieter than more open reserves nearby. Vehicles aren't allowed inside either, everything happens on foot, and while that adds a bit of friction to visiting, it's also exactly what keeps the trails feeling genuinely wild rather than worn smooth by tour groups.
Two small lakes sit within the reserve too, quietly doing their part as a water source for parts of the city, and the whole place has a reputation among locals as something of an open secret, students studying nature, birdwatchers chasing rare sightings, families out for a slower kind of walk than Udawattakele or the busier city parks tend to offer. It's not polished for tourism, and that's really the whole appeal.
At a glance
- Entry fee: No entrance ticket price or Admission fee
- Opening hours: Generally accessible 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, permission dependent.
- Time needed: About 2 to 3 hours covers a proper walk through the trails.
- Best time: Early morning brings cooler air and the best wildlife sighting chances.
Getting there
Located on the southern edge of Kandy near the Hanthana range, reachable by tuk-tuk from the city center, permission best arranged in advance through the Municipal Council.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve?
- No entrance ticket price or Admission fee.
- What are the opening hours at Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve?
- Generally accessible 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, permission dependent.
- How long should I spend at Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve?
- Plan for about 2 to 3 hours covers a proper walk through the trails.
- When is the best time to visit Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve?
- Early morning brings cooler air and the best wildlife sighting chances.
- How do I get to Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve?
- Located on the southern edge of Kandy near the Hanthana range, reachable by tuk-tuk from the city center, permission best arranged in advance through the Municipal Council.