Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
A historic forest sanctuary on the ridge behind the Temple of the Tooth, once a royal pleasure garden, now laced with shady trails, giant lianas and birdlife.
Right behind the Temple of the Tooth, up on the ridge overlooking Kandy, sits a slice of forest that once belonged exclusively to kings. Udawattakele, once called "Uda Wasala Watta," the garden above the royal palace, was strictly off limits to ordinary people during the Kandyan kingdom, reserved for royalty and the occasional monk seeking quiet. That sense of hidden sanctuary still lingers today, even with tourists wandering its paths, there's something about walking under that canopy that feels like stepping into somewhere you weren't quite meant to be.
After the kingdom fell in 1815, the forest went through a rough patch, left unprotected and slowly worn down by human activity, until it was finally declared a forest reserve in 1856 and later upgraded to sanctuary status under the British in 1938. Today it spans roughly 104 hectares, often called the lungs of Kandy, and it's easy to believe that once you're inside, the air genuinely feels cooler and cleaner than the busy streets just a few minutes away.
Wildlife here is the real draw for a lot of visitors. Over 80 bird species call the place home, along with mammals like the golden palm civet and mouse deer, plus troops of monkeys that show up along nearly every trail. Birdwatchers in particular treat this as something of a pilgrimage spot, and even casual walkers tend to spot a kingfisher or two without really trying. Layer onto that the old royal ponds, meditation caves, and the atmospheric Lady Horton's Walk, and you've got a forest that rewards slow, attentive wandering rather than a rushed loop.
There's history tucked into the greenery too, the Garrison Cemetery sits within the reserve, along with old hermitages once used by monks seeking isolation. It's a strange, layered kind of place, part nature reserve, part royal relic, part sacred retreat, and that mix is exactly what makes an hour or two here feel like far more than just a walk in the woods.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Foreigners pay around LKR 570 to 900, locals pay a small fraction of that.
- Opening hours: Open daily from 6 or 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., no exceptions.
- Time needed: Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours covers the main loop and viewpoints comfortably
- Best time: Early morning suits birdwatchers best, avoid the wetter, leech heavy monsoon months.
Getting there
About a 15 minute walk from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, roughly 3.5 km from Kandy Railway Station, easily reached on foot from central Kandy or by a short tuk-tuk ride to the main entrance gate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary?
- Foreigners pay around LKR 570 to 900, locals pay a small fraction of that.
- What are the opening hours at Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary?
- Open daily from 6 or 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., no exceptions.
- How long should I spend at Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary?
- Plan for roughly 1.5 to 2 hours covers the main loop and viewpoints comfortably.
- When is the best time to visit Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary?
- Early morning suits birdwatchers best, avoid the wetter, leech heavy monsoon months.
- How do I get to Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary?
- About a 15 minute walk from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, roughly 3.5 km from Kandy Railway Station, easily reached on foot from central Kandy or by a short tuk-tuk ride to the main entrance gate.