Udawattakele Forest Reserve

Udawattakele Forest Reserve and the Kandyan royal city

Udawattakele Forest Reserve belongs to the historic geography of royal Kandy. Central Province Tourism explains that the forest was once known as Uda Wasala Watta, translated as the garden above the royal palace, and describes it as a forbidden or reserved forest associated with the Kandyan kingdom.

This location explains the name. The ridge rises immediately behind the sacred and royal centre of Kandy. Sri Dalada Maligawa, the former Royal Palace and Kandy Lake occupy the lower urban landscape, while Udawattakele forms the green high ground behind them.

Seeing the forest in this way makes it more than a nature attraction. It becomes one part of a larger royal-city system. The palace, sacred shrine, lake and wooded ridge were physically close and historically connected.

From royal forest to reserve and sanctuary

After the Kandyan monarchy ended in 1815, the political role of the forest changed. Central Province Tourism states that Udawattakele was declared a forest reserve in 1856 and later upgraded as a sanctuary in 1938.

These dates show a second historical layer. The forest moved from a royal protected landscape into modern conservation administration. Today it has recreational and educational value, but its protected status also means that visitors should think of themselves as entering habitat rather than simply walking through an ordinary city park.

Its conservation value is especially significant because Kandy expanded around it. A forest of roughly 104 hectares inside a growing city provides habitat, vegetation cover, water-catchment benefits and a place where residents and visitors can experience nature without leaving the urban area.

The ridge above Kandy Lake

Central Province Tourism describes Udawattakele as lying on a hill ridge stretching between the Temple of the Tooth and the Uplands–Aruppola suburbs. The department gives the highest point as approximately 635 metres above sea level, around 115 metres above nearby Kandy Lake.

This elevation explains the change in atmosphere. Even though the forest entrance is close to central Kandy, the trail moves upward into denser greenery. City sounds can fall away and the experience becomes more like a forested hill than an urban garden.

Visitors should still remember that this is not a remote wilderness. Paths, monasteries and a long history of human use are part of the sanctuary. Its character comes from the coexistence of forest ecology, religious practice and proximity to the city.

What is walking in Udawattakele actually like?

Udawattakele is best approached without trying to “complete” it. A short walk can provide dense canopy, vines, birds and a strong sense of escape from central Kandy. A longer visit can explore more branching paths, monastic sites and quieter forest sections.

Trail conditions depend heavily on recent weather. Dry days can make walking straightforward. Rain can leave leaves, soil and stone surfaces slippery, while wet conditions can increase leech activity. Good footwear is therefore more important than fashionable travel shoes.

If you are visiting alone, stay aware of your route and the closing time. A forest walk becomes less enjoyable when a visitor rushes back toward the gate after losing track of time. A simple phone screenshot of the entrance location and a rough trail plan can help.

Birdwatching at Udawattakele

Central Province Tourism highlights birdwatching as one of the sanctuary’s major attractions and says approximately 80 bird species can be observed. Its examples include Sri Lankan and forest-associated species such as Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot and Sri Lanka Hill Myna.

The best birdwatching technique is patience rather than pursuit. Walk quietly, pause often and listen. Binoculars let you observe birds at a respectful distance while reducing the temptation to leave paths or move aggressively toward wildlife.

Early morning generally offers the strongest bird activity and cooler walking conditions. If birdwatching is your primary reason for visiting, prioritise the morning and verify the current gate-opening arrangement before planning a very early start.

Plants, vines and the forest canopy

Central Province Tourism describes a very rich plant community and cites roughly 460 plant species, particularly lianas, shrubs, herbs and smaller plants. The visual experience is therefore not simply one of tall trees. Layers of vegetation create the dense character of the sanctuary.

Lianas and climbing plants are especially noticeable in mature tropical forest. Their forms create some of the most striking visual scenes along the path, but visitors should avoid pulling vines, collecting plants or leaving the trail to reach a photograph.

The forest itself should remain the subject rather than a source of souvenirs. Leaves, seeds, flowers and other natural material should be left where they belong.

Buddhist forest monasteries and meditation caves

Central Province Tourism lists three Buddhist forest monasteries within Udawattakele: Forest Hermitage, Senanayakaramaya and Tapovanaya. It also identifies several cave dwellings associated with Buddhist monk-hermits.

This religious presence adds another dimension to the sanctuary. The forest is not only habitat and recreation space; it is also a place where Buddhist contemplative traditions have found a suitable environment close to Kandy’s sacred centre.

Visitors should keep voices low around monastic areas, respect any access signs and avoid photographing monks or meditation spaces intrusively. Silence is not an inconvenience here; it is part of the character of the place.

Udawattakele and Kandy’s water catchment

The tourism department describes the sanctuary as an important catchment area for Kandy. Forest cover slows runoff, protects soil and helps retain water in an urban basin where natural systems matter greatly.

This catchment role connects Udawattakele with the wider Kandy landscape. The forested ridge, Kandy Lake, surrounding hills and dense city are not isolated visual attractions. They are parts of one environmental system.

The practical lesson for visitors is simple: litter and disturbance do not disappear because they happen under trees. Keeping plastic and food waste out of the sanctuary protects both wildlife and the wider urban environment.

A practical half-day Udawattakele itinerary

A strong morning plan begins with the forest when temperatures are lower and bird activity can be stronger. Enter early, walk at a relaxed pace and finish before the hotter middle of the day. Afterward, continue downhill toward Sri Dalada Maligawa and Kandy Lake.

Another option is the reverse: visit Sri Dalada Maligawa during a morning Thewawa period, then move to Udawattakele for a quieter late-morning forest walk. This works well for travellers whose priority is cultural heritage rather than birdwatching.

Avoid adding too many distant attractions to the same half-day. The value of this cluster is that sacred heritage, royal history, forest and lake can be experienced within the same central area without unnecessary vehicle travel.

Responsible visitor behaviour at Udawattakele

• Stay on established visitor paths and respect access restrictions.
• Do not feed monkeys, birds or other wildlife.
• Keep food secured instead of encouraging animals to approach.
• Carry out all litter and minimise single-use plastic.
• Do not collect plants, seeds, flowers or forest material.
• Keep noise low, especially around birding and monastic areas.
• Use footwear suitable for wet leaves, uneven paths and possible leeches.
• Check current opening, ticket and closing arrangements before beginning a long walk.

Udawattakele Forest Reserve succeeds as a visitor destination because it adds a completely different layer to Kandy. Sri Dalada Maligawa explains the sacred city, Kandy Lake explains the royal landscape and Udawattakele reveals the living green ridge above both.

For PeraheraGo’s Explore Kandy cluster, that relationship is important. The best Kandy itineraries do not jump randomly between attractions. They connect places that explain one another. Udawattakele is therefore not just “a forest near Kandy”; it is one of the landscapes that helps make Kandy the city it is.