Udawattekele Sanctuary!
 Near
the majestic Kandy lake, on the opposite northern side right above the
Dalada Maligawa is the dense jungle of the Udawattekele sanctuary open
daily from  7am to 5pm. The Udawattakale or Royal Forest Park was
declared a forest reserve in 1856 and thereafter, in 1938 as a
sanctuary. This reserve makes Kandy a special place for its legend and
religion.
 There
was a brahmin by the name of 'Senkanda' who used to meditate in the 'Senkandalena'
cave shelter of this forest who informed King Wickramabahu (1371 A.D.)
to establish the Kandyan kingdom. The new kingdom was also referred to
as the 'Senkadagalapura' in honour of 'Senkanda'. The cave known as the
'Senkanda cave' can be seen even today. The legend says the Brahmin
brought a sapling of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi here and planted it in the
present day site of Natha Devala.
As the traditional Royal palace and Temple of the Tooth were
constructed near the forest, the British added to the construction in
the form of the Pavilion building which houses the Governors's House and
now, the President's House.
Udawattekele was used as a pleasure garden by the Kandyan kings and
the forest was reserved for the Royal family and the pond in the forest
was used for bathing. The public was restricted from accessing the
forest hence the name 'Thahanci kele', Sinhalese for forbidden forest.
During the colonial era some of the land was given to build the Kandy
Garrison Cemetery and in 1834 governor Horton built a path, Lady
Horton's Drive, within the forest in remembrance of his wife. Henry W.
Cave mentions the trail is about three miles long. Lady McCarthy's
Drive, Lady Torrington's Road, Lady Gordon's Road, Lady Anderson's Road,
Gregory Path, Russell Path and Byrde Lane are the other walks in the
forest.
The historical and important places within the forest are, the
Garrison Cemetery, Lady Horton Street, Senkanda Cave Shelter, Pus
 Wela -
the Liana, Kodimale (flag Mount) and the Royal Pond. The cemetery was
the place where the bodies of soldiers and generals of the British Army
were buried during their period. There are 167 elegant tombs in the
cemetery. There is a 200-300 year-old giant endemic liana called
Pus (Entada rheedii pusaetha). Kodimale is the highest peak among
other small peaks within the forest. In ancient times, different flags
were hoisted during special occasions there.
The sanctuary also acts as an important catchment area for the supply
of water to the city of Kandy.
There are 460 plant species that have been recorded in the forest,
135 are species of trees and 11 lianas which include nine endemic
species. A large number of endemic plants and animal species exists
showing adaptations of different environmental
 conditions
within the forest. There are three layers vegetation namely canopy
(dominant), sub canopy and underground layers can be identified here.
Toque monkey, porcupines, mouse deer, birds and butterflies are very
common in this forest. Some common birds and mammals are found in the
forest. The endemic birds of the forest are Sri Lanka Lanyard's
Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Brown
Capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Yellow Fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Gray
Hornbill, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon.
The sanctuary has suffered from deforestation frequently which should
be stopped as it harbours several species of Pteridophytes, which are
mostly concentrated in the depths of rainforests of central highlands.
However, invasive Myroxylon balsamum is threatening the natural
biodiversity of the forest. Proposed control measures are uprooting
seedlings, collecting and destroying seeds, and thinning some mother
trees.
If you want to go for a good Kandy trek, the entrance to the park is
a steep hike from town: go up past the post office along the Kandy
Dalada Veediya and then take the Wewelpitiya road.
-ND
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