Udawatta Forest Reserve

Udawatta Kele Sanctuary or the Royal Forest Park of Kandy is located on the hillside behind the Temple of the Tooth Relic some 1.5 km from The Radh Hotel. The 257 acres is hailed as a vital Bio reserve for the highly populated Kandy City. Centuries ago, the area surrounding Kandy had been a rainforest. During the Kandyan Kingdom, this forest area behind the palace was called " Uda Wasala Watta '' or the 'Upper Palace Garden.' It was frequented by royalty and off-limits to the general public. The sanctuary is widely known for its extensive and exotic birdlife. The reserve is also home to a wide variety of plant species. The forest reserve was declared a sanctuary in 1938 and remains under the control of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.