Kandy Lake, Kandy

No trip to the hill city of Kandy is complete without spending some time exploring its glorious lake. A sprawling, emerald water body fringed by ancient temples and lush jungle, the idyllic scenery wouldn’t be out of place on a painting or postcard. In fact, it’s so naturally beautiful that you’d never guess it’s man-made. Built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe - the last ruler of the Kingdom of Kandy - the location of the lake was once paddy fields centered around a small pond. A dam was built first, and the old steps that used to lead into the lake by the Temple of the Tooth are still visible today. Another interesting piece of history is the wall, known as Walakulu Bamma, which was left unfinished after Kandy was captured by the British. Although the wall still lies incomplete, it makes an attractive feature.

Kandy Lake is also the subject of much folklore, which only adds to its interest. Legend has it that the central island was where the king's wives and concubines would bathe, and it’s connected to the royal palace by a hidden tunnel. The island was later used by the British to store ammunition and a parapet was built around it.