‘UDAWATTA KELE’
Great green forest of Kandy
The lush forest cover of Udawatta Kele Sanctuary behind Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy has a long history dating back to many centuries. It was declared ‘Tahansikele’ or ‘forbidden forest’ by the Sinhala kings who ascended the throne when Kandy became the capital city.
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary or the Royal Forest Park of Kandy is situated on the hillock behind the Dalada Maligawa.
This forest extends to about 257 acres and is considered to be a vital Bio reserve for the much populated Kandy City. Centuries back, area surrounding Kandy had been a Rain Forest and the human settlements took place during the era of King Panditha Parakramabahu (1302-1326 AD) and in 1371 AD, King Wickramabahu made Kandy his Kingdom. During this period Kandy was called ‘Senkadagala’. This name came into being due to a Brahmin named Senkanda, who lived in a cave at Udawattakele during that era. During the Kandyan Kingdom, this forest area behind the palace was called ‘Uda wasala watta’ or the ‘Upper Palace Garden’ frequented by royalty and was out of bound to common people. Since the downfall of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, this forest area started to lose its pristine condition due to wood cutting and jungle clearance.
The forest remained impenetrable for over many centuries where wild boar, monkey, hare, squirrel scaly anteater, porcupine, and reptiles, monitor lizard, tortoise and varieties of birds, worms and insects live in perfect harmony with nature.
The pond in the heart of the jungle was the place where queens in the past bathed and used as their pleasure garden. At times of war, kings always used the forest for their defence against attacks and very often they escaped through the heavy foliage to a safer place.
The documented history confirms there were Elephants, elk and leopard roamimg freely among tall giant trees and hanging creepers. The leaves that fell from trees and creepers on the ground keep the surface moist after intermittent showers. Throughout the history the atmosphere around Udawattekale evoked a certain feeling of mysterious nature.
The noise of cicadas makes the mystery deeper creating reverence and awe.
The Asgiri Upatha the historical record describes how Udawattekele became a forest reserve when the ancient village, Senkadagala was chosen as one of the early settlements in the country.
According to this historical record, the first settlement was founded during the rule of Gajabahu of Anuradhapura (114 -136 AC). There is a reference to the Maha Thera Palabathgala Wanaratana of the lineage of Dimbulagala Dipankara Thero who brought four other bhikhus to Senkadagala during the rule of Panditha Parakramabahu of Kurunegala.
However, King Wickremabahu of Gampola is popularly believed to be the founder of the city of Senkadagala who built his palace on a site carved out of Udawattekele. It is for this reason that the name Udawasala watta was called Udawattekele, to this day.
Udawattekele was the watershed for the streams that fed the Natha Devale paddy fields, which were later made into form the present Kandy Lake, ‘Kiri Muhuda’. There were streams of water that flow down even to this day from Udawattekele. ‘This forest possesses the scenic beauty of Kandy town’ says Nihal Karunaratne in his account given in his text Udawattekele.
It is a truly unique ecosystem compared to the rest of Sri Lanka’s central hills. Udawattakele is a famous birdwatching site. About 100 bird species have been recorded in the sanctuary. The endemic bird species such as Layard’s parakeet, yellowfronted barbet, brown-capped babbler and Sri Lanka hanging parrot are recorded seen in the ‘Kele’ .
The rare three-toed kingfisher Ceyx erythacus has been observed occasionally at the pond. Common hill myna, golden-fronted leafbird, bluewinged leafbird, spotted dove, emerald dove, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, whiterumped shama, crimson-fronted barbet, brown-headed barbet crested serpent eagle, and brown fish owl are regularly seen and heard in the forest.