British Garrison Cemetery — Attraction in Central Province

British Garrison Cemetery (also known as the Kandy Garrison Cemetery) is a British cemetery in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for British nationals who died in Ceylon. It was established in 1817 just after British captured the Kandy[1] and closed in 1873 due to a ban on burials within the municipal limits, although special provision was given to allow the burial of relatives of those interred in the cemetery, with last person buried there being Annie Fritz in 1951.[2] The cemetery contains 195 graves of men, women and children. The most common causes of death were tropical diseases such as malaria and cholera.

The cemetery was restored in 1998 using financial contributions from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is currently maintained by a group called 'The Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy'.[3] The cemetery is located within the land of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the cemetery is maintained by the British while the Diyawadana Nilame and the Chief Prelates maintain the land.[4]

Prince Charles made a visit to the graves in November 2013.[4]

Notable graves

Sir John D’Oyly (1774-1824), a British colonial administrator and responsible for drafting the Kandyan Convention of 1815, which resulted in the British takeover of the Kandyan Kingdom.

Lady Elizabeth Gregory (1817-1873), the first wife of William Henry Gregory, Governor of Ceylon (1872-1877).

John Spottiswood Robertson (1823-1856), the seventh and last recorded death of a European in Ceylon killed by wild elephants.

William Robert Lyte (1846-1865), grandson of the Rev. Henry Francis Lyte, author of the hymn...

Walking through Kandy with a couple of hours to kill I was looking for a quiet spot and some shade when I saw signs to the British Garrison Cemetery. This peaceful and utterly charming 19th century graveyard was empty save for the caretaker's 25 year old nephew who happily and enthusiastically showed me round.

Lovingly maintained lawns and trees surround the gravestones which were apparently all made then shipped over from Britain. The cemetery was vandalised in 1998 but restored then reopened by Prince Charles in 2013.

My young guide had a story for almost every grave, some with more detail than perhaps plausible. Most striking of all was the young ages and causes of death recorded on the gravestones; nearly all of them in their 20's or 30's dying from cholera or malaria. Although being 'trampled by an elephant' or a 'house collapsing' also stand out!

Just when I was about to leave, over a hundred monkeys jumped down from the adjacent hillside forrest to run and play amongst the stones. Although sad, this was absolutely the best and most unexpected thing about my...

British Garrison Cemetery

British Garrison Cemetery (also known as the Kandy Garrison Cemetery) is a British cemetery in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for British nationals who died in Ceylon. It was established in 1817 just after British captured the Kandy and closed in 1873 due to a ban on burials within the municipal limits, although special provision was given to allow the burial of relatives of those interred in the cemetery, with last person buried there being Annie Fritz in 1951. The cemetery contains 195 graves of men, women and children. The most common causes of death were tropical diseases such as malaria and cholera.

The cemetery was restored in 1998 using financial contributions from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is currently maintained by a group called 'The Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy'. The cemetery is located within the land of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the cemetery is maintained by the British while the Diyawadana Nilame and the Chief Prelates...