Kandy Lake is an artificial lake built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1807. The lake, also called Kiri Muhuda or Sea of the Milk, is situated in the heart of the Kandy city. It covers an area of 6,544 sq. m. with a circumference of 3.21 km. The lake boasts of a small island at its center. A building, together with some earliest ruins is also located at the center of the lake.

The iconic serene lake is one of the greatest attractions for visitors for its lush green settings and pristine blue waters. It has several rest zones, where tourists can sit, breathe fresh air, and catch the glimpse of scenic beauty around them. Nature lovers and tourists can enjoy the picturesque surroundings and soothe their jittery nerves by taking a stroll around the 2.1 km pathway.

People generally stroll or jog the pathway in the evening, when the mercury drops considerably. It presents a beautiful sight at night. The palm trees in the middle of the lake add charm to the entire surroundings. Tourists can opt for boat rides and relish the experience.

One can hire the boat either for their party or join other passengers for a ride. The boat ride costs approximately Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 for a 20-minute boating experience around the Lake. Visitors can look forward to gratifying their senses, by buying products ranging from balloons to cashew nuts from vendors roaming around the lake.

Owing to the pollution and other factors, which led to shrinkage of the lake, the management has declared it as a protected area and banned fishing at this spot. However, animal lovers and ornithologists can revel in watching birds, fishes, and huge monitor lizards.

There is no airport in Kandy city. The closest airport to Kandy Lake is the Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), in Colombo. The distance from Kandy Lake to Bandaranaike International Airport is 52.2 miles or 84 km.

Visitors can reach Kandy Lake from CMB Airport via train, bus or taxi.

One can board a train at Colombo Railway station to get to Kandy Railway Station. It is one of the inexpensive and safest modes of transport in Sri Lanka.

The cheapest type of travel from Bandaranaike International Airport to Kandy Lake is the public bus transport. The 3.5 hr ride costs around 170 LKR (Rs. 66.58) per person.

Though expensive, the hired taxis or air-conditioned tourist cars provide visitors a comfortable and fastest ride to Kandy Lake from CMB Airport.

The most suitable time to visit Kandy Lake is in the winter season from December to April. The weather during winters here will be dry and pleasant. It will be perfect for sightseeing and trekking.

Kandy experiences 2 monsoons, Yala and Maha, between May to July and from October to November respectively. The climate during these seasons remains fickle and humid. Though it remains unsuitable for visiting many of the places, one advantage of this season is the absence of crowds.

The April month in Sri Lanka witnesses’ huge crowds as Sinhalese New Year falls in the middle of the April month.