Central Province · Sri Lanka
Udawattakele Forest Reserve
NatureBirdwatchingHikingWildlife
A 104-hectare protected cloud forest reserve directly above central Kandy, with 68 recorded bird species and multiple walking trails through bamboo groves and tropical trees.
Duration
1.5-2 hours
Entry Fee
$5 USD
Difficulty
easy
Budget
budget
About Udawattakele Forest Reserve
Udawattakele (meaning 'forest above the royal city') is a 104-hectare protected forest reserve on the ridge directly north of the Temple of the Tooth and Kandy Lake. It served as a forbidden royal grove for Kandyan kings and retains a dense, undisturbed canopy of mature trees. The forest has 68 recorded bird species including the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, orange-billed babbler, and white-faced starling, making it one of the better birding locations accessible from a Sri Lankan city. Walking trails range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and the forest also contains a colonial-era bungalow, meditation hermitages, and a small reservoir. The reserve is an effective escape from Kandy's city traffic and is 10 minutes on foot from the town centre.
Highlights
- 104-hectare forest reserve above Kandy city centre
- 68 recorded bird species including Sri Lanka grey hornbill
- Former royal forbidden grove of the Kandyan kings
- Multiple walking trails from 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Bamboo groves, giant tropical trees, and small reservoir
Practical Tips
Entry fee is approximately LKR 1,500 for foreign visitors (USD 5) as of 2024.
Arrive at 7am for the best birdwatching — the forest is active for the first two hours of daylight.
The main trail circuit takes about 1 hour at a comfortable pace; bring water.
Do not feed the monkeys — grey langurs and macaques in the forest are bold around visitors with food.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months Shoulder Avoid
Best time of day: Year-round; January to April is driest; early morning for birdwatching
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Usually quiet
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- outdoor
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- budget
- Photography
- ★★★☆☆
Plan Your Visit
Want to include Udawattakele Forest Reserve in your Sri Lanka itinerary? Our team in Kandy builds personalised plans — no booking fees, no online payment.
ALSO IN THE AREA
Nearby Destinations
Temple of the Tooth Relic
Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy houses a tooth relic of the Buddha and has been the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka since the 4th century AD.
Explore →
Kandy Lake
Artificial lake built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha in 1807 at the centre of Kandy, encircled by a 3km walkway and flanked by the Temple of the Tooth.
Explore →Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
A 26.8-metre white seated Buddha statue on Bahirawakanda Hill overlooking central Kandy, visible from most of the city and accessible by a 30-minute walk or tuk-tuk.
Explore →PLAN YOUR VISIT
Ready to explore Udawattakele Forest Reserve?
Tell us your travel dates, group size, and preferences. Our team in Kandy will build a personalised itinerary with accommodation, transport, and entry tickets — no booking fees, no online payment required.