Bats sleeping during the day, around the Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The Queens Bath house, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Photo taken in the 1980s

This building adjoining the Dalada Maligawa and Royal residence was used as a bathing spot by the Queen. It was in a delapidated state and housed a library, and later a police guard post. It is now being renovated.

The 'Queen's Bath House and the Golden roofed 'Dalada Maligawa', seen across the Kandy Lake, Sri Lanka.

The present Kandy Lake was a paddy field lying between the Dalada Maligawa and the Malwaththe Pansala. The 'Mul Aacharya' - Chief Architect of King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe - conceived the design of this lake. A dam was built in the lower reaches and water covered the paddy field. An elevated part of the paddy field remained as an Island in the newly formed lake. The lake was named 'Kiri Muhuda' and the Island 'Jala thilaka mandapaya'. It was a beautiful sight. Some of the courtiers must have been jealous, for the body of the 'Mul Aacharya' was subsequently found floating in the Lake.

Round the Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Walking round the Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

A British Governor wrote nearly 150 years ago that Kandy was the most beautiful city in the world.