09 August 2009

The Fountain of Kandy


Kandy, the hill capital is the most beautiful city in Sri Lanka. The famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha (Dalada Maligawa) is situated in this city. Kandy becomes very colorful during the Annual Esala Perahera Season, which brings the country's biggest cultural pageant. The 2009 Perahera concluded a few days ago.

The Nuwara Wewa (Tank), which is in the middle of Kandy is very scenic and the surrounding mountains add extreme charm to the city. The Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya which is close to the city is one of the most attractive parks in the South Asia. Hanthana Mountain Range and Udawaththa Kele (Forest) are popular places for nature lovers and hikers.

This picture was taken from Udawaththa Kele and it clearly shows one of the newer attractions in the Nuwara Wewa, the fountain.

35 comments:

betchai said...

wow, that fountain in the middle of a big pond (or is lake?) surrounded with mountains and the lush vegetation is stunning!

Judy said...

Beautiful photos, and I love the story. You asked about how old the fireplace might be. In Canada, I would say it is old, but in Sri Lanka, it would be new. Between 100 and 200 years, at a guess.

Icy BC said...

Sounds like a beautiful place to visit! Great photo with the city in the background..

rainfield61 said...

Such a scenic place which I enjoy the most after enlarging the picture.

Harshi said...

Wow.. how come I missed such a spectacle! Gotta check it out the next time I visit Kandy town.

Stunning pic and short yet very interesting prose!

Nicole said...

That must be one beautiful and awesome place, sigh.
Would love to come and visit one day!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Betchai,
It is actually a tank but looks very natural!

Judy,
Thanks for that information! I love that fireplace:)

Icy BC,
Yes Kandy is a city yet so close to nature.

Rainfield,
I'll upload more photos took from this place soon :)

Harumi,
This is a very nice creation.. Think it was done quite recently. Tis stunning especially when you look at it from a high elevation. Kandy is such a nice place and you are lucky to live there :)

Nicole,
Kandy is a good city to live in. You would love to be here:)

Thanks all for your wonderful comments!

Harshi said...

Yep, cuz its height looks quite impressive. oh but I live about 4-5 km off Kandy now! =D

We used to live in the heart of Kandy while schooling, for few years. And we took the Lake round (that's what we call the paved walkway around this lake) to school everyday. Seeing this lake brimming with water and the dazzling Ran Wiyana (golden canopy) and Maligawa (Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic) were truly refreshing and inspiring sights, we've cherished for all those years.

poefusion said...

The fountain certainly adds charm to an already beautiful place. Have a great night.

Irene said...

Hope to visit Sri Lanka one day..Thank you for dropping by my blog and do come by again.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Beautiful picture... I enjoyed seeing the fountain. Kandy appears to be a gorgeous city. Thanks for sharing.
Betsy

George said...

This is a beautiful scene -- I can see why it is considered to be such a beautiful city. I also like the waterfall in the post below this one.

Janith said...

K, is Udawatta kele open to visitors or do you need a special pass to go there?

Your picture is, I believe, the only one I've seen of the lake taken from Udawatta kele, and not from the other direction with the Maligawa in the background... would love to visit Udawatta kele someday... :)

Amila Salgado said...

I too have missed the fountain. I will check it next time I visit there.

Anonymous said...

Now, thats a good catch!

Sunny said...

Your blog is so interesting, I love to learn of new places.
Thank you for sharing.
Sunny :)

Rajesh said...

Very scenic beautiful location. I could see the fountain. I would like to see Budhist temple throgh your blog someday.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Harumi,
So you are in the outskirts of Kandy. Guess it is even better :)
I have done the ‘Wewa rawuma’ once. That is a long time back as my cousins were schooling in Kandy and I used to come to meet them once in a while. It is a great place indeed for a walk!

Michelle,
Yes, the solitary fountain in the middle of the water really adds more splendor to the already beautiful scenery. :)

Irene,
You are most welcome and I will visit your blog again for sure.
Please do visit Sri Lanka one day :)

Betsy,
You are welcome. Yes, for me it is the most beautiful city. :)

George,
The waterfall is one of the most popular ones in Sri Lanka. This scenery of the Kandy town is not so popular yet as not many people who visit Udawaththa Kele, although it is so close to the city.

Chavie,
It is open to anyone. You have to buy a ticket for a nominal fee. Just like going to Gardens. Now it has developed quite well and it has nice walkways too.
Yes, we usually see the photos taken from the other side with Maligawa in the B/G. You will need at least 2-3 hours for a visit here.
I shall upload more photos taken from here soon.

Gallicissa,
This is the first time I saw this fountain. Not sure when it was started but definitely a very good addition to the scenery. :)

Gadgetgirl,
The scenery is very beautiful from here and any picture taken here would be a good shot :)

Sunny,
You are welcome and glad you like it :)
Thanks for dropping by!

Rajesh,
I will post images of the Temple soon. The good thing about Kandy is you get so many things to see here. Temples, Cultural pageants, Gardens, etc…

Thanks all for your wonderful comments!

Rick (Ratty) said...

The fountain is very attractive. I would love to see that fountain from there.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Ratty,
Thanks a lot for your comments :)

Harshi said...

Yep.. here we have less pollution and more trees. =D

Really? that's good to hear. Funny I've never covered the whole wewa rawuma, only some portions of it. =D

And thanks for the info on Udawatta Kele too, can't waitta visit there some time.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Hi Harumi,
Thanks for the link on Udawaththa kele :)
Complete circle of 'wewa rawuma' is quite long.
I can see you live in a very fresh area full of vegetation from your photos.
Tks for the comments!

Jane said...

Really breath-taking! What a beautiful place..

Linnea said...

Oh...that is a really pretty place, so picturesque with the water and hills. I'd love to visit it! Thanks for stopping by my Ruby Tuesday post...

Kirigalpoththa said...

Jane / Linnea,
Thanks a lot for your comments :)

James said...

That is a wonderful fountain.

Dimple said...

It is a beautiful shot. I am impressed by the vegetation which hides so many buildings, making the view almost seem to be from a rural area.

The Pink Geranium or Jan's Place said...

That fountain looks so cool coming out of nowhere!

Regina said...

Great place and beautiful shot! thanks for sharing.

Kirigalpoththa said...

James,
Thanks a lot for your comments!

Dimple,
You are correct. although it is a city, the vegetation is quite dense so you do not feel that you are within city limits :)
Thanks for dropping by and for your comments!

Jan,
Thanks a lot for your comments :)

Regina,
Many Thanks for your comments!!

Unknown said...

it looks like a crater lake. the fountain in the middle is quite interesting.

Arija said...

Kandy is a lovely town. We were there when the tooth was paraded through the ciry, Loved the Botanical gardens, the friendly people and the market.
Thank you for reawakening these pleasant memories.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Luna,
Infact this is a man made lake :)the fountain in the middle is very interesting indeed
Thanks for your comments!

Arija,
Great to hear you have visited Sri Lanka.
Glad you saw the 'Kandy Perahera' (Parade)too.
Since it is happening only once a year not many people get the chance to see it. You are lucky that way :)
Thanks for sharing your experience :)

Esala Perahara said...

Esala Perahara in Kandy, Sri Lanka is one legendary festival of Skanda & Buddha since 300 AD. A devout to both hindu & Buddhist idols, there is a procession with entertainments like canons, whips, performers, drums, rings, rituals, fire throwing & sword fights. But the most embellished elephants - symbol of fertility & fortune, carry Buddhist monks, temple VIPs & sacred antiques.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Hi Esala Perahera,
Many thanks for dropping by and for your excellent narrative above and in the travelfront.com on esala Perahera.
Rgds
K