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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.

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.

Mathale railway line near the Post-Office, Kandy.

View of the Mahawely downstream from the Peradeniya bridge.

A rubber hose fed from the mountain stream, used to wash cars passing by. This was used to cool the heated radiators of cars doing the climb, in the old days.

Going down from Mawanella.

'Ambalama' at Molligoda on the Kandy road.

A village 'Pola' at Atale on the Kegalle - Avissawella road.

New year shoppers near Gampaha.

Triangular shaped fire-crackers on sale.

'Kiributh', 'Kokis', 'Mung kavung', 'Aasmi', 'Konde kavung', 'Thala sweet', 'Kalu dodol' and plantains.

The Chillie plant was native to South America. It was brought to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese in the 16th century AD. Even now a pungent variety of this plant is called 'Kochchi miris' in Sinhalese and 'Kochchikkkai' in Tamil. This recalls the time when it was brought from Cochin, South India a former Portuguese enclave.
Black pepper which was exported from Sri Lanka for more than 2000 years was native to Sri Lanka and is called 'Gammiris' - Gamey miris - in Sinhalese meaning the local variety.
Chillie has 'capsicaine' and is used in ointments as a counter irritant, to relieve pain.

Kandy Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Round the Lake, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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

The Queens Bath house, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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

Views of Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Railway museum, Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka.

Going down Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka.

Scenes on the road from Avissawella to Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Stalls at a village fare, Atale, Sri Lanka.

Crowds at the 'Pola' - country fareat Kosgama, one day before the Siinhala & Tamil New year 2015.

Overhead bridge and Railway line near Gampaha Railway Station, Sri Lanka.

A pet Rabbit on the lawn of a house, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

Scenes on the road, Gampaha to Hanwellla, Sri Lanka.

Sinhala & Tamil New Year shopping, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

Dragonfly, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Tit-bits on the table on Sinhala- Tamil New Year day, 2015.

Bridge to the Island on the Beira Lake, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Post-Office entrance, Avvissawella, Sri Lanka.

Chillie plant, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.