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This artificial lake was built by the last king of Kandy (and of Sri Lanka), Sri
Wikrama Rajasinhe to beatify the Temple of the Tooth Relic by excavating paddy fields
in 1807. He called this artificial lake the: Kiri Muhuda" or the Milky Ocean.
He also added the "Valakulu Bamma" (the clouds wall) around the lake but before
he could complete, British forces invaded the city of Kandy and prisoned the last
Kandyan King in 1815. The Walakulu Wall still remains in the same unfinished state
with a length of 2060 feet. The triangular holes in the wall have been used to light
oil lamps in the night. This same design has been used for the outer wall of Sri
Dalada Maligawa.
He also built a dam across the lake to travel to the other side of the lake but
then he destroyed it from both ends leaving only a portion in the centre creating
an island.
On the Dalada Maligawa side of the lake is the Queens Bathing House. Which is partially
in the lake itself?
The perimeter of the lake is about 3.4 km and the walakulu wall runs to about 2060
feet around the lake.
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