Early morning view over the Mahaweli River in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Mahaweli River is a 335 km (208 miles) long river, and is the longest river in Sri Lanka.
The lake is artificial and was created in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy. Several minor local chiefs protested because their people objected to labouring on the project. In order to stop the protests they were put to death on stakes in the lake bed. The central island was used as Sri Wickrama Rajasinha’s personal harem. Later the British used it as an ammunition store and added the fortress-style parapet around the perimeter.
The cloud wall, called Walakulu bemma, is Britain’s contribution to Kandy. History has it that after Kandy surrendered to the British in 1815 officials of Her Majesty were known to stroll along the promenade around the Lake. This wall contains triangular holes, which have been used to light oil lamps during the Esala Perahera festival.
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