Arthur's Seat, Kandy
Arthur’s Seat, just southwest of Kandy Lake beyond the Royal Palace Park, is a popular lookout on Rajapihilla Mawatha at about 550 meters above sea level. From here you get a sweeping view of Kandy Lake, Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), the Royal Palace, and the city center.
Local folklore says a bungalow once stood above the lookout, owned by Mr. Arthur, a British tea planter. He would view Kandy by standing on a stone seat under a tree in front of his bungalow.
In 2015, the Kandy Municipal Council estimated about 1,500 tourists per day visit during the peak season (November to May) and around 500 per day in the off-season. In early 2016, a new viewing platform was built. The City’s Heritage Committee protested, deeming it unsightly, and the original stone seat was destroyed.
The new platform is a 35 by 5 meter concrete deck with a symbolic seat made from the original rock slab. The project cost Rs 6.474 million and was funded by the World Bank. Coordinates: 7°17′21″N 80°38′24″E.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:09 (CET).