Quick answer
Kandy War Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery on Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha, about three kilometres west of central Kandy towards Peradeniya. It holds roughly 200 burials, most from the Second World War, of servicemen from Britain, Ceylon, India, East Africa, Canada and other countries. The terraced lawns are open daily in daylight hours and entry is free. A tuk-tuk from Kandy Lake takes 10 to 15 minutes, and a visit takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Kandy War Cemetery contains roughly 200 Commonwealth burials, nearly all from the Second World War.
- South East Asia Command, under Lord Louis Mountbatten, moved its headquarters to Kandy in April 1944.
- The cemetery was originally known as Pitakande Military Cemetery.
- Kandy War Cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is free to enter.
- The cemetery lies about three kilometres from Kandy Lake and three from the botanic gardens at Peradeniya.
What Kandy War Cemetery is
Kandy War Cemetery is one of several Commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka, alongside those in Colombo and Trincomalee. It was begun as a military burial ground for the garrison and taken over by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission after the war.
The setting of Kandy War Cemetery is a steep hillside cut into curving grass terraces. Uniform headstones stand in rows among flowering shrubs, with tall forest trees behind and the Mahaweli valley below. A Cross of Sacrifice marks the upper level.
Why there is a war cemetery in Kandy
Kandy's wartime role began in April 1944, when Lord Louis Mountbatten moved South East Asia Command from Delhi to the hill capital. His headquarters occupied the botanic gardens at Peradeniya, and thousands of Allied staff were billeted in and around the city.
Ceylon had become vital after the fall of Singapore in 1942 and the Japanese air raids on Colombo and Trincomalee that April. Most of those buried in Kandy War Cemetery did not die in battle. They were lost to illness, accidents and air crashes while serving at the headquarters, in hospitals and at training camps in the hills.
Who is buried here
The graves of Kandy War Cemetery reflect the breadth of the forces in Ceylon. The largest group is from the United Kingdom, followed by men of the Ceylon and Indian forces and of East African units that trained on the island for the Burma campaign.
Kandy War Cemetery also holds a small number of other burials, including one from the First World War and a few non-Commonwealth and civilian graves. Each headstone carries a regimental badge, a name, a rank, an age and often a line chosen by the family.
- →Army, navy and air force personnel from Britain.
- →Soldiers of the Ceylon Defence Force and Indian Army.
- →Men of East African regiments.
- →Individual graves from Canada and other Commonwealth countries.
Visiting: hours, access and etiquette
Visiting Kandy War Cemetery is simple. The gate on Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha is open during daylight, usually from early morning to late afternoon, and a gardener is generally on site. There is no ticket, and a visitors' book stands in a shelter near the entrance.
Etiquette at Kandy War Cemetery is a matter of quiet respect. Walk on the grass paths between rows, do not sit on headstones, and keep voices low. Photography is allowed. Lankan Stays & Trails includes the cemetery for travellers with a family or military interest, usually on the way to or from Peradeniya.
- →Entry: free; donations are not required.
- →Time: 20 to 30 minutes.
- →Access: steps between terraces; the lower level is reachable without them.
- →Dress: no rule, though modest clothing is appropriate.
Finding a particular grave
Finding a relative's grave in Kandy War Cemetery is straightforward with a little preparation. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's online records list every burial with its plot, row and number. Note the reference before you travel.
A register is kept at the cemetery, and the gardeners know the layout well and are glad to help. Visitors often leave a small cross or flowers. If you are researching someone who served at Kandy but is buried elsewhere, the Colombo cemeteries hold the larger wartime records.
Combining it with Peradeniya and Kandy
Kandy War Cemetery lies between the city and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, so the two fit into one outing. The gardens were Mountbatten's headquarters, and a few traces of that period survive there among the palms.
A wartime morning in Kandy could start at the cemetery at 8, continue to Peradeniya when the gardens are cool, and end at the British Garrison Cemetery behind the temple for the colonial century that came before. The three together take about four hours.
- →Cemetery to Peradeniya gardens: about ten minutes by road.
- →Cemetery to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: 10 to 15 minutes.
- →Best time: early morning, when the terraces are in soft light.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kandy War Cemetery?
Kandy War Cemetery is on Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha, about three kilometres west of Kandy Lake in the direction of Peradeniya. It sits on a hillside above the Mahaweli River. A tuk-tuk from the centre takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Is Kandy War Cemetery free to visit?
Kandy War Cemetery is free to visit and is open every day in daylight hours. It is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There is no ticket desk, and visitors are welcome to sign the book kept near the entrance.
How many graves are in Kandy War Cemetery?
Kandy War Cemetery holds roughly 200 Commonwealth burials. Nearly all date from the Second World War, with a very small number from other periods. They include members of British, Ceylonese, Indian, East African and Canadian forces.
Why was Kandy important in the Second World War?
Kandy was the headquarters of South East Asia Command from April 1944, when Lord Louis Mountbatten moved his staff from Delhi to the botanic gardens at Peradeniya. The campaigns to retake Burma and Malaya were planned from here until the end of the war.
Is Kandy War Cemetery the same as the Garrison Cemetery?
Kandy War Cemetery and the British Garrison Cemetery are separate. The War Cemetery, near Peradeniya, holds twentieth-century military graves. The Garrison Cemetery, behind the National Museum in the centre, holds colonial burials from 1817 to the 1870s.
How long should I spend at Kandy War Cemetery?
Twenty to thirty minutes is enough to walk the terraces of Kandy War Cemetery and read a selection of headstones. Visitors looking for a particular grave, or those who simply want a quiet pause, often stay closer to an hour.