Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is a historic forest in the city of Kandy. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawatta Kele was known as "Uda Wasala Watta" in Sinhalese meaning, "the garden situated above the royal palace". The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna. A variety of floral species present in the sanctuary. The forest is also of religious importance as it is widely used as a meditation hermitage from the ancient times. Udawatta Kele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938.

Features
Udawatta Kele is situated to the north of Temple of the Tooth. The sanctuary is also home to several Buddhist monasteries, a 200-300 year old giant Entada rheedii liana, and the shady lovers' walk, which runs along the banks of the royal pond. The sanctuary also acts as an important catchment area for the supply of water to the city of Kandy.

Of the 460 plant species that have been recorded in the forest, 135 are species of tree and 11 arelianas. These include 9 endemic species.The forest features an emergent layer, a canopy and anunderstory. Because two upper layers are thick understory is not present everywhere in the sanctuary

Fauna
Udawatta Kele is a famous birdwatching site. Layard's Parakeet, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-fronted Barbet,Crimson-fronted Barbet, Brown-headed Barbet and Black-backed Kingfisher are common in the forest.[9] Red-faced Malkoha and Kashmir Flycatcher are two birds listed as threatened that can be found in Udawatta Kele.

Toque Macaque (Sinhalese "Rilawa"), Indian Crested Porcupine ("Itthewa"), and Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain ("Meminna") are the some species of mammals that can be seen in the forest.