British Garrison Cemetery

Located just a short walk away from The Temple of the Sacred Tooth, entering the British Garrison Cemetery is like entering another world. I don’t mean leaving the world of the living, but a world of calm and quiet. More likely than not, you will be the only visitor and you can walk around the grounds reading the tombstones and discovering what life might have been like for the 195 people buried there. During your time at the cemetery you will in all likelihood meet the young caretaker of the cemetery Harsha. He is very knowledgeable about everything that is there in the cemetery and can guide you through the tombstones sharing information about each. The British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy is maintained by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

British Garrison Cemetery British Garrison Cemetery (also known as the Kandy Garrison Cemetery) is a British cemetery in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for British nationals who died in Ceylon. It was established in 1817 just after British captured the Kandy and closed in 1873 due to a ban on burials within the municipal limits, although special provision was given to allow the burial of relatives of those interred in the cemetery, with last person buried there being Annie Fritz in 1951. The cemetery contains 195 graves of men, women and children. The most common causes of death were tropical diseases such as malaria and cholera. The cemetery was restored in 1998 using financial contributions from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is currently maintained by a group called 'The Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy'. The cemetery is located within the land of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the cemetery is maintained by the British while the Diyawadana Nilame and the Chief Prelates maintain the land.

It is a old cemetery was opened in 1822 and closed in 1870. Anybody can visit their between 8am to 6pm.its behind the kandy national museum.The caretaker Mr.Charles is a very kind person and he knows every stories behind the tombs.There are some tombs of the memorable people from the colonial era.

This was built in 1822 and it was the designated final resting place of many British and European greats from Sri Lanka’s colonial era. The cemetery contains 195 graves of men, women and children. The most common causes of death were tropical diseases such as malaria and cholera. The cemetery was restored in 1998 using financial contributions from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is currently maintained by a group called 'The Friends of the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy This small oblong plot of cleared ground, bordered on three sides by the Udawathakelle Forest Sanctuary.

We visited there recently on our trip to Kandy. It was well maintained and easy to access. I suggest you to go there before 12 noon on weekdays.If the gates closed ask the nearest building so they will come and show you around. There’s the tombs of then governor’s wife , John Doyle, the founder of Cargills group , the elephant hunter who died from a thunder light and others. There’s tomb from aged three months to elders. There’s approximately 150 tombs and more than 400 people burried there.Such a calm and quiet place.

The garrison cemetery is a small cemetery that holds the graves of many, mainly colonial british, men, women and children. The cemetery is maintained by the UK ministry of defence/the commonwealth war comission through the caretaker, Mr. Charles Carmichael and his assistant, Mr. Harsha Kumara Herath. Both are very happy to provide tours of the cemetery, for free (just enter the chapel/museum near the entrance). If you want, you can donate at the end of the tour, which we did, but we certainly didn't feel pressured. Harsha knows quite a bit about the place and background history and is very enthusiastic about the cemetery. At the same time he seemed saddened that other guides take tourists here that don't know much about the place and even charge money for it.

Quite & neatly maintained colonial cemetery. Since it's a garrison cemetery most of it's tombs belongs to young men...😐.placed very Near to tooth relic temple. Should visit place in kandy town.

Sadly, the cemetery was closed due to a fallen wall. We could take a few photos from the gate. However, the cemetery caretaker was there and he kindly gave us an interesting explanation of its history. He also showed us the small museum with framed newspaper articles about the cemetery.