National Museum of Kandy

{{infobox museum | name = National Museum of Kandy | image = Kandy National Museum.jpg | caption = National Museum in Kandy, with the statue of Sir Henry Ward in the foreground. | coordinates = {{coord|7|17|41|N|80|38|27|E|region:LK_type:landmark|display=inline, title}} | established = 1942 | founder = | location = Kandy, Sri Lanka | director = K. D. V. Chandimal | visitors = | type = History | website = [http://www.museum.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_regionalm&task=regionalmuseum&id=4&Itemid=60&lang=en Department of National Museums website] }} The '''National Museum of Kandy''' in Kandy, Sri Lanka is located next to the Temple of the Tooth in part of the former Royal Palace of Kandy. The primary exhibits are housed in the ''Palle Vahala'' building, which was the former home of the King's harem. A secondary exhibition is located in the main palace building. The museum is maintained by the Department of National Museums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_regionalm&task=regionalmuseum&id=4&Itemid=60&lang=en|title=National Museum, Kandy|publisher=Department of National Museums|accessdate=25 May 2015|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116030820/http://www.museum.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_regionalm&task=regionalmuseum&id=4&Itemid=60&lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ''Palle Vahala'' (lower palace) or ''Meda Vahala''<ref>{{cite book|title=Women in the Kandyan Kingdom of the Seventeenth Century Sri Lanka: A Study in the Application of Gender Theory in Historical Analysis|author=Wimaladharma, Kapila P.|publisher=Varuni Publishers|date=2003|page=121|isbn=9789555660013}}</ref> (middle palace)<ref>{{cite journal|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka |volume=45-46|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|place=Colombo|date=2000|pages=110–111}}</ref> was constructed during the Sri Vickrama Rajasingha era and was used as the quarters of the queens of King of Kandy.<ref>{{cite book|title=Kandy: An Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments with Historical, Archaeological and Literary Descriptions including maps of the City and its suburbs|author=Seneviratna, Anuradha|publisher=Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs|date=1983|page=79}}</ref> This building has been built according to the architectural features of Kandyan period. It was used as a depository for historical artifacts made by the Kandy Art Association which was established in 1882 and artisans of Matale. The museum was opened to the public in 1942.

The museum has over 5,000 artifacts on display consist of weapons, jewelry, tools and other artifacts from the Kandian era (17-19th Century) and post British Colonial era, including a copy of the 1815 agreement that handed over the Kandyan provinces to the British. In the grounds of the museum is a statue of Sir Henry Ward a former Governor of Ceylon (1855–1860), which was originally located in front of the Queen's Hotel.

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} {{Kandy landmarks}} {{Museums in Sri Lanka |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Museum Of Kandy}} Category:Cultural buildings in Kandy Category:Museums in Kandy District Category:National museums of Sri Lanka Category:History museums in Sri Lanka