Bogambara Prison, Former colonial prison in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Bogambara Prison is a former colonial jail on a plateau in Kandy with a rectangular layout and thick stone walls. The main building once held individual cells and has been converted into a cultural park where shops and guest spaces now occupy the grounds.
The facility was built in 1876 as a maximum security prison under British administration. It operated for over a century until inmates were transferred in 2014 and the site was given a new purpose.
The name comes from a lake that was filled in during colonial times to create this space. Walking through the grounds today, you can sense how the British reshaped the local landscape for their own purposes.
The park sits on a hillside, so sturdy shoes and plenty of water are recommended for exploring. Visitors should set aside time to wander through both the old buildings and the newer shops and cafes scattered across the grounds.
This was one of only two authorized execution sites in Sri Lanka, reflecting its strict role in the justice system. Today that grim past fades into the background as the place now welcomes people for cultural activities and community gatherings.
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