The Kurunegala Lake — also known as Rantaliya Tank — is a large ancient reservoir lying just north of the town centre, built by the medieval kings to supply water to the surrounding agricultural lands. Today it serves as the town's main green lung: the embankment road around the lake is popular with morning walkers and cyclists, and the views back across the water to the rocky outcrops and their Buddha statues are worth the early start.
Boats can sometimes be hired for a gentle row on the lake, and the water draws birds including herons, egrets and the occasional kingfisher. The lakeside is at its most pleasant in the cool of the morning or around sunset, when the sky turns pink over the rocks.