The primary exhibits are housed in the Palle Vahala building, which was the former home of the King's harem.

[1] The Palle Vahala (lower palace) or Meda Vahala[2] (middle palace)[3] was constructed during the Sri Vickrama Rajasingha era and was used as the quarters of the queens of King of Kandy.

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 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.