Explore Kandy
In the history of Sri Lanka, the Kingdom of Kandy retains an almost legendary place, being hidden away amid the green hills and looped by Sri Lanka’s largest river: the Mahaweli. The last independent stronghold of the Sinhalese royalty, the Kingdom of Kandy clung to its freedom long after the rest of the island had fallen to the Portuguese and the Dutch, preserving its customs and culture, until finally having to surrender in 1815.
The city remains a bastion of Sinhalese culture and religion and is home to the nation’s most revered Buddhist Temple, the Dalada Maligawa, the sacred temple of the tooth relic. Kandy is also the undisputed centre for arts and crafts for the Sinhala people, and home of the famous Kandyan dancers.
The town’s moderate climate and central location has made it a favourite for locals and foreign travellers alike. It is also the natural gateway to the stirring peaks of Sri Lanka’s hill country and to the great beaches in the east coast, near Tricomalee and Batticaloa.
The Royal Temple Complex, of which the Temple of the Tooth was just one part, includes the Audience Hall, the National Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Queen’s ulpenge or Bath House, situated just by the lakeside.
During July andAugust, Kandy dazzles with the sounds and lights of the Esala Perahera, a festival held over 10 days and consisting of a magnificent procession of caparisoned elephants, accompanied by dancers, drummers and many other performers, all following the Maligawa Tusker, the majestic male tusker elephant, carrying the Tooth Relic casket on his back.
What to do/see in and around Kandy:
- Stroll through the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens , one of the finest public gardens in Asia, dating back to the 14th century.
- Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Tusker Museum next door
- Experience the Kandyan dance and drummers performance which includes a folklore showas well as a fire-walking demonstration.
- Explore around the Kandy Lake, a casual walk around the heart of Kandy Town.
- Drive on the scenic route along Rajapahila Mawatha for a great vantage of Kandy.
- Visit the the National Museum and the Archaeological Museum, both situated behind the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
- Visit a batik factory and learn the secrets of manufacturing a traditional Sri Lankan dyed material, used to make colourful sarongs in striking patterns.
- walk through the forested hillside of the Udawattekele Sanctuary, with its resident, cheeky monkeys, vast array of birdlife and surrounded by imposing, giant trees. This sanctuary is walking distance from the town centre.
- Check out the Tea Museum in Hantana, which is housed in an old, converted tea factory, and tells the story of James Taylor, an Englishman who pioneered the tea trade out of Sri Lanka.
- Walk (or drive!) the Three Temples Loop, which includes Lanka Thilekke Vihara, the Embekke Temple, known for its magnificently carved wooden pillars, and the Gadaladeniya Vihara, which was built on a hilltop in the 14th century. All three temples pre-date the city of Kandy itself!
- If you’re feeling strong and adventurous, try trekking in the Knuckles mountain range with an experienced guide.
