Kandy
Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and the gateway to the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Lying in the midst of hills, a lake, river, tea plantations and spice gardens, Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka. Not only is it attractive, it also has significant religious, cultural and historical value and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kandy was the last capital of the ancient Sinhala kingdom and the final stronghold against colonial rule. It is also one of the most venerable places for Buddhists worldwide, who pay homage to the impressive Temple of the Tooth that enshrines a relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth.
Highlights
Kandy Lake
↓
↑
The star of the town, Kandy Lake is perfect if you want to take a relaxing stroll, with benches scattered around the lake. You will easily spend a few hours walking around this picturesque walk. We recommend you walk along the stretch which is nearby to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It’s worth noting that this lake isn’t actually natural it was built in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last king of Kandy.
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
↓
↑
Another highlight of Kandy is the delightful Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, which is styled on London’s Royal Gardens in Kew. These gardens are truly magnificent – they are the largest in the island and the finest in Asia.
Royal Bar
↓
↑
After a wonder around Kandy we found the Royal Bar & Hotel, a wonderful relic of British colonial times. It has a delightful courtyard with bars and rooms leading off the balconies.
Royal Palace Complex
↓
↑
The entire temple complex covers a large area and as well as the main Tooth relic shrine there are numerous other temples and museums within the complex. the Sri Dalada Museum, with a stunning array of gilded gifts to the temple. Letters and diary entries from the British time reveal the colonisers’ surprisingly respectful attitude to the tooth relic.
Temple of the tooth
↓
↑
Kandy’s revered Temple of the Tooth Relic was built within the royal palace complex and houses only surviving relic of Buddha, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic, which is situated inside, played an important role in local politics since ancient times. It is believed that whoever holds the Tooth relic, holds the governance of the country, Monks conduct daily ritual worship in the inner chamber of the Temple of the Tooth three times a day, at dawn, at noon and in the evening. During puja (offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists.Hotels
From stunning beachfront resorts to culture filled boutique hotels, Sri Lanka offers a large range of hotels to suit everyone’s needs. Whether thats a search for relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion.
Tours
Below are a selection of our favourite sample itineraries that we have created based on our experiences of travelling extensively throughout Sri Lanka. As with all our tours, every aspect can be tailor-made to your individual requirements.
