Kandy
The Hill Capital of Sri Lanka
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Description
Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city .
Some days Kandy’s skies seem perpetually bruised, with stubborn mist clinging to the hills surrounding the city’s beautiful centerpiece lake. Delicate hill-country breezes impel the mist to gently part, revealing colorful houses amid Kandy’s improbable forested halo. In the center of town, three-wheelers careen around slippery corners, raising a soft spray that threatens the silk saris worn by local women. Here’s a city that looks good even when it’s raining.
And when the drizzle subsides, cobalt-blue skies reveal a city of imposing colonial-era and Kandyan architecture, none more impressive than the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines. History and culture are on tap. Yes, the city is renowned for the great Kandy Esala Perahera festival (held annually in July/August), but its vibrant cultural life and attractions more than justify a visit at any time of year
Things to Do in Kandy
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Temple of the tooth/Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The subject of fierce fighting, it is said that the tooth – one of the Buddha’s teeth and therefore one of the most important Buddhist relics – was first brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD and has been part of the politics of the local region ever since. Legend has it that whoever owns the tooth has governance over the local area. However, the Temple of the Tooth itself was first built in 1603, with the current temple dating back to the 18th century.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya are about 5.5 km to the west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. In 2016, the garden was visited by 1.2 million locals and 400,000 foreign visitors. It is near the Mahaweli River (The longest river in Sri Lanka). It is renowned for its collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the “National Herbarium of Sri Lanka”.
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World War Cemetery [ Commonwealth War Graves ]
During World War II, the city of Kandy hosted the Headquarters of the South East Asian Command and was a key location for the war effort. The graveyard that used to be known as the Pitakande Military Cemetery was taken over by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a permanent war cemetery, and it is now the final resting place of soldiers of the British Empire killed during the war. This British military cemetery includes: 107 British soldiers; 35 East African soldiers; 26 Sri Lankan soldiers; 23 Indian soldiers; 6 Canadian soldiers; 3 Italian soldiers; and 1 French soldier. Of these, more than 75% served the army, with the rest belonging to the Air Force, Navy and National Fire Service.
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Bahirawakanda buddha statue {White buddah}
Bahirawakanda buddha statue Roughly 2 kilometers from the city center of Kandy lies a Theravada Buddhist temple called the Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, and also known as the Bahirawakanda Temple. The temple is famed for its giant white statue of Lord Buddha, called Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue, standing at 88 feet, one of the tallest Buddha statues on the island.
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The Arthur’s Seat/ The Kandy View Point
You want to breathe in Kandy in all it’s glory. You want to witness the gorgeous vista. The lush greenery lining the sparkling water of the iconic Kandy Lake, the Temple of the Tooth Relic overlooking the city, the iconic buildings and the blue sky dotted with a tinge of white, that add to the mosaic that is Kandy. Situated at 1790 feet above sea level is the Arthur’s Seat, or the Kandy View Point, from which you have an amazing panoramic view of the city of Kandy. Here you’ll find a platform that is built to facilitate your viewing of the city below. This viewing point was identified during the British ruling period. The legend reveals that there was a Bungalow owned by Mr.Arthur, a planter, just above the existing Arthur Seat is situated. The planter Arthur had used to view Kandy City by standing on a stone seat under a tree situated in front of his bungalow. - Kandiyan Dancing show
The Kandyan, or up-country (udarata natum), dances, are regarded as the classical dance tradition of Sri Lanka. Kandyan dancers are traditionally performed only by male dancers. The technique, partly derived from South India, focuses on dynamism, powerful footwork, leaps and whirls. It has a vast repertoire, partly originating from an ancient indigenous ritual dance, partly influenced by South Indian dances.