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The erstwhile Hill Capital of Sri Lanka, the history of Kandy evokes images of riches, marching elephants and much pomp and pageantry. About 129 kms away from Colombo, Kandy is ensconced amongst a hilly terrain and all eyes are drawn to the centre of the city, where the Kandy Lake forms a charming feature. One of the seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka, Kandy was once home to the Kandyan Kings of yore in the 16th-century and a fountainhead for all the music, arts, crafts and culture in the country. Taking in a performance of Kandyan Dancers is rather like floating on an unending wave where rhythm and movement become one against the backdrop of the throbbing drums.
Kandy retains great religious significance for Sri Lanka, because it is in this charming city that the Dalada Maligawa or ‘Temple of the Tooth’ is located, within which the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha lies well guarded. The best time to visit Kandy would be in July/August when you can experience the annual Kandy Esala Perahera, an unforgettable parade that reflects the pomp and pageantry of kings and more significantly, an occasion when a replica of the relic casket is paraded. Almost 100 elephants strut along the main thoroughfare of the city, bedecked with ceremonial gear and are accompanied by dancers and drummers over 10 riveting days.
Even if you miss this spectacle, there are many more sights and sounds in Kandy that will hold your attention. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens invite visitors to a learning experience about flora and fauna and some majestic trees that can be traced back centuries ago. A visit to the National Museum once again underscores the city’s royal past and is well worth a stop. The 17th-century Asgiriya Monastery houses ancient manuscripts and other treasures from a bygone era. A short trip on the way to Kandy (from Colombo) is undoubtedly the Pinawela Elephant Orphanage, which is home to many abandoned baby elephants and injured pachyderms. This spot is incredibly popular amongst tourists who converge here during the elephant bathing and feeding rituals.
Kandy is an exciting place for shopping and a well-known centre for elaborate brass, bronze and silver ware. Batiks, handlooms, ceramics, jewellery, reed ware and jewellery are other readily available items. This hill capital is at the heart of the island’s history and identity and no visit to Sri Lanka is complete without a stop-over in Kandy.
Kandy retains great religious significance for Sri Lanka, because it is in this charming city that the Dalada Maligawa or ‘Temple of the Tooth’ is located, within which the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha lies well guarded. The best time to visit Kandy would be in July/August when you can experience the annual Kandy Esala Perahera, an unforgettable parade that reflects the pomp and pageantry of kings and more significantly, an occasion when a replica of the relic casket is paraded. Almost 100 elephants strut along the main thoroughfare of the city, bedecked with ceremonial gear and are accompanied by dancers and drummers over 10 riveting days.
Even if you miss this spectacle, there are many more sights and sounds in Kandy that will hold your attention. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens invite visitors to a learning experience about flora and fauna and some majestic trees that can be traced back centuries ago. A visit to the National Museum once again underscores the city’s royal past and is well worth a stop. The 17th-century Asgiriya Monastery houses ancient manuscripts and other treasures from a bygone era. A short trip on the way to Kandy (from Colombo) is undoubtedly the Pinawela Elephant Orphanage, which is home to many abandoned baby elephants and injured pachyderms. This spot is incredibly popular amongst tourists who converge here during the elephant bathing and feeding rituals.
Kandy is an exciting place for shopping and a well-known centre for elaborate brass, bronze and silver ware. Batiks, handlooms, ceramics, jewellery, reed ware and jewellery are other readily available items. This hill capital is at the heart of the island’s history and identity and no visit to Sri Lanka is complete without a stop-over in Kandy.
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