Kandy sits on a plateau high above Sri Lanka’s coastal plains. This location made it the perfect vantage point for Sri Lanka’s rulers and the ideal habitat for its famous tea plantations. Sri Lanka’s second largest city was the ancient capital of Serendib, the Arabic name for Sri Lanka and retains an air of history and intrigue. Kandy is home to the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of The Tooth, the country’s foremost Buddhist temple and a cluster of historic Ramayana sites.
Things to do....
Kandy Attractions
There’s no place in Sri Lanka quite so cool as Kandy. In ancient times, Hindu Gods bestrode this central kingdom laying down fortresses and legends in the mountains. They were followed by the elite who moved here to escape the tropical heat of the plains. Then the colonial tea planters put down roots among the temperate hills to help quench the thirst of an empire. Now it’s your turn to experience the delights of Kandy.
The Temple of the Tooth
The Sri Dalada Maligawa on the shores of Kandy Lake is one of the most venerated temples for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It is home to a tooth of Buddha. The tooth’s journey is almost as remarkable as the relic itself. Legend has it that it was snatched from the Buddha’s funeral pyre and then hidden in the hair of a princess before travelling the country. Now it rests under a golden canopy amid the gleaming white splendour of the temple.
Tea-Time Through the Centuries
No visit to Sri Lanka would be complete without dunking into a little tea history. Kandy’s tea museum is a homage to the world’s favourite hot beverage. Set in the formerly abandoned 1920’s Hanthana Tea Factory and run by a team of enthusiastic volunteers, it’s an infusion of exhibits from the life story of tea pioneer Thomas Lipton to some fascinating tea technology. And at the end of your tour, there’s a free cuppa. Bliss.
Sigiriya
Rising majestically 200 metres above the verdant jungle, Sigiriya Rock is a formidable fortress, 50 miles from Kandy. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the home of the renegade fifth century King Kasyapa. His dream was to build a ‘palace in the sky’, and so he set about landscaping gardens and ponds, ramparts and moats which exuded opulence. Climb the rock for spectacular views of his kingdom and an encounter with the frescoes of the tantalising Sigiriya maidens.
Dambulla Cave Temple
While Sigiriya rises above all other ancient Sri Lanka visitor sites, Dambulla Cave Temple proves that it also pays to delve deep. 40 miles north of Kandy lie caves containing a magical monastic temple of the 3rd Century BC. Set in five linked caverns, Dambulla contains an amazing array of frescoes, statues and relics associated with Buddha and the ancient Kings. By day, a family of friendly monkeys welcome you to caves, then, as dusk falls, swallows swoop in to nest.
The Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage
If Dumbo still tugs at your heart strings, then a visit to Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is a must! This sanctuary for abandoned elephants is a great day trip away from the city and cultural sites of Kandy. At any one time you can see seventy elephants roam around the grounds. Feeding and bathing times are the best times to visit, and you can take the scenic train route to Rambukkana before meandering the last mile or so on foot.
Average Weather Forecast
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Notes on visiting....
Time Zone
Kandy Local Time
+5.5 Hours GMT
Passport
UK passport holders require a tourist visa, a passport should be valid for min. 6 months from arrival date
