kandy

Situated in the central region of Sri Lanka, Kandy is one of the most picturesque cities of Sri Lanka. The capital of the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Kandy is renowned for its Buddhist religious sites and its pristine natural landscapes. As a popular hill station among tourists, Kandy boasts of a cool and pleasant weather throughout the year. Kandy is an ideal destination for holidaying.

Famed as an administrative, commercial, cultural, and educational centre, Kandy was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. Although a busy city, Kandy has a tranquil feel to its beauty that will make you fall in love with this place.

Places to See
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The temple houses the most important Buddhist relic of Sri Lanka ? a tooth of Buddha. The sacred tooth is open to devotees during puja (offerings or prayers), and is kept in a well guarded room within the temple. The tooth is kept in a gold casket, and is you don’t actually see it. Originally part of the Royal Palace complex of the Kandyan Kingdom, it is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhist around the world.

Lankatilaka Temple
This is a unique Buddhist temple located on the outskirts of Kandy. Lankatilaka Temple is entirely built out of stone, lime plaster and bricks, attracting huge number of tourists every year. The temple is a beautiful blend of Sinhalese architecture of Polonnaruwa Period and Dravidian & Indo-Chinese style of architecture. An interesting feature of the temple is that it is built on an uneven, large rock outcropping.

Kandy Lake
Surrounded by lush green hills, Kandy Lake is a sight to behold. The surrounding region makes for a perfect backdrop to indulge in a photography session. The beauty of the lake embraces you with serenity. The most fascinating attraction is the island situated in the middle of the lake. A walk around the shores of the lake is a must for anyone visiting the lake.

World Buddhism Museum
The World Buddhism Museum is housed inside the former High Court building. The museum contains photographs and displays illustrating Buddhism around the world. A large number of the museum exhibits are actually reproductions. Situated within the complex of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one can visit the museum after a detailed tour of the temple.

National Museum
The National Museum features royal regalia and reflects the life of pre-European Sinhalese. The museum that once housed Kandyan Royal concubines now has the most impressive exhibits, Rajasinga II’s golden crown.

Festivals
Kandy is also famous for its annual pageant known as the Esala Perahera, in which one of the inner caskets used for covering the tooth relic of Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city.

Best time to visit
The best time to visit Kandy is during the months of July and August. Even though it’s the peak summer time, but being a hill station, the city experiences much cooler climate compared to the other regions of the country. Also during this time, the annual festival of Kandy Perahera is held.

How to reach
By Air - The Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo is the nearest airport to the city. Numerous flights connecting cities from India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Korea and the Middle East operate from this airport. Air Arabia, Air China, Air India, Malaysia Airlines, Korean Air are some of the airlines that operate here. From Colombo, travellers can take the bus or rail service to reach Kandy.
By Train - One has to cross through Matale Line that belongs to the Sri Lanka Railways to reach Kandy. This line is responsible for connecting Kandy via Matale and Peradeniya. In addition, the railway track is responsible for connecting towards the Main Line linking Badulla and Colombo.
By Road - Kandy provides a public transportation system to travellers based on their bus services which can be used by visitors to travel to the different parts of the city. One can also hire taxis in the city which are very easily available.