The Cultural Capital of Ceylon
The city of Kandy stands with all its glory as the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic and as the second largest city of Sri Lanka. This beautiful city which is surrounded by mist covered mountains and tea plantations is the capital of the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka and was then known as Senkadagalpura. Presently it is called in sinhala as “Maha Nuwara” meaning great city, although “Nuwara” is the commonly used name.
This scenic city is located 500 metres above sea level between the Knuckles Mountain Range and the Hanthana Mountain Range. Kandy is the entrance to the central highlands of Sri Lanka and this city can be reached from every direction of the island.
On the north shore of the lake are the Royal Palace of Kandy which was converted to a Museum and the Temple of the Tooth Relic, known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa. If you visit the Lankatilaka Temple, Gadaladeniya Temple and Embekke Devalaya you can witness the traditions and unique features of Sinhalese temple architecture. Apart from the many historical and cultural heritage sights in Kandy the largest Botanical Garden in Sri Lanka is also in Peradeniya, Kandy. You can enjoy the breathtaking views of the city over the lake at Kandy View Point. Take a stroll around the Kandy Lake to relax and feel the coldness and wetness of the tropical rainforest climate in Kandy. Kandy is one of the seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. When it comes to places to visit in this great city, the choice is endless. The best thing about Kandy is that it is a city that is good to visit at any time of the year.
