Kandy
Last ancient capital of Sri Lanka and Unesco World Heritage Site


   


Kandy is the old capital of the Kandyan kingdom, the last independent state in Sri Lanka. It is located about 500 meters above sea level. I explored it with a group of AsiaExplorers members when we covered the sites in Sri Lanka. It was a very wet and rainy time that we arrived in Kandy, and as a result, most of my shots of Kandy come out with overcast skies.

According to the 2001 census, there are 110049 people living in Kandy. Founded in the 14th century, Kandy derives its name from the Sinhalese phrase Kanda Uda Pas Rata, which means, "five districts on the mountain". The Portuguese abbreviated it to Candea, and it survives today as Kandy.



View of the railway station in Kandy from our hilltop hotel.


Kandy was the capital city of the island of Sri Lanka from 1592 until the 19th century. For over three hundred years, it was able to preserve its independence, repelling repeated assaults by invading colonial forces, including the Portuguese in the 16th century, the Dutch in the 17th century, before eventually submitting to the British in 1815. Although it lost its position as capital, Kandy continues to serve as the religious capital of Sri Lanka. The most famous sight in Kandy is the Sri Dalaga Maligawa, popularly known as the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Kandy is easy to explore on foot. Right in the middle of the city is Kandy Lake. Beside it is the Royal Bathhouse. Across the road from it is the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Due to its historical significance, Kandy was declared a World Heritage City. Most visitors come to Kandy around July and August, to witness the annual two-week Perahera Festival. This is when the sacred tooth relic is paraded down the streets accompanied by caparisoned elephants, dancers, drummers and other performers. This same festival has changed little over the centuries.

I had the opportunity to walk around Kandy on foot, even though the weather was not as bright as I wanted it to be. By the end of my walk, the rain came down heavily, and I rushed to the theatre where we were to watch a Sri Lankan Folk Dance performance.

On our way out of Kandy, we stopped over at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, one of the best in Sri Lanka.



Sidewalk vendor in the old quarters of Kandy.



Tim, at far right, with members of AsiaExplorers, beside Kandy Lake, during our trip to Kandy.


Kandy Lake

Lovely lake in the middle of Kandy town.


Queens Hotel

One of the heritage hotels in Kandy.


Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

The biggest botanical gardens in Sri Lanka.


Sri Dalada Maligawa

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.



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How much have you explored Sri Lanka? Through AsiaExplorers, you can now explore these places in Sri Lanka from the comfort of your desk: Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura (Abhayagiri Giant Pond, Abhayagiri Monastery, Dakkhina Stupa, Jetavana Dagoba, Kuttam Pokuna Twin Ponds, Lankarama Dagoba, Ruwanweliseya Dagoba, Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, Thuparama Dagoba, Aukana Buddha), Colombo, (Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Dutch Period Museum, Fort District, Fort Railway Station, Galle Face Hotel, Independence Memorial Hall, Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, National Museum, Old Town Hall, Pettah District, Seema Malakaya Meditation Centre, Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam Temple, Town Hall, Viharamahadevi Park), Dambulla Cave Temple, Galle Fort, Kandy (Sri Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, Kohomba Kankariya Folk Dance, Queens Hotel), Mihintale, Negombo, Nuwara Eliya (Tea Factory Hotel, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Polonnaruwa (Atadage, Gal Pota, Gal Vihara, Hatadage, Lata Mandapa, Parakrama Samudra, Parakramabahu's Council Chamber, Rankot Vihara, Satmahal Prasada, Shiva Devale, Thuparama Image House, Vatadage, Vijayanta Pasada), Ramboda Falls, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Durians

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