Joanna James
The city of Kandy was the last capital of Sri Lanka's ancient monarchy. The celebrated city is rich in historical and cultural significance, and has a few sites of natural significance to visit as well!
Of the many Kandy attractions, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, or the Sri Dalada Maligawa, is the most famous, the most revered and the one attraction you simply cannot miss out on. The temple, located to the north of Kandy Lake is the resting place of the sacred tooth of Lord Buddha. Enshrined in a casket of gold, the tooth sits in a stupa-like structure; visitors are not allowed to see the relic itself, but multitudes of Buddhist devotees visit the sacred tooth to offer their prayer and worship. Each day holds three rituals (morning, noon and night), you can visit the temple at these times to get the full cultural experience. While there, make sure to also visit the Audience Hall, the World Buddhist Museum and the Alut Maligawa, a new shrine that houses beautiful statues of the Buddha, donated by Thai Buddhist devotees.
The Kandy Lake, situated in the heart of Kandy city, was built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Sri Lanka. The lake is a favourite haunt of locals and tourists alike and is surrounded by historical structures and idyllic lake front restaurants and hotels. There's plenty of wildlife to see, from endemic birds to monitor lizards and tortoises as well as aquatic fishes! All in all, a fantastic place to spend a lazy evening. The Kandy Lake and Sri Dalada Maligawa is within close proximity to several hotels in Kandy such as the Mahaweli Reach Hotel.
Resembling the alignment of knuckles on a clenched fist, this breathtaking mountain range is a nature lover's delight. The Knuckles range is home to a significantly high percentage of the island nation's incredible biodiversity and includes a variety of differing habitats from cloud forests to grassy plains that harbour a myriad of species. The mountain range contains more than 34% of Sri Lanka's endemic plant species and is a refuge for a multitude of animals including spotted deer, barking deer, mongoose, wild boar and the purple-faced monkey. The breathtaking vistas and truly spectacular views the mountain provides makes it one of the most coveted hiking, trekking and camping sites in Sri Lanka.
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, or the Royal Botanical Gardens, is located about 5 km from the city of Kandy and spreads over an area of 60 hectares. The beautifully and meticulously landscaped garden holds more than 4000 species of plants from around the world, including medicinal herbs, palm trees, spices and a fantastic array of orchids. The botanical garden is essentially a stunning arboretum and plays a vital role in the conservation and protection of many species of plants. It's also a great place to plan a family picnic!
The Bahirawakanda temple is located a mere 1km from the city of Kandy and is home to a magnificent, colossal Buddha statue that reaches a whopping 88 feet in height. The statue can be seen from anywhere in the city and is pretty hard to miss! The quiet, charming temple is a good place to observe everyday Buddhist rituals and also provides some unforgettable panoramic views of Kandy and its surroundings.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
