5 Things to Do in Kandy – A Splendid Cultural Hub

Sri Lanka is rightfully renowned as one of the world's leading producers of tea, producing as much as 300,000 tonnes of delicious tea each year. In Kandy, you will find numerous tea estates and factories that are always interesting to visit. You will have the opportunity to tour a tea factory, observe the complex machinery and round off your visit by tasting some of the refreshing tea produced. You will find that the complete tea manufacturing process extending from the picking to the packaging, only requires 24 hours. Visitors will see that most of these procedures, except for the picking, are performed by big machines.

A visit to Kandy would not be complete without viewing a performance of the traditional Kandyan dancing. You will have the opportunity to experience a session of Kandyan dancing at a large hall in the city, along with other interested spectators. You will see that Kandyan dancing is typically performed to the rhythms of percussion instruments only, which adds to its distinctive appeal. The most commonly used drum for this purpose is the often seen 'geta beraya'. Visitors will find that Kandyan dancing is an interesting and colourful spectacle that will capture the imagination of the culture lover.

As its name indicates, this well-known temple houses a tooth relic of the Buddha himself. Accordingly, the Temple of the Tooth is considered to be a sacred site for Buddhists as well as Kandy's principal sightseeing attraction. This temple was initially constructed during the 16th century; however, it has experienced various additions over the course of time. You will see that various rituals are performed daily to honour the tooth relic, with the time of evening being the busiest. You must keep in mind that this is a holy site and therefore dress conservatively when visiting this shrine.

This attractive lake which occupies a prominent position in the city of Kandy is always a pleasant locality for a relaxed stroll. Kandy Lake which dates to the year 1807 is, in fact, a manmade body of water situated in the heart of the city. In the environs of this lake, you will find many interesting attractions to stroll through, like the Udawattakelle Sanctuary and the Royal Palace Park. You will also have the opportunity to observe the local residents and the day-to-day activities of the city. A choice of accommodation to consider from which this lake would be within easy reach would be Earl's Regency, which may be considered to be one of the pleasingly located Kandy hotels.

Nature and plant lovers are sure to be enthralled by the splendid Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. The largest and best-known attraction of its kind in Sri Lanka, this mesmerizing garden offers a remarkable collection of extraordinary botanical specimens that will capture the interest of the visitor. A highlight at this garden is the outstanding selection of orchids which is one of its most admired attractions. Other appealing features at this garden include the avenue of stately palms, the amazing cannonball fruit tree, the lofty Burma bamboo and the giant fig tree which always makes an impression on the mind of the visitor. As many as two million visitors frequent this garden each year.