5 Must see sights in Kandy - Exploring the city on the hills

The temple of the Tooth Relic, also known as Sri Dalanda Maligawa is the pride of Sri Lanka. The temple holds the tooth relic of Lord Buddha. Although it is known called temple in English, it is actually a palace. It was the home of the last king of Sri Lanka. This historically significant structure is open for the public everyday of the year. This is the most visited place in Kandy, and a must visit for anyone travelling to Sri Lanka. When you visit here, be mindful of your attire because the authorities don't let people in with exposing clothes.

The Kandy lake is located in the centre of the city and it adds to the serenity of Kandy. The Dalanda Malgiwa is located five minutes away from the lake. This is the favourite spot of many locals to spend the evenings. The mild breeze and the cold weather of Kandy is perfect to wind down and relax. If you go to the lake in the morning, you can find locals young and old jogging around the perimeter. There is a historic story related to this lake as well. The wife of a nobleman during the Kandy era was drowned in the lake for treason by the last king of Sri Lanka. However, despite the dark history, the lake is one of the best places to spend time in Kandy. Many a best hotel in Kandy the likes of Topaz Hotel is located less than 18 minutes away from the lake.

If you love Ceylon Tea, this is a place you must visit. The museum is in a tea factory that was built in 1925. The factory was not used for more than a decade and later it was used to exhibit tea paraphernalia of tea legends such as Thomas Lipton and James Taylor. The vintage equipment used to make tea can be seen in the museum. Don't forget to visit the tea shop in the museum to buy the freshest and finest Ceylon tea. You can also taste the different kinds of tea here.

Towards the north of the Kandy Lake, there is the Udawattekelle Sanctuary where you can see many monkeys, birds among bamboo and hardwood trees. This is a great place to go bird watching as well. There are more than one paths to explore the sanctuary. If you're travelling alone, be aware of muggers. The entrance fee to Udawattekelle Sanctuary is some Rs.500.

The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens is a haven for any nature lover. Spread across over 50 acres, the gardens have plants and trees from all over the world. Once you get in a coach to tour the gardens, you will find yourself among some of the rarest trees and those unique to Sri Lanka. There is a section dedicated to orchids and another for roses. There is ample space to relax and have a picnic in the gardens. This would be the perfect ending for your trip to the beautiful city of Kandy.