Joanna James
One of the nicest things about the city of Kandy is how small the centre is. So, you can see a lot of things and almost all of them are within walking distance of each other. The city is mostly quiet, calm and laidback as are the people making it the best place to explore on foot.
If you are in the vicinity of the royal palace of the Kandyan Kingdom, which was the last kingdom to fall to colonial rule, you should check out some local Kandyan dancing. Kandyan dancing is unique to the central kingdom and is an art form that has managed to survive all these years until the present age. The dance was originally performed as part of exorcisms. The performances are held every day from 5 pm to 6 pm. It is colourful and quite interesting once you understand that each dance has a lot of history and legacy behind it.
Constructed in 1807 by the last king as a project to show his subject that he was still in control of the kingdom's destiny, the Kandy Lake is located in the very centre of the town and has behind it a very bloody and tragic tale. The people of Kandy tend to walk around the lake with their loved ones, children or go jogging in the mornings or evenings. The whole atmosphere is slow and serene, especially since the entire walkway is shrouded by gigantic and ancient trees swaying in a gentle breeze. Local hotels the likes of Hotel Topaz recommend a walk around the lake as one of the most enjoyable things to do in Kandy.
Some of the best hotels in Kandy are also home to some of the best restaurants in the country. But to eat delicious food you don't just have to go to a hotel. There are famous street food stands that open on the main streets at night when the rest of the city is asleep. There are also lovely, modern rooftop bars, authentic local eateries, classy cafés and ice cream parlours so whatever you are in the mood for, you can eat it in Kandy.
Since you are near the Temple of the Tooth, you should definitely visit the temple and the palace complex. The Temple is considered the most sacred pilgrim site for Buddhists in Sri Lanka due to it being the resting place of one of Buddha's relics – a tooth. The temple was added to the palace complex in the 16th century and is part of a colourful festival every August.
The city of Kandy is very small and if you want to see all the sights you visited in one fell swoop you should climb Bahirawakanda mountain from whose peak a pearly white Buddha statue looks down on the entire city. It gives you spectacular views and may even help you plan your routes.
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