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Updated by Joanna James on Mar 16, 2024
Headline for 5 Historical Places to Visit in Kandy – The best of a royal capital
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Joanna James Joanna James
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5 Historical Places to Visit in Kandy – The best of a royal capital

The home of the last royal family of Sri Lanka once resided in the city of Kandy, surrounded by mountains and a lake forming the heart of Sri Lanka.
With an ancient past and a massive amount of culture found in this small area of land, Kandy is a must-have on your travel itineraries.

1

Sri Dalada Maligawa

One of the most sacred sites in the country, this site was once the main palace of the last royal family. Today it is the home to the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, making it a huge attraction for Buddhists from across the globe. This location has also been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site and brings in thousands of visitors each day both locally and globally.
As you walk through the initial pathway, the scope of the palace ground will be to view. With a garden that seems to span for the size of a small city centre, the palace is designed to exquisite tastes and brings a nostalgic air of royalty as you walk past it.

2

Visit the cemetery

Many people may find a visit to the cemetery to be rather macabre when they can instead be dining or having a drink. The reality is that the cemetery is a great equalizer and the most solemn historian. Through the cemeteries there is a story of a land, from major events to turns of centuries, all is revealed as you walk through the neatly maintained aisles of people long gone.
Built-in the colonial era, the British Garrison Cemetery speaks of the nearly 160 individuals who passed during the colonial expeditions and is a real slice of history.

3

Head out for a hike

One of the most stunning mountain ranges in the nation can be found near Kandy city. The Knuckles Mountain Range is well known across the nation for its stunning landscapes as well as the dramatic shift in climate compared to the rest of the country.
With an enormous array of fauna and flora in this beautiful nature reserve, the views and paths are spectacular to behold. If you are staying at any of the Kandy city hotels such as the Hotel Topaz then the best thing to do would be to speak to the staff and coordinate the needful for your visit.

4

Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue

As you climb up the stairs the view keeps getting better as you arrive at the feet of an 88 feet tall statue of the Buddha located atop a hill. It is better to visit this temple either early in the morning or during the latter part of the day to have a pleasant time experiencing the stunning vistas of Kandy.

5

The Royal Palace

Built back in the early 1600s this palace was the home of the ruling family of Sri Lanka for close to 200 years. Built-up of several components, the palace consisted of the King's Palace, Queens Palace, Temple of the Tooth as well as the Royal Audience Hall just to name a few.