Top Historical Places in Kandy – Captivating Attractions for the History Lover

The greatly venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic takes pride of place in Kandy as it is both a revered religious site as well as a tourist attraction. As suggested by its name, this temple is believed to house a tooth relic of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha. Accordingly, it is a sacred site for the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. Although the tooth relic always remains within a golden casket, devotees and other visitors will have the opportunity to view the inner shrine in which the casket is kept during the times of puja or worship.

A rather different historical feature of Kandy would be the British Garrison Cemetery which will always be an interesting and tranquil place to visit. As its name suggests, this cemetery contains the remains of 163 individuals who travelled from the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka during the colonial period. Visitors will be surprised at how young many of the people buried here were at the time of their death. You will find that some of the gravestones also indicate the cause of death, such as due to jungle fever, elephants or sunstroke.

Another interesting religious attraction in Kandy would be the striking Bahirawakanda Temple; it is probably best known for its immense Buddha statue which stands at a height of over 25 m making it rank amongst Sri Lanka's tallest Buddha statues. This huge statue can be spotted from virtually any location in the city. You will find that this religious site is even more resplendent in the night-time when the statue is illuminated and the lights of the city gleam below. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit this site would be Earl's Regent Kandy which may be regarded as one of the appealingly located hotels in Kandy.

History and culture lovers will be captivated by the fascinating National Museum of Kandy which happens to be located adjacent to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. You will see that this engrossing museum displays regalia of the local royalty as well as artefacts relating to the lifestyle of the local people before the arrival of Europeans. Amongst the artefacts on display, you will notice tools, handicraft items, weapons and jewellery. One of the most striking exhibits would be the golden crown of King Rajasinha II. You will also notice a copy of the agreement arrived at in 1815 which ceded the Kandyan kingdom to the British.

Your tour of Kandy's historical attractions would not be complete without heading to the appealing St. Paul's Church that inherits a history dating to the 19th century. This Anglican place of worship is always absorbing to visit offering many features of interest. The architectural style displayed by this church is neo-Gothic, whilst its interior could be classified as Victorian. After entering the church, you will notice features such as carved teakwood panels, a stained-glass window and tapestries.