Joanna James
Revered as Sri Lanka's hill capital, Kandy is a heritage hub like no other on the paradise isle. Although the city is home to some iconic attractions, here's a rundown of some of the lesser-known points of interest travellers should uncover on a trip to the hill station.
Although there are a great many museums in Kandy, few are aware of this institution dedicated to the country's national beverage. The perfect place for tea lovers and those with an interest in the island's colonial heritage, the Ceylon Tea Museum was first set up in 1925. Established to serve as an educational point of interest by the British, the building, which is divided into 4 floors, offers a comprehensive look at the history of tea culture in Sri Lanka. The location of the museum also offers panoramic views of Kandy City as the museum is situated near the Hanthana Boutique Villa and other similar villas in Kandy.
While nearly every tourist pays a visit to the Colombo National Museum during a trip to the nation's capital, most travellers are unaware that the country's second-largest city has its own museum. The Kandy National Museum documents the vibrant and complicated past of the sacred city by focusing on ancient traditions, religious events, and historical records that pre-date the colonial era.
No less spectacular than the more popular Peradeniya Botanical Garden, the Royal Wales Park is a scenic space ideal for nature lovers and picnickers. Dating back to the British colonial period, the park, with its rolling lawns and charming flower beds, is the perfect setting for families and couples.
When it comes to hiking hubs and nature reserves in Kandy, the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is one that most travellers miss, in spite of its location in the heart of the city. Home to more than eighty species of mammals, birds and plants, the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to spot Pink Faced monkeys.
While tea plantations are hardly uncommon in Kandy, the Giragama Tea Plantation is one of the less frequented tea estates in the hill capital. Occupying pride of place just outside the heart of Kandy, Giragama town is where this vast tea plantation is found. Ideal for evening strolls and witnessing tea pluckers deftly select the best leaves from tea bushes, this breathtaking tea estate with 360-degree views of the surrounding wilderness is a tea lover's dream come true.
Ranked among the most visually arresting of the more than 5 war cemeteries scattered across the island, the Commonwealth War Cemetery is another location that's missing from most Kandy itineraries. Serving as the last resting place for courageous troops that lost their lives in the Second World War, this well-maintained war memorial is hauntingly beautiful even if it is a tragic reminder of a bloody battle that took too many lives.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
