Joanna James
If you visit the city of Kandy, known as Sri Lanka's hill capital, there would be several must-experience attractions such as the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Bahiravokanda Buddha Statue, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and more.
Taking pride of place in Kandy would be the greatly venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which happens to be a holy site to Buddhists as it is believed to contain a tooth relic of Gautama Buddha the founder of Buddhism himself. Over time, this priceless relic has been kept at several locations in Sri Lanka and has figured prominently in local politics due to the tradition that whoever controls the relic has the right to rule the country. At this site, you would have the opportunity to observe the rituals and prayers conducted to honour the relic as well as visit various shrines and museums.
Another noteworthy religious attraction in Kandy would be the impressive Buddha statue you would find atop a hill at Bahiravokanda Vihara. You will find that this statue is a captivating spectacle and you will also be able to enjoy stunning views of the surroundings below from this site. A great time at which to visit this imposing place of worship would be sunrise when the sunlight gleams on the statue. On the other hand, you may prefer to visit this attraction at the time of dusk when the setting sun illuminates the skies.
In proximity to the city of Kandy you will find the splendid Peradeniya Botanical Gardens which would be an entrancing place to explore for the discerning visitor. As you might expect, you will find an array of engrossing botanical specimens here including a selection of exotic and unusual varieties. Undoubtedly, a highlight would be the remarkable Orchid House which features an outstanding collection of these flowers. Other noteworthy attractions at these gardens would include the spice gardens, great lawn, giant Javan fig tree, palm avenues and display of cacti. You will also find trees planted by heads of state, royalty and other celebrities here.
Another well-known attraction in the city would be the picturesque Kandy Lake, also known as the Sea of Milk or "Kiri Muhuda". This artificial lake inherits an interesting history, as it was constructed in the 19th century by the monarch Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe; according to legend, the king's harem used the artificial island located at the lake's centre. It will be a pleasant experience to take a relaxing stroll around the perimeter of this lake which has plenty of trees offering lots of shade too. To enjoy such things to do in Sri Lanka, without wasting time on travel, domestic flights on offer from the likes of Cinnamon Air are worth considering to reach key destinations such as Kandy.
Your visit to the city of Kandy which may be considered to be a hub for the arts wouldn't be complete without experiencing a performance of Kandyan dance. Although there would be several venues where you could view one of these performances, a good choice would be the show staged in the evenings at the Red Cross building. You will find that such shows would include elements like energetic traditional dancing, drumming, music, fire-walking and magic. The proceeds from these shows would benefit the charity as well.
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.
