Joanna James
Kandy, the last Independent Kingdom of Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sacred Temple of the Tooth sits majestically overlooking the Kandy Lake and the surrounding hillsides. Discover what else lies in this charming city, full of culture and history.
Also called the "Dalanda Maligawa" in Sinhalese, this is where the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha resides. The temple is a magnificent example of traditional Kandyan art and architecture. The environs are beautiful and peaceful but tend to get overcrowded with devotees during the evenings. You can witness many devotional ceremonies conducted at dawn, midday and evening. While there, you can visit the Royal Palace Complex and the colonnaded 'Magul Maduwa', the Law Courts of the Kandyan Kingdom.
Arthur's Seat is a spectacular viewpoint found within Kandy city limits at 1790 feet! From there, you can spot a beautiful sunrise or sunset overlooking the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake, and the Royal Palace. Also, observable on a clear day are the peaks of the Hanthana mountain range and surrounding tea estates.
Located on the northern peaks of the Hantane Mountains, the reserve overlooks the Temple of the Tooth and the Royal Palace. Once the pleasure garden of the Kandyan Kings, it is now a protected Forest Reserve open to the public to explore. There are 257 acres of forest land with plenty of wildlife like birds, reptiles, deer, and rare flora. Some areas of the forest are inhabited by meditative Buddhist Bhikkhus, with three hermitages around its perimeter. Check out blogs such as Kandy Escapes for more inspirational tips on discovering the city's attractions.
One of the best ways to get close to the beauty of the hill country is to visit the Knuckles Mountain Range. It is made up of 34 mountains with height variations from 900 to over 2000 metres. Some sections remain closed for visitors to preserve their biodiversity. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has many hidden trails, where you can encounter pristine waterfalls, crystal-clear mountain rivers, wild animals and rare medicinal plants. Exploring this reserve is considered one of the best things to do in Kandy.
One of the oldest Buddhist temples in the Kandy District, Lankatilaka Temple is a fine example of temple art and architecture of the Kingdom. The temple lies on top of the Panhalgala Rock.
On the eastern front is the Image House of the Buddha, while the West has images of Buddhist gods and murals dating to the Gampola/Kandyan period. There are many inscriptions in Sinhalese and Tamil, retelling the history behind the temple. High atop the rock, overlooking mountains and rice fields, the temple is a fascinating place to visit.
The Royal Botanical Gardens is 5.5 km West of Kandy in the town of Peradeniya. There are over 4000 species of native plants and a famous collection of orchids found in the gardens. The site has a long history under the Kandyan kings and it became a Botanical Garden in 1821 during the British occupation.
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.
