Joanna James
While the Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Gardens are some of Kandy's most famous attractions, there are a large number of lesser-known highlights that are also worth discovering. Here's a rundown of some of the uncommon points of interest in the hill capital.
Although there are a great many Buddhist landmarks in the sacred city of Kandy, the International Buddhist Museum remains a largely ignored landmark in spite of being one of the new additions to the area's touristic landscape. This recently constructed museum delves into Kandy and Sri Lanka's rich Buddhist heritage with artefacts and old photographic exhibits to showcase how deeply rooted the faith is among the islanders. There are also entire galleries devoted to exploring the various customs and traditions associated with Buddhist beliefs while there are separate rooms dedicated to the other 18 Buddhist countries in the world, including Myanmar and Tibet.
As one of Kandy's finest retail hubs for those in search of batiks, BABA Batiks is another must-visit highlight for shoppers. Although the Kandy Super Centre is where most shopaholics and travellers go to pick up batik clothing, accessories and other fashionable items, BABA Batiks offers more authentic batik products made using traditional processes. In fact, those who wish to witness a batik dyeing demo can enjoy watching a local batik artisan colour and shade a fabric using wax-resist dyes and conventional motifs.
Kandy, while being the hill capital, is not one of the island's top tea-producing regions. However, those who appreciate Ceylon Tea can learn about Sri Lanka's tea cultivation past at the Ceylon Tea Museum. Located approximately an hour's drive from Hunas Falls Hotel Kandy, the Ceylon Tea Museum not only delves into how tea leaves are harvested but also showcases the colonial-era machines used over the decades to produce some of the world's finest tea. What's more, tourists will find that the tea products available at the museum also make charming gifts for loved ones back home.
Although Sri Lankans are well aware of the prestige of the Malwatta Monastery due to its political role in the country, few tourists venture down to the religious sect's Kandy stronghold during a trip to the hill station. Located on the southern fringes of Kandy Lake, the Malwatta Monastery boasts a monastic museum, a massive ceremonial auditorium as well as the Malwatta Monastery stupa.
As the primary source for the brass musical instruments, temple vessels and other wares employed during the annual Esala Perahera, the Kiriwaula Pilimathalawa Village is a fascinating area on the outskirts of Kandy. Home to several families that have been producing brass items for several generations, it is a great location to learn more about how brassware is cast using mallets, chisels and other traditional tools.
Tourists will find that witnessing a Kandyan dance recital at the Ravibandhu Samanthi Dance School is one of the best things to do in Kandy. Established in 1984, the dance academy frequently hosts dance performances across the city.
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