Situated 72 miles from Colombo and 1,600 ft. above sea level. Almost encircled by the Mahaweli Ganga, Sri Lanka’s longest and largest river system, this picturesque naturally fortified town was the last stronghold of the Kings of Lanka and withstood foreign conquest until ceded to the British by t    Read more...

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reaty in 1815. A cultural sanctuary, where age-old customs, arts, rituals and the ways of life are well preserved. The Temple of the Tooth (18th and 19th century), moated with tapered roof and octagon, enshrines the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha.

The splendid age-old pageant (the Esala Perehera) is held annually for 10 nights during the Esala festival (August or late July ) to fete the Tooth Relic. Scores of dressed up elephants, Kandyan chiefs in ceremonial period costumes, massed Kandyan drummers and dancers make this an unequaled spectacle. Other temples of interest in Kandy’s environs are Gadaladeniya and Lankatilleke (14th century)/ Gangarama (also partly 18th century) with its 27 ft. Buddha statue; the Galmaduwa (18th century). There is a picturesque artificial lake in the middle of the town. The magnificent 147 acre Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya (4 miles away), one of the best tropical gardens in the world, has an especially fine collection of orchids. The delightful scenic campus of the University of Sri Lanka and the entertaining spectacle of working elephants being given their daily dip in the river at Katugastota – 3 miles away, are also an attraction.

Kandy, the sacred hill-country capital, lies on a plain amidst towering hills on the banks of the wide Mahaweli River. For almost two centuries Kandy provided a safe haven for the proud Kandyan Kingdom, stubbornly resisting colonization by the European powers who had entrenched themselves in Galle and Colombo. It finally fell to the British in 1815 but to this day remains proud of its rich heritage. The town's pleasant temperate climate, its scenic location and its rich history has made it a favourite haunt for travelers.

The surrounding hills such as Hantana and the Knuckles range are excellent for hiking. The Udawattakelle Sanctuary, a forest reserve on the northern outskirts of the town, and the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, with over 60 hectares of immaculately designed lawns, tropical plants and an extraordinary orchid collection, all provide for hours of exploration away from the bustle of the city center.

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