Kandy
Surrounded by the central hills of the Country, Kandy is a city rich in history and traditional culture. The last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka before the country came under British Rule the city is home to several monuments which depict the culture of the country. The focal point of this historic city is the Temple of the Tooth or Sri Dalada Maligawa, the most sacred of Buddhist sites in the country. Originally a part of the Royal Palace, the temple houses the relic of the tooth of Lord Buddha. It is said that the temple of the tooth in Kandy was the last of several temples built to house the relic, the central symbol of the Sri Lankan monarchy.
The City of Kandy is built with the Grand Temple of the Sacred Tooth at its epicenter with four shrines surrounding the temple dedicated to Gods Vishnu, Skandha, Natha and Godess Paththini, God Vishnu being the guardian deity of the Island, God Skandha the god of war, God Natha an incarnation of the Bhodisathva the next Buddha and Goddess Paththini the goddess of chastity and health. The sanctity of this sacred City is celebrated each year through a grand pageant held during August the ‘Esela Perehara’ when throngs of people gather to to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Kandy also boasts of a vast array of other temples and shrines dating back to the 14th century, such as the Gadaladeniya and Lankatilake temples.
Kandy is also known for the largest botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Located about 5.5 km west of Kandy town the beautiful garden extends over 60 hectares and has over 4,000 species of plants including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. The origins of this garden date as far back as the 1370’s during the reign of King Wickramabahu III. The gardens are a must see for visitors to the great city of Kandy.
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