Kandy

You can call it Kandy, the hill capital, Senkadagala, or Maha-Nuwara yet no one can deny the magnificent beauty of this city in the central hills. Blessed with fair weather all year around the city is a mixture of time-honoured splendour and modern convenience.

With a manmade lake in mid-city, bordered by river Mahaweli, surrounded by Hantana and Knuckles mountain ranges, Kandy provides you much needed serenity and originality. An inspiration for many artworks Hantana is a protected mountain range with rich biodiversity and is an ideal setting for hikers.

The Sacred Temple of Tooth or ‘Dalada Maligawa’ is the supreme place of worship for all Buddhists around the world. The temple is celebrated for its architectural and cultural value. Elaborate carvings of wood, silver, bronze and ivory, stone carved stairways and moonstones, colourful paintings from a bygone era, makes it a mecca for lovers of artefacts and aesthetics from the past.

A few minutes’ walk from Dalada Maligawa will take you to ‘Udawatte Kele Forest Reserve. Expanding over 103 hectares the park is a popular nature trail for bird watching.

Established in 1821 Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens is home to an enormous number and a variety of plants including both endemics and introduced. The popular fascinations are the arboretum with tropical trees, Orchid House and the memorial collection. A walk through 147 hectare magnificence is a must if you visit Kandy.

Listed as one of the most beautiful universities in the world the University of Peradeniya holds a dear place in every Sri Lankan’s heart. The campus is celebrated for colonial architecture, immaculate gardens and gorgeous backdrops. A guided tour in the university premises is just what the doctor would order for a day of tranquillity and peace of mind.

A few minutes’ drive away from the city will offer you a glance of true Sri Lankan life. Get into a Tuk Tuk, the traffic friendly 3 wheeler and explore what lies beneath the misted mountains. Discover patches of mountain wilderness, miniature spice gardens, tea plantations, Hindu shrines and blend into local life while sharing a cup of tea and refreshments with the friendly locals.

Kandy is definitely a sublime combination of yesterday and today.