Significant historical attractions in Kandy

Needless to say, Kandy is a city in Sri Lanka that is of great cultural value. It has many places of historical significance too, and here are just a few of them.

Sri Dalada Maligawa
Sri Dalada Maligawa | Image Credit : Hansicanada, Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sri Dalada Maligawa

This a highly religious place for Buddhists where the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha has been kept. In the month of July-August, hotels in Kandy Sri Lanka get crowded with tourists from all over the world, as the Temple conducts its annual procession ‘Dalada Perahera’.

Sri Dalada International Buddhist Museum

When you go to the Dalada Maligawa from your place of accommodation such as Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, do not also forget to visit its museum located just behind the main shrine. You can see a number of exhibits such as letters, diary entries, and old gifts that the temple has received.

Knuckles Mountain Range

Knuckles Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its beautiful landscapes and also for the scientific importance it holds. You may engage in mountain biking, hiking, or caving around this great place.

British Garrison Cemetery

This is one of the few places in Kandy with a colonial touch. It is indeed a great experience to move around the 163 graves it has and to read the details that the gravestones say with pride.

In the Hills of Sri Lanka’s Tea Country

The city of Kandy, compared to other cities in Sri Lanka, still maintains a firm grip on its past of kings and traditions. It was after all, resilient, withstanding the onslaughts of the Portuguese and the Dutch finally succumbing to the British colonial rule with the expulsion of the last king.

File:Rocky cliff,hill country Sri lanka.jpg
Sathis Jayasundara, Rocky cliff,hill country Sri lanka, CC BY-SA 4.0

The City in Rain

Kandy has a very tightly packed city centre despite being the second biggest city in Sri Lanka after Colombo. It is one of the cities that is navigable even when it is raining. The rain adds a sheen of mystery to the city and covers it in a comfortable and cold mist.

The Lake, the Gardens, the Palace

Staying at any of the hotels in Kandy Sri Lanka will put you in very close vicinity to the Kandy Lake which is a small man-made lake in the middle of the city with a very bloody history. You will also be able to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which is set in the middle of the former palace and the expansive Royal Botanical Gardens which are about a 15-minute drive from each other.

Tea All Around

Stay at a hotel like Cinnamon Citadel Kandy and tour the many tea estates around the city. The tea museum and Loolecondera; which is the first estate in the country are places that should be part of any itinerary. Have a cup of tea and meet a planter to understand all the work that goes into making the perfect cuppa.