Aerial view of Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy

Victoria Dam

Kandy: Bastion of Sinhala heritage

Just a hundred kilometers north east of Colombo in a valley ringed by protective tall peaks nestles Sri Lanka’s hill capital and most beautiful city. 488 meters above sea level, Kandy enjoys a cooler climate to the resorts on the beaches.

Kandy was the last stronghold of the Sinhala kings. The glory of the past is still manifest in the splendid audience chamber, palace and court-yards.

The focal point of Kandy, however, is the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa the sacred Temple of the Tooth, containing the Tooth Relic of the Buddha, Sri Lanka's most important religious relic. There are daily ceremonies of homage to the Tooth Relic, each attracting pilgrims.

The laidback "capital" of the hill country and the historical bastion of Buddhist power is built around a peaceful lake. It has a distinctive architectural character, thanks to its gently sloping tiled roofs. The town center is a delightful compendium of old shops, noise, buses, markets and hotels.

Every year in August or late July, depending on the phases of the moon a replica of the Relic is taken in procession round the city accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and over 80 elephants. The event marks one of the most spectacular pageants in Sri Lanka, the Kandy Perahera.

Visit Kalapuraya in the beautiful Dumbara Valley eight kilometers from Kandy, where descendants of the ancient craftsmen still create items of rare elegance in metal and wood. There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings.

Just four miles away from Kandy, at Peradeniya, is the home of the world famous Royal Botanical Gardens - the most beautiful in the world and begun as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala King. Every variety tropical and temperate tree and flower is cultivated here and special houses with orchids and cacti are too beautiful to be true.

Kandy is an exciting place for shopping with souvenirs in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and rush and reed-ware can also be purchased. The Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre beside the lake has good displays of local crafts and an auditorium for popular dance performances.

You must visit the University campus, tastefully laid out amidst the hills. There are plenty of lovely scenic walks around Kandy, one of which leads to the Mahaweli, where you may see elephants being bathed.