Kandy City Guide

Any vacation in Sri Lanka would be considered incomplete if you give Kandy a skip. The Royal city of Kandy is without any doubt the cultural capital of the nation. You will have lots to see, lots to experience and even more to feel and treasure up! Time flies by once you land in this majestic place and try to explore its enigmatic existence.

Places of attractions:

Temple of the Tooth:
This shrine happens to be one of the most significant Buddhist places of worship in Sri Lanka. The tourist drawing aspect of the temple is the tooth of Lord Buddha that has been restored here. Built in the 16th century, Temple of Tooth stands out to be the most visited place in Kandy.

The Old Royal Palace Compound: Most of this majestic palace is now converted to a museum that showcases the glory of the past eras. The traditional wooden architecture of Kandy is still alive in several chambers of it. In present times, this palace is the venue for different significant cultural events and ceremonies.

The Hindu Shrines:Depicting the happy co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism in Sri Lanka, three major Hindu temples are situated very close to the Temple of the Tooth. These shrines are dedicated to Lords Vishnu, Natha and Goddess Patthini.

Other Temples: Apart from the aforesaid ones, several other temple s that deserves prominent mention are- Lankatilake temple, Gadaladeniya Temple and the Embekke Temples.

How to reach

Kandy is easily accessible from the rest of the country through intercity bus services. Train is also available from Colombo fort railway station with a transit time of about 2 hours.

What to do

Sightseeing is definitely going to occupy most your time in Kandy. After you do with your cultural voyage, take out time to do some shopping. Things that can be bagged down as souvenirs are gems, finished garments, batiks, tea, fabric materials, leather products and furniture.

Distance from major cities

Colombo - 116
Anuradhapura - 138
Nuwara Eliya - 77
Trincomalee - 182

History

The history of Kandy goes back to the 15th century when it happened to be the royal capital of Sri Lanka. The royal reign lasted here for over 2500 years making it the cultural hub that it is today.