Travel to Kandy
Kandy, The Heaven on Earth.
Known as the hill capital, declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, Kandy is popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, which was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and the stronghold against foreign power, holding out against them for about 300 years. Mean while the two main Buddhist Chapters was formed here, the sacred city which is the home for The Temple of Tooth Relic.
What so special about Kandy.
Even though Kandy is considered as the sacred city of Buddhist, It is a city with mix cultural background with major land marks like Kandy clock tower built by Mr.Ismail and his building now turned into a small shopping complex,Pillaiyar Kovil near the Police station, a kovil dedicated to God Ganesh according to Hindu beliefs.T
he devotees started building a shrine for Ganesh after finding a statue of the God in a well there.Before you visit.
To take most out of your journey it is the best to visit Kandy during Month of May to Month of September.
Distance and Pricing.
- Airport - Colombo bus stand in a tuk tuk around $6.14 (32km)
- Colombo-Kandy (CTB bus) less than a $1 (115km normal route)
- Colombo-Kandy (Private bus) around $1.53 (115km normal route)
Else you can catch the train from fort railway station.
- Rajadaniya express $7.31
- Normal train A/C compartment (Average) $3 to $7
- Normal train Non A/C compartment (Average) $1 to $3
Or else if you use PickMe App generally their cost per KM is Rs. 35 or less.
*Price as to March 2017
*Price as to March 2017
Travel and transport.
Group package tours offer the easiest and cheapest way to see Kandy's major sights. You can rest in the security that you're doing things in a tried and tested way.With regard to absence of nightlife culture,on the dawn of the dark the city will soon fall into sleep
There are several Taxi cab service companies around Kandy where you can hire a cab for fair rates.
How to pay
Some star-rated hotels and department stores accept major credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express. The banks are near-at- hand the main street (Dalada veediya). KCC or the Kandy City Center is another place where you can find the branches of every bank easily.But foreign credit cards are accepted comparatively less in Kandy.
Mouth watering delicious food
Kandyan cuisine is incredibly diverse! You’ll get a variety of different flavors. Your taste buds will be hit with Indian spices, hot Chinese food, and Sri lankan cultural food. The Sri lankans eat with their hands, specifically the right hand (the left is considered unclean). Yet you can have your usual dish after checking with your hotel. Have no fear though, there’s cutlery in every restaurant, roadside stand, and food market.
A local Rice and Curry between $1- $2
Average price of Indian dish $1 - $2
Average price of Chinese dish $1 - $3
1.5L Water bottle can be brought for less than $1 from road side stands and Super markets.
If you are an ice cream lover never miss the delicious ice cream at Soya ice cream center.The ice cream with sweetest sensation and the Dosai paradise the Balaji Dosai, Kandy's most popular restaurant for South Indian cuisine that all Kandyan's and travelers attract with no hesitation.
*Price as to March 2017
Shopping
KCC (The Kandy City Center) is the recently opened shopping complex where the outlets of most popular shop are now bought to a one place.
The ground flour of Queens hotel is specially made souvenir shop for travelers with Sri Lankan traditional art and craft.
Attractions in Kandy
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.(within Kandy city limits)
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is considered one of the holiest places of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka where one of Buddha’s tooth is being kept.
Kandy Esala Perahera
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated (usually in August)to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four ‘guardian’ Gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini. After the Kandyan Kingdom fell to the British in 1815, the custody of the Tooth Relic was handed over to the Buddhist Clergy.
In the absence of the King, a lay custodian called the Diyawadana Nilame was appointed to handle routine administrative matters. The purpose of the Kandy Esala Perahera Procession is to beseech blessings of the gods to obtain rain for the cultivation of crops and to enrich the lands of the kingdom.This ritual is performed by carrying the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha through the streets of the Kandy city which is done with exceptional panache. This is considered as one of the most beautiful pageants in the Asia
Raja Museum
Raja, the great tusker, who carried the Sacred Relic Casket for more than half a century, is honoured by the Dalada Maligawa by preserving the dead animal’s skin and tusks prepared to look like the tusker when alive. The museum which is located in a small building adjacent to the Royal Palace is visited by tourists and pilgrims who throng themselves to the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
Kandy Museum
The National Museum of Kandy in Kandy, Sri Lanka is located next to the Temple of the Tooth in part of the former Royal Palace of Kandy. This building established during Sri Wickrama Rajasingha era was then known as “Palle Vahala”. The primary exhibits are housed in the Palle Vahala building.
4 Devalas (Sathara Maha Devala) (within Kandy city limits)
The 4 main devalas are namely Vishnu devalaya, Natha devalaya, Pattini devalaya and Katharagama devalaya. Three of the four Devalas are located in complex of Temple of Tooth Relic but Katharagama devalaya is situated about 100m away from tooth temple,in Kotugodella Street in Kandy city.
Kandy Lake (within Kandy city limits)
Also known as "Kiri muhuda", Kandy Lake is the main body of water in Kandy in central Sri Lanka, is a man-made lake created in 1807 by the last Sinhalese king of Kandy, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, using forced labor. Devedra Moolacharya is considered as the architect of the Kandy Lake.Peaceful Kandy lake is also a part of the Historical tragedy, the assassination of the Ahelepola Kumari hami. As in the story weera madduma bandara, the two sons of Ehelepola kumari hami were killed by separating the head from body, daughter was crunched to the death in "wangediya" and Ehelepola kumari hami was submerged to the death in kandy lake.
The lake is surrounded by a wall called Walakulu Bamma or Clouds Wall, which was built to increase the beauty of the Kandy Lake. It extends around half of the lake and has taken one skilled architect to build it. Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was unable to complete the wall before the city was captured by the British and he was forced to relinquish the Kandyan kingdom. The Walakulu Bamma still lies unfinished. The triangular shaped holes in the wall were used in the past for lighting oil lamps on festival days.
UI Pan Geya (Queens Bathing Pavilion)(within Kandy city limits)
Ul pan ge or Queens Bathing Pavilion is situated partly in the waters of the Kandy Lake. The wives and concubines of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe used the pavilion when bathing in the lake. After the British captured the city they added another storey and used the building as a library. It is currently used as a police post.
Wales Park Kandy (The Royal Palace Park) (within Kandy city limits)
A small park on top a small hill in the center of Kandy city , that overlooks Kandy Lake and most of the city. Established by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.
In the park is a Japanese field gun which was captured by the British 14th Army in Burma during World War II and presented to the City of Kandy by Lord Mountbatten
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary (within Kandy city limits)
Udawatta Kele Sanctuaryis a historic forest reserve on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy. It is 104 hectares (257 acres) large. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawatta Kele was known as "Uda Wasala Watta" in Sinhalese meaning "the garden above the royal palace". The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna.In 1856, the Government declared it as a Forest Reserve and later in 1938, it was made a sanctuary. The Kandy Lake gets it's water resourses mainly from this forest's catchment areas. This precious forest area supplies the much needed air purification activity to the Kandy city which is enclaved by several hills.Birdwatchers can arrange guides (Rs 500) at the ticket office.
The Kandy clock tower (within Kandy city limits)
The Kandy clock tower located in the center of Kandy is the landmark of the city. Yet The story behind the Kandy clock tower is also tragic. the clock tower was built near to the Ismail Building in 1950 by Haji
Mohamed Ismail as a monument and in memory of his son Mohamed Zacky
Ismail, who lost his life in an accident in Kadugannawa in August, 1947 while Returning to Kandy from Colombo with his brother-in-law
and a person working in his father’s shop, the car was crushed under a
boulder that slid down in a continuous rain induced earth slip. The
three plus the driver of the car were buried. A parcel from the car and
its number plate were brought by the police to Mr.Ismail a day
later.
The Clock Tower was designed by Shirley de Alwis, one of Sri Lanka's leading architects at the time. The necessary bit of land was acquired by the Kandy Municipal Council.
All the machinery and equipment needed for the project were imported
from Britain.The clock tower's design is influenced by the Kandyan style and incorporates elements of the Temple of the Tooth and the palace of the King of Kandy within elements of its facade.
Getambe Viharaya (5.1 km)
Getambe Viharaya ( Getambe Buddhist Temple) is situated near to the Peradeniya Botanical Garden. The Mahaweli River flows through one boarder and other boarder is made by the Kandy – Colombo main road.Gatambe Temple is a temple that is mostly worshiped around Peradeniya.
Kandy experienced the worst floods in its living memory in August 1947.That’s when the small temple by the side of the Mahaweli earned its reputation for being extra auspicious or holy and the habit of dropping coins and asking for blessing started by travelers to and from Kandy. The temple stood intact in contrast to the destruction of much larger and even stronger buildings reduced to rubble by the raging waters. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and bridge across the Mahaweli were totally submerged.
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Kandy experienced the worst floods in its living memory in August 1947.That’s when the small temple by the side of the Mahaweli earned its reputation for being extra auspicious or holy and the habit of dropping coins and asking for blessing started by travelers to and from Kandy. The temple stood intact in contrast to the destruction of much larger and even stronger buildings reduced to rubble by the raging waters. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and bridge across the Mahaweli were totally submerged.
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Royal Botanical Gardens (6.1 km)
Also known as Botanical Gardens peradeniya. The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli river. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe.In the reign of King Kirti Sri from 1747 to 1780 this was made a royal garden.
Degal Doruwa Raja Maha Viharaya. (6.7km)
The Degaldoruwa Temple was built in 1771 AD by King Rajadi Rajasinha and was initiated during the rein of his elder brother King Kirti Sri Rajasinha [1747-1782 AD].This is considered as a Cave Temple with Kandyan era Paintings and Architecture.
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Gadaladeniya Viharaya. (12.7km)
Gadaladenyia Vihara also known as Saddharmatilaka Vihara or Dharma Kirthi Viharaya, is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Pilimathalawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka.The history of the temple goes back to the 14th century. According to historical reports this temple was built in 1344, under the patronage of King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A. D. by the Ven. Seelavamsa Dharmakirti. The architecture of the temple was designed following Hindu artistic styles by, Ganesvarachari, a South Indian architect. Upon which the temple stands, is a carved inscription regarding the temple's construction.
Lankathilaka Temple (16.1 km)
The history of the temple goes back to the 14th century. According to historical reports this temple was built by King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A. D.He entrusted the construction of this temple to his Chief Minister named Senalankadhikara, who successfully finished the works of this temple.Lankathilaka Viharaya, Kandy is a dramatic building made out of clay brick. At one time it was a five-storied building.The vihara buildings have been built on a natural rock called Panhalgala Rock.
Embekke Devalaya. (19.1 km)
< color: #252525;">Embekka Devalaya
Dawson Tower (16.4 km)
The Dawson Tower, erected to commemorate Captain Dawson, who built the Colombo-Kandy Road and died before the completion of the work. Governor Edward Barnes appointed Captain William Francis Dawson of the Royal Engineers to execute this task. Captain Dawson studied the terrain, marked out the route and planned the building of the road, phase by phase.The stress and strain of working in a hot and humid climate and exposure to the frequent changes of weather and to diseases as he worked through jungle land, brought about his premature death.
National Railway Museum (16.1km)
The museum was opened on 27 December 2014 in Kandy in order to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sri Lanka Railway.Many old locomotives, carriages, Machineries, and Equipments have been exhibited at Railway Museum.
Hanthana Mountain Range (6.2 km)
The Hanthana Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, south-west of the city of Kandy. It was declared as an environmental protection area in February 2010. The maximum height of the range is 3800 ft. The mountain range consists of seven peaks. The highest one being the Uura Kanda. The range is a favorite destination among the mountain hikers in Sri Lanka.
Ceylon Tea Museum-Hanthana (4.3 km)
This museum occupies the 1925-vintage Hantane Tea Factory, 4km south of Kandy on the Hantane road. Abandoned for more than a decade, it was refurbished by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Planters’ Association of Sri Lanka.The ground floor houses 19th Century colonial generators, rollers, dryers, fermentation tables, sorting machines, etc. The second floor houses the library and museum. The third floor has a shop whilst the top floor contains a restaurant and tea rooms.
War Cemetery (4.1 km)
The Kandy War Cemetery is a British military cemetery in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for soldiers of the British Empire who were killed during World War II as well as a soldier who died during World War I.
Very interesting page. Thank you so much.
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