What Can we do in Kandy Sri Lanka | Hill Capital SriLanka

Overview

Explore the central Island of the country with Beautiful Scenic views and Cultural Heritage

Kandy is one of the most beautiful cities of Sri Lanka that is known for its scenic beauty and rich cultural value. Spread over an area of around 1940 square kilometers, it is counted amongst the world heritage sites of UNESCO. The city promises a number of tourist attractions that include the Old Royal Palace and the famous Temple of Tooth. The latter consists of the sacred relic of Buddha’s tooth because of which Kandy is regarded as one of the most sacred places by Buddhists. Other holy spots include the Gadaladeniya Temple and the Lankathilake Temple.

The Old Royal Palace of Kandy is a treat for sore eyes and a treasure trove for history lovers. On one hand, you have the Queen’s chambers and quarters of the concubines and on the other, there are the armory and council chambers.

Activities

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times, it's believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort.

Kandy National Museum (Elephant Museum)

This museum once housed Kandyan royal concubines and now features royal regalia and reminders of pre-European Sinhalese life. On display is a copy of the 1815 agreement that handed over the Kandyan provinces to British rule. This document announces a major reason for the event …the cruelties and oppressions of the Malabar ruler, in the arbitrary and unjust infliction of bodily tortures and pains of death without trial, and sometimes without accusation or the possibility of a crime, and in the general contempt and contravention of all civil rights, have become flagrant, enormous and intolerable.

Kandy Lake

A lovely centrepiece for the town, Kandy Lake was created in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy. Several small-scale local chiefs, who protested because their people objected to labouring on the project, were put to death at stakes in the lake bed. The island in the centre was used as Sri Wickrama Rajasinha's personal harem, to which he crossed on a barge.

Kandy Tea Museum

This museum occupies the 1925-vintage Hanthana Tea Factory, 4km south of Kandy on the Hanthana road. Abandoned for over a decade, it was refurbished by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Planters’ Association of Sri Lanka. There are exhibits on tea pioneers James Taylor and Thomas Lipton, and lots of vintage tea-processing paraphernalia. Knowledgeable guides can answer the trickiest of questions – trust us, we tried to stump them – and there’s a free cuppa afterwards in the top floor tea room. Commandeer the telescope for great views while you’re up there.

British Garrison Cemetery

This cemetery is a short walk uphill behind the National Museum. There are 163 graves and around 500 burials. Some of the deaths were due to sunstroke, elephants or jungle fever. The Cargills of supermarket fame lie here. James McGlashan survived the battle of Waterloo but later succumbed to mosquitos.

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya is located in close proximity to the city of Kandy, which is the last kingdom of Sri Lanka and it is the capital of central province. And also Peradeniya botanical garden is near to Mahaweli River which is the longest river in Sri Lanka. The location and the environment of the garden are matching to spend a leisure time and it is a fantastic place to attract the tourists.

Udawattakele Sanctuary

Udawattakele Sanctuary or the Royal Forest Park of Kandy is siuated on the hillside behind the Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This forest extents about 257 acres and is considered to be a vital Bio reserve for the much populated Kandy City. Centuries back, area surrounding Kandy had been a Rain Forest and the human settlements took place during the era of King Panditha Parakramabahu (1302-1326 AD) and in 1371 AD, King Wickramabahu made Kandy his Kingdom.

Knuckles Mountain Range

Knuckles Massif or the Knuckles Mountain Range is part of the Hill Country of Sri Lanka which is also above 3000 Ft or 915 Mts. from sea level and covers an area of about 90 Sq.Miles or 234 Sq.Km of land extent. This is also called as Knuckles Range or Knuckles Peaks or simply as Knuckles. The reason to call it Knuckles is because,there is a mountain with five peaks in itself, that looks like the knuckles of a clenched fist when seen from Kandy area ( or the SW direction of that mountain named as Knuckles with a height of 6112 Feet ).

Amaya Hills Ayurvedic Treatment Centre

You could also splurge at the Ayurvedic treatment centre at Amaya Hills. The body oil massage and steam bath takes 1½ hours - the steam bath is very hot. The 40-minute facial treatment includes an oil massage, sandalwood/turmeric mask and steam. Although Amaya Hills is a bit far from town you can relax around the pool after the treatment with a drink, and make an afternoon (or morning) of it.