Due to its rich historical and cultural past, Kandy is well known. Kandy, a city in Sri Lanka’s Central Province that sits on a plateau, is home to a number of fascinating historical landmarks. The area is serene and reverent, with a cool breeze whispering through the trees and gently cascading down the hills in the distance. This atmosphere is undoubtedly a result of the prominent location of the Temple of the Tooth (The Dalada Maligawa) in the area.
The Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is kept under the golden canopy that covers the most revered area of the temple. The relic is displayed to the public during the pooja (prayer) process, and the ambiance inside the temple is so serene and impressive that one can feel the peace that surrounds all worshippers. Since the tooth relic is enclosed in a stupa, devotees cannot see it (a dagoba shaped like an apparatus).
In the months of July and August, the Kandy Esala Perahera is a parade that is held on a large scale. With overt pomp and splendor, this Perahera makes its way through the Kandy streets. The Sacred Tooth Relic is carried by an elephant who walks with great pride and calmness, aware of the responsibility placed upon him while being enclosed in a brightly decorated casket that is securely fastened. The Perahera is jam-packed with activities like fire dances, whip dances, stilt walkers, and Kandyan dancers, whose prowess will leave you speechless.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic is visible from Kandy Lake, which flows peacefully as though it is aware of its existence. King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha turned this rice field into a lake in 1807; it was once a stretch of paddy fields. A pond known as Kiri-Mudu was situated in the middle of the paddy fields (Sea of Milk). According to legends and mythology, the small island in the middle was utilized as a bathing area for the King’s harem, and it was connected to the palace via a cavernous tunnel.
The fact that Kandy is tucked in between a range of mountains that are lushly covered in tea plantations is what gives the city its attractiveness. The area has a distinctive ambiance because of the rows of neatly arranged tea bushes. Kandy’s cool climate lends the region a feeling of freshness.
Are you planning to Visit Kandy?
Check out these places we recommend you visit on your trip to Kandy
- Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
- Embekka Devalaya
- Gadaladeniya Temple
- Lankatilaka Temple
- Hanthana Mountain Range
