The Hill City of Kandy

A further half hour drive from the Royal Botanical Gardens brings us to Kandy, also known as the hill capital of Sri Lanka. This is a major tourist destination and has many attractions to offer to tourists. Kandy is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List

 Kandy is a town bustling with activity . It's a great place to connect with God - there are numerous places of worship and depending on your schedule, you could visit one or all of them - but do visit 'The Budhist Temple of the Tooth' and offer a prayer in the main shrine.

 The Temple of the Tooth

Some of the other well popular and  famous temples are Gadaladeniya, Lankathilaka Viharaya, Embekke Devalaya, Dodanwala Devalaya, Degaldoruwa, Hindagala Viharaya, Madawala Viharaya and Galmaduwa Viharaya. Besides the Budhists temples, there are quite a few Hindu shrines that exist side by side. The most famous Hindu Temples are  dedicated to Gods Vishnu and Natha and Goddess Patthini. Over time, Hindus and Budhists in Sri Lanka have learnt to coexist peacefully and Hindus actively participate in Budhist festivals.

 Budha Statue

This omnipresent Budha Statue at the Bahirawakanda temple can be seen from almost anywhere in Kandy. Located just a short distance of 1 Km from the city, a tuk tuk ride is the best way to reach here.

Kandy city is a fine mix of modern and traditional. You could enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan meal or if you are an American  missing your Mcdonald's and KFC, Kandy has them.

Kandy is also a great place for handicrafts from Sri Lanka. There are a number of shops catering to tourists - remember to bargain hard or you will end up paying upto 3 times the actual price. Also remember to pick up one of the famous Sri Lankan masks.

 The city of Kandy