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Kandy

Temple of the Tooth

The hill capital of Kandy is another ancient city with a proud history of Kandyan kings who commanded great authority and had the riches of the kingdom at their disposal. About 116 kms from Colombo, it was the seat of the last king before the island fell to colonial powers. The city holds the famous Temple of the Tooth, or the Buddha’s tooth relic and is a holy site for Buddhists. A picturesque city set amongst vTerdant hills, Kandy is also the seat of arts in the country, heavily patronised by the erstwhile kings. The Esala Perahera or procession draws a record number of tourists every July/August, when a grand procession sets out with bedecked elephants, Kandyan drummers and dancers and other pageantry. This is a tradition that was carried out for centuries and all the ritual and pomp associated with it years ago still exists.

 
(Image source : en.wikipedia.org)

Kandy City Temple of the Tooth

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Kandy

Temple of the Tooth Relic

The sacred city of Kandy, a holy Buddhist site,  was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), ...



Dalada Maligawa

The Temple of the Tooth or Dalida Maligawa is another significant site where the Buddha’s tooth relic rests in an antechamber. This relic used to be brought out in procession during the Esala Perahera amongst much fanfare and was said to be spirited from India to Sri Lanka hidden in a princess’ hair.   



Kandy Esala Perahera

The Kandy Esala Perahera is the most magnificent spectacle to be witnessed in Sri Lanka. Perahera means procession, but this is no ordinary procession. The beginnings of the Perahera go back to the third century AD, when King Megavanna decreed that once a year the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha should be brought out of its ...



Udawattakele Bird Sanctuary

Two highland bird sanctuaries are Udawattakele and Peak Wilderness.Udawatta kale is situated just above the temple of Tooth Kandy.It supports many species of bird life. Some of the common birds are Layard’s Parakeet, Gold fronted and Blue winged Leafbirds etc.



Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

In Sri Lanka the botanical garden, if not a public one, was already in evidence with the royal founding of Peradeniya, near Kandy, in the 14th century. Since British times Peradeniya has become one of the finest botanical gardens in Asia. When the British eventually wrested control of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, the site at ...