kandy tourist spots

Kandy is the cultural capital of srilanka . Temple of tooth and relic , Royal botanical garden and kandey lake are the major attraction in this city . Tooth are relic temple are believed to be the most sacred place for buddhism in the whole Sri Lanka . My favourite being the Kandey Lake . It is just situated in the heart of the city and all around the lake there is walking and sitting places . There is different type of big trees all around the lakes .

Top Kandey Tourist Spots

Kandey is the cultural and religious heart of Sri Lanka . There is lots of places to see in Kandey but I have selected seven places among them . This are best among them

Sacred Tooth and relic temple :

This place has been one of the sacred place in Buddhism where goutam buddha’s left canine tooth was enshrined . Gotam buddha’s relic was brought by the prince and princes of Kalinga in 3 rd century . This tooth has been long been the symbol of the throne in Sri Lanka . It has been kept in the capital from Anuradhapura ,Polonnuwara , dambadeniya , Yapahuwa, kurunegala , kotte , Gampola and finally in 16th century in Kandey . In religious perspective this place have been the most sacred in whole Srilanka . here It has been long tradition that who posses the Tooth become king .

“Dalada Madura”(the two-storied wooden and stone building where actually the tooth was kept ) we now see has been build between 1707 – 1739 . Before that two times this building was destroyed by Dutch . This is a beautifully decorated wooden traditional kanadyan style building with very detail curving .

Three time pooja happens in the temple … Morning , Midday and evening time . This time flower and food were offered to god and Hewisi drums and other musical items were used to mark the ceremony . I was present in the evening ceremony . It was magical the sounds , the oil lamps just outside the temple and the smoke from the Incense . All makes the evening very special in my life . Here in Sri Lanka , it is tradition to wear white cloth before going to Temple .

Different festivals have been organised in the temple complex and within the city by this temple authority in different time of the year . First festival being the offering of the newly harvested milk rice to god in the month of January . The second festival being organished in the month of April which is the new year celebration according to Sinhala calender . Third and the biggest festival organised in this temple is Esala Perahera . It is observed in the month of August where a grand procession with lots of Elephants and dancers and singers march on the road . Where you can enjoy the culture of Kandey and also Sri Lanka Kartika festival is the fourth festival organised by the Temple Authority . This festival is same as the Dipabali of Hindu where oil lamp are lighted and offered to sacred tooth and relic . There are thee Treasurer , under which all festivals have been performed .

There is museum inside the temple where all important items related to this temple have been stored . There was a great elephant Raja who served this temple for almost 50 year . After he died his tusk have been used in the door of Dalada Maligawa .

Kandey Lake :

Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue :

Bahiravokanda Buddha statue is 88 ft from the base and situated in a mount top in Kandey area . From any part of the Kandey city this statue can be seen . From the back of the statue there is tower , from the top of this tower you can have a panoramic view of the city . In the night time it was lightened with different color and looks very nice .

It is situated just 2 km distance from the tooth and relic temple . The road toward this temple is very steep. Entry fees for this temple for foreigner is 250 LKR . It was opened for general public in the year 1993 . The temple is opened for worship and meditation for devotees . In this place only some handful of monks lived .

Spice Garden :

For Kandey’s tropical climate and high altitude , there is lots spice garden situated in Kandey and nearby city Matale . Here you can find different medicinal plant which is used in Ayurveda , different spices like clove , cardemon , cinemon , black paper , turmeric , vanila , nutmerg ,coco and ginger . In which spice garden I reach I saw a tree whose leaves or roots oil is used here as mosquito repellant . In matale beside the A9 Highway toward Dambulla you will get lots of Spice Garden . Here you can make a tour to the garden and also buy product from there . In my recommendation better to buy spices or Ayurvedic product from market rather than here because prices are very high in those garden . Also you keep an eye on the product , In my case which product was shown as sample that product was not given . Near to the Kandey there is a spice garden New Ranwali spice garden 99 , which is 8 km from city centre .

Kandey Lake :

Kandey like is situated in the middle of the city just beside the tooth and relic temple . It is a manmade Lake build by Kandyan king in 1807 converting a paddy field into a Lake . Water of the lake is very clean and inside the lake there is a beautiful island . In previous time king used this Island as relaxing place in summer . All around the lake there is sitting place and also pathway for morning and evening walk .

There is speed boat which voyage in the lake . Price for single person for 1 hour is 1500 LKR .

clock tower of Kandey :

It was build in 1950 by Haji Mohamad ismail , a prominent personality in the city in the memoir of his son . His son lost his life in a car accident in this town in august 1947. Machinery of this watch watch was imported from united kingdom .

Beside the clock tower is the Kandey bus station . From here you can get both the private bus as well as government bus for local and long distance for any place in Sri Lanka . This place have been the central point for Kandey city . Train station is not very far from here .

Kandey Central market:

This has been a amazing place to learn about the Sri Lankan lifestyle and food . This is a big market. Here you can get daily food , grocery , local fruit , meat , fish , spices , stationary items , cloths and many more under one umbrella .

Here you can find different types of dried fish , dried meat , fresh king coconut . Here in the fruit market you will get different type of tropical fruit . Fruits in tropic are mostly juicy . Banana , Mango and Pinaple being the cheapest among fruit . You can also but vegetables in this market .

How to reach to Kandey ?

Kandey is the second most important city in Sri Lanka and also the cultural capital of the country . It is connected by road and rail to the other part of the country .

Kandey is connected by A1 Highway with the national capital colombo . It is 125 km from colombo and buses will take around 3 hour to reach here . It is also connected to all other city like jaffna , galle , nuwara eliya by SLTB buses . AC buses will charge 350 LKR for journey from colombo to kandey .

Kandey is also one of the major train junction in Sri Lankan Railway . There is direct train from colombo and other city to kandey . From Kandey to ella is one of the most scenic train journey in Sri Lanka . In most of the train journey, you will see mountains , tree garden and a lots of cave . You can get 2nd class and 3rd class ticket on the go but for first class ticket you have to book it prior to your journey .

Matale :

Matale is a nearby town almost 40 km from Kandey city , toward Dambulla city . The place have been very peaceful and picturisk . Here both side of the road you only see greenery and lots of coconut tree. This is like spice hub for Sri Lanka . Here you can find lots of spice garden . This garden are actually made for spice production.

Here road is lonely and in the road side you will find small Shops selling coconut , tea and morning breakfast . This is very relaxing sitting in those small shops under the shade of palm leave roof and enjoy the food . People here are very hospitable . I found this place best for nature explore and you might be only traveller in this place .

Currency Exchange :

From my hotel owner , I learn that banks and currency exchange offices are not giving good price in the exchange of roller . He said that jewellery shops are giving very good price in currency exchange . On his recommendation I went to lalitha Jewellery , this is the best place to currency exchange in Kandy .

Information source :

• Lots information I got from www.wikipedia.org
• I got lots of information from local people . They will give you exact information which is not available in internet .
• Vlogs from the outher people in youtube .
• Blogs from other people .
• My own experience in those places .