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 :
Tooth and relic temple Kandey
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 .
Esala Perahara in Tooth and relic Fire ring in the time of Esala Perahara
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 :
Vanila tree Black paper plant Coro tree Coffee Plant
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 :
Kandey clock tower
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:
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
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 .
