Kandy is one of the most beautiful and historical cities in Sri Lanka. This city is located around 122 km away from Colombo. Also, it is the Capital of the Central Province and both the administrative and religious city of the Central Province. The scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake) can be seen in the city. 

Kandy is very famous among tourists due to three main reasons, such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Esala Perahara season, and the Peradeniya Botanical Garden.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is home to the left Sacred Tooth Relic of Gautama Buddha, and it was originally part of the Royal Palace Complex of the Kandyan Kingdom. It is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhist people around the world. Thousands of local and foreign devotees and tourists visit this place daily. Sri Dalada Maligawa was named a world heritage by UNESCO in 1988. The ancient Royal Palace is situated to the North of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and the forest reserve called “Udawaththa Kelaya” is to the East. Also, Kandy Lake is located to the South, and “Natha & Paththini Devala” is to the West. This temple provides a lot of value to Buddhists around the world.

Annual Pageant

Kandy is very popular due to the annual pageant known as Esala Perahera. It is a unique festival in Sri Lanka held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic. Here, a casket is used for covering the Tooth Relic of Buddha. This main casket is brought by a royal tusker in the Perahera. Raja, Heiyantuduwa Raja, Millangoda Raja, Nadungamuwa Raja, Katharagama Vasana, and Indi raja can be indicated as examples of royal tuskers in Kandy Esala Perahera. The pageant includes traditional dancers and drummers, Nilames who are wearing their traditional dresses, flags bearers of the provinces of the old Kandyan kingdom, torch-bearers, and the grandly attired elephants. This pageant festival is annually held in July or August, and it attracts large crowds from all parts of the country and many foreign tourists.

Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Peradeniya Botanical Garden is located in Peradeniya town near Kandy. It is the largest botanical garden on the whole island and provides residence to a large variety of plants. Some plants are hundreds of years old. This garden was established in 1821. It is located less than 5.5 km from Kandy on Colombo Road. The area of this garden is 61.25 ha in extent and is about 1550ft from sea level.  More than 4000 species of plants are currently available in the garden. A branch of the river Mahaweli is flowing near this Royal Botanic Garden. It is administrated by the Department of National Botanic Gardens in Sri Lanka.

In addition to that, travelers can visit the following places near Kandy.

• Ceylon Tea Museum
• Kandy Lake
• Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
• Commonwealth War Cemetery Kandy
• Wales Park
• Bahirawakanda Temple
• International Buddhist Museum
• Lankatilaka Temple
• Gedige Viharaya
• Gadaladeniya Temple
• Embekka Devalaya
• Kandy National Museum
• British Garrison Cemetery
• Victoria Dam – Teldeniya
• Nelligala International Buddhist Center
• Ranawana Purana Rajamaha Viharaya Temple
• Ambuluwawa Tower