Around Kandy
While many of Sri Lanka?s most popular visitor destinations are beach-based, Kandy lies inland and relies heavily on its interesting sightseeing attractions. The city offers an interesting variety of visual treats which can form an interesting part of your gap year travel. There are both manmade and natural highlights. Kandy is awash with gorgeous scenery and outdoor destinations that are just begging to be explored. National parks offer fascinating plant and animal life, as well as vast areas that are perfect for hiking and trekking. After you?ve checked out the city?s cultural treasures, experiencing its natural ones should be next on your Kandy itinerary.
Digana Forest Reserve
Situated along the Kandy-Mahiyangana road, Digana Forest is a nature reserve covering a 10-acre area and providing locals and visitors alike the opportunity to view and study rare plant species. Known for its calm and tranquil environment, the reserve is home to more than 100 different species of plants and also includes a herb garden where some rare examples can be seen. The reserve is also home to an open-air theatre with a capacity for 600 spectators, at which lectures and demonstrations with botanical themes are presented.
Horton Plains National Park is perhaps the most scenic of Kandy?s draw cards and is rarely missed by anyone visiting this part of the country.
Horton Plains National Park
Within easy driving distance of the city, Horton Plains National Park is famous as Sri Lanka?s highest plateau. Covering a whopping 3,160 hectares, the park is an essential entry on any Kandy visitor?s itinerary, promising stunning scenery as well as fresh mountain air and fascinating plant and animal species. Kirigalpotta and Thotupola, the country?s second and third highest mountains, are located within the park territory. Horton Plains has been a protected area since been awarded official national park status in 1988.
Knuckle Mountains
Some travelling is required to visit the Knuckle mountain range, but it?s worth the effort as this 90 square-mile area offers some amazing panoramic views punctuated by a total of 35 peaks, some reaching lofty heights over 3,000 feet (915 metres). Like Horton Plains National Park, the mountain range is rich in indigenous plant and animal life.
Gap Year in Kandy Culture Religious sites
Sri Lanka?s residents follow four religions; Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, with Buddhism being the most widely practiced faith. Kandy has a large collection of places of worship, the most famous being the Temple of the Tooth. Aside from this temple, there are a variety of other Buddhist temples of interest including Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and Embekke. There are also a number of Hindu shrines that visitors will find of cultural and artistic interest.
Test your spice threshold and order a curry. Kandy proves that the word ?curry? goes far beyond the creations that are invariably served in European curry houses. A fantastic array of dishes is created here, each with its own unique blend of herbs and spices. A plethora of vegetable and fruit based dishes on offer, while carnivores can enjoy a good selection of meat and fish curries.