Know your city
Some say Kandy is the only other real ?city? in Sri Lanka other than Colombo. The easy-going capital of the Hill Country has a lot to offer ? history, culture, forested hills and a touch of urban buzz. Only 115km inland from the capital, climatically it is a world away due to its 500m altitude.
The town, and the countryside around it, is lush and green and there are many pleasant walks from the town and further afield. The town centre, close to Kandy?s picturesque lake set in a bowl of hills, is a delightful jumble of old shops, antique and gemstone specialists, a bustling market and a very good selection of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants. As night falls the city becomes eerily quiet.
Kandy is particularly well known for the great Kandy Esala Perahera, held over 10 days leading up to the Nikini poya (full moon) at the end of the month of Esala (July/August), but has enough attractions to justify a visit at any time of year.
Locally, Kandy is known as either Maha Nuwara (Great City) or just Nuwara (City), which is what some conductors on Kandy-bound buses call out.
Kandy lies inland and experiences a climate that is wetter and colder than popular coastal destinations in Sri Lanka. The moderate climate and moist air (relative humidity of 70 to 79 per cent) of Kandy and its surrounding regions are features that have assisted it in becoming famous for tea-growing. The city?s dry season runs from December through April, during which time temperatures fall in the 22ºC to 30ºC range. The monsoon season follows, lasting from May through August and seeing temperatures in the 25ºC to 29ºC range. The third and final season of the year is known as the inter-monsoon season, lasting from September through November and seeing temperatures in the 24ºC to 29ºC range. The dry season is typically the high season in Kandy, offering the most favourable weather conditions and consequently attracting the highest number of visitors. However, as it never really gets cold in the city, it?s possible to visit at any time of the year, although the wet season necessitates a waterproof jacket.
History of the city
Historical records suggest that Kandy was first established by the King Wickramabalu (1357-1374 CE) - north of the present city, and named Senkadagalapura at the time.
In 1592 Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in the island after the coastal regions had been conquered by the Portuguese. Several invasions by the Portuguese and the Dutch (16th, 17th and 18th century) and later by the British (most notably in 1803) were repelled. Portuguese invasions in the 16th century and 17th century were entirely unsuccessful.
The kingdom tolerated a Dutch presence on the coast until 1761.The Dutch retaliatory force returned in 1763 but were constantly harassed by disease, heat, lack of provisions, and Kandyan sharpshooters, who hid in the jungle and inflicted heavy losses on the Dutch. The Dutch, worn down by constant attrition, came to terms in 1766.
The last ruling dynasty of Kandy was the Nayaks. Kandy stayed as a independent until March 2, 1815 when the treaty, the Kandyan Convention signed by the British and Radala the (Kandyan aristocrats) which recognized the King of England as the its King and became a British protectorate following an invasion that met no resistance that reached the city on February 10, 1815
As the capital, Kandy had become home to the relic of the tooth of the Buddha which symbolizes a 4th-century tradition that used to be linked to the Sinhalese monarchy, since the protector of the relic was the ruler of the land. Thus, the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth were where placed in close proximity to each other.
Today Kandy remains a important religious center of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It is the second largest city of in the island.
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.
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.
Culture and Customs
As part of the land that is home to the Smiling People, the dwellers of Kandy enjoy a lifestyle that is unique, humble, artistic, entertaining as well as heart warming. There is something about Kandy that touches you - especially the centuries-old hospitality and the generous people. The proximity of the social life of the people with the Buddhist religion as well as the dance forms, art and music contribute to the fusion of the travelers with the spirit of the natives, and thereby, of Kandy.
In the early 19th century, the British introduced democracy, modern education, the legislative body and the commercial system of agriculture. The Kandy of today is a mirror of its own ancient and modern cultures which is a far cry from the life in the cities. The distant villages in this tiny island country beckon the visitor to return again and again. Kandy is a land of immense social diversity as there are people involved in software engineering to traditional farmers using buffaloes to work in the paddy fields. The local festivals of Kandy are a delight as well.
Kandy is very popular due to the annual festival known as the Esala Perahera held in June, in which one of the inner caskets used for covering the tooth relic of Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city. This casket is taken on a royal tusker. The procession includes ethnic dance performances and drummers. This ceremony attracts large crowds from all parts of the country and also many foreign tourists. A variety of other religiously-oriented festivals run throughout the year with the monthly full-moon celebrations always worthy of attending.
