Kandy, Sri Lanka's hill capital, is a beautiful town and the country's most visited tourist destination - also the cultural capital of Sri Lanka.  Nestled in the hills at an altitude of 488 m, it is located at a distance of 115 kms from Colombo, Kandy has a rich history.

It was originally known as Senkadagala Pura after a hermit named Senkada who lived there. Many Sinhalese people call it Mahanuwara, meaning the Great City. The name Kandy was derived by the colonial rulers from the word Kanda in Sinhala, meaning a hill. Kandy was the stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, who promoted and protected the local culture until the city fell to the British in 1815.

Kandy is famous for the Kandy Perahara, a huge cultural pageant that takes place in the months of July or August.  It is one of the most colorful processions of the world, with thousands of drummers and dancers accompanying a parade of ornamented elephants.  The leading tusker carries The Sacred Tooth relic of Lord Buddha, while the spectators pay homage to it. The procession moves along the streets for seven consecutive nights and concludes on the day of the August full moon.

 

• Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of Tooth) ~ One of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, where one of the Buddha's teeth is kept. The temple was built in the 17th century.
• Gadaladeniya Temple ~ Built in 1344, the temple is situated on a hilltop, 15 kms from the town. The temple is inspired by Dravidian architecture and gives a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside.
• Temples ~ Embekke Temple, a 14th century temple is famous for the intricate wooden carvings dedicated to God Katargama. Lankatilaka Temple, dates back to 14th century and is built on the summit of a rock called Panhalgala. The temple provides a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding hills, paddy fields and the diverse vegetation around it.
• Udawatte Kele ~ A primeval forest located above the Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Forbidden Forest of the Kings of Kandy. It contains a variety of trees such as Talipot trees, cinnamon, olive, rattan cane, betel, bo-trees, kitul palms, jak, mara, betelnut and arecanut.
• Hindu Shrines ~ There are four Hindu shrines dedicated to Gods Vishnu and Natha and Goddess Patthini in Kandy. Three of them are located adjacent to the Temple of Tooth, while the fourth one is towards the town.
• Buddhist Temples ~ There are many Buddhist temples surrounding Kandy, the most famous among them being the Malwaththa and Asgiri temples located on the shores of the lake.