Sri Lanka's fascinating variety in climate and landscape, and rich cultural heritage has for many centuries attracted travelers from all over the world. It still continues to do so offering within an area of only 70,000 sq. km. a diversity of attraction and a way of life which combines a dynamic new present with a tradition-bound past.
Nowhere is this rich diversity more evident than in Kandy, the charming hill capital and the cultural city, 129 km. from Colombo and situated 465 meters above sea level. The Colonial rulers called it Kandy for Kanda in Sinhala, meaning a hill.
The capital of the Kandyan Kingdom in the 16th century and the seat of much of Sri Lanka's culture, this Royal City fell into the hands of the British when the last Kandyan King, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was captured by them in 1815. The city was born in the 14th century and became the capital of the Kandyan Kingdom in the 16th century.
Nestling midst low hills, and looped by Sri Lanka's largest river, the Mahaweli, Kandy is still the home of the arts and crafts, music, dance and song which flourished during the reign of the king-their patron.
This beautiful city, with its hills and valleys, rivers, lakes and cascading waterfalls around the hills, has its share of hallowed and living shrines, of the Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and the Muslims in the city and around. But, to the Buddhists, Kandy is a Sacred City.
Travelers sensitive to atmosphere dicover Kandy's greatest charm in the aura of age and splendour and the very tangible peace that, oriental - style, a crowded market place stocked with fruits, flowers and foodstuffs to buy, and a hive of activity everywhere.
Dalada Maligawa the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the “lodestar of the Buddhists", dating back to the 16th century AD. One of the most specticular section of this temple; the patthirippuwa or the Octagon was added by the king of Kandy in the early 19th century. He also built the Kandy Lake. Rituals are enacted daily in the Temple to venerate the relic, accompanied by flute playing and drumming. Public honor is paid to it when the Esala Perahera or Procession of the month of Esala in July/ August each year. A golden canopy was constructed recently over the relic Chamber.
Malwatta and Asgiriya Monasteries
The two most important Buddhist Monasteries in Sri Lanka are on the two sides of the lake. The chief incumbents of these two temples are the senior ecclesiastics of the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka. The Malwatta monastery on the southern side across the lake is embellished with 18th century architectural design and planning. The higher ordination of the sangha, the monks, takes place annually in both these temples. The Asgiriya Temple is situated to the western side of the city at Asgiriya. In one of the shrine rooms of this temple is a gigantic statue of the Recumbant Buddha. In Asgiriya is also found the cremation ground of the Kandyan royalty.
Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and Embekke Temples
Known as the "western Shrines" are situated close together on the Kadugannawa-Peradeniya road, 16km west of Kandy. Gadaladeniya is built of stone and scenically sites on a rock. The seated Buddha image, lacquered doors, wall murals and carved stone friezes are worth seeing. The temple reminds us of the south Indian architectural influence of the period. Lankatilaka temple is a magnificent building shining in white against the blue sky in the back ground.
A brick building in three storeys, it has a peculiar architectural design. Amidst the painted doors of wood and frescoes still bright with their original paint on walls and ceilings in the shrine room is found a superb seated image of the Buddha. The Embekke Temple is a Deistic Shrine dedicated to God Kataragama. This temple is famed for its carved woodden pillars with intricate designs. The pillars leap to life with dancers, musicians, wrestlers, legendry beasts and birds. Nearby are the ruins of an ancient Rest House with similar pillars carved in stone. All the above described monuments belong to the 14th century.
Dodanwela Devale and Suriyagoda Vihare
Dodanwela Devale and Suriyagoda Vihare are situated in the village of Kiribatkumbura along the main road close to the above temples. Suriyagoda Vihare is said to have built originally in the 15th century. But the buildings that you see today belong to the 18th century. It has an image house built on stone pillars on which strong wooden cross beams run to support the shrine that housed a Buddha image. This is called a Tempita Vihara. This temple is also noted for its murals of the Kandyan period of the 18th century. The Dodanwela Devalc is of historic interest as the temple at which king Rajasinha of Kandy offered his crown to the Presiding God after his great victory over the Portuguese in the 17th century.
Hindagala Temple
Picturesquely situated on a rock close to the University Campus at Peradeniya along the Galaha Road. It has rock inscriptions dating back to the 6th century that speaks of the history of this temple. Amidst the ruined temple paintings of the 6th century are found paintings on the walls of the temple belonging to different periods of recent history.
Gangarama and Degaldoruwa Temples
Approachable along the Tennekumbura Road by the side of the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Both the Viharas are cave temples of the 18th century and are famous for the Kandyan murals. The first temple has a standing Buddha image and the second has a Reclining image of the Buddha in the main shrine. The Gangarama is the closest to the town. The frescoes depicting the Buddhist Jataka Tales, represented as scenes from everyday life in contemporary Kandy, are some of the finest examples of Buddhist Temple Art In Sri Lanka.
Galmadauwa Vihara
situated close to Degaldoruwa Vihara on your way. It is an unfinished building of the pavillion type. The story is that the king stopped the completion of this temple after the discovery of a cave at Degaldoruwa. The lower storey of this building is of stone and the upper storeys of brick and stone masonry in seven diminishing stages. It represents a vimana a very curious building worth seeing
Medawela Vihara is another temple delightfully rustic in design and situated 9.6 km. north of Kandy close to Katugastota town. The present vihara is erected on an ancient vihara foundation and has an unique wood and wattle-and-daub shrine room built in the same Tempita Vihara style. The murals in this small temple too are considered unique examples of Kandyan Art.
Scenery unparalleled unfold in the Dumbara valley ; on the heights of Hantane spread with tea plantation ; in the vicinity of Hunnasgiriya Falls ; in the mountain platteau of Hanguranketa ; at Katugastota, the ancient ford upriver ; at Halloluwa where the road winds past precipitous heights. Tea, rubber and coconut crops merge into the forested hillsides of Udawartakele, a patch of jungle surrounded by the city, at Bahirawakanda, untamed moutain abode of the Guardian Deity of the land.
Kandyan Arts and Crafts
At the Kandyan Art Association and at the Government Handicrafts Shop which is Laksala by the Lake side near Queens Hotel, you can see the work of Skilled craftsmen displayed for sale. At the former, you can also watch the work of the weaver, the copper, brass and silver smith actually in progress.
At Kalapuraya Nattarampota, 7 kilometres from Kandy, beyond Kundasale is a settlement of craftsmen created with Government assistance. As in olden times they produce their work in their own homes in their own rhythms. Traditional Kandyan dance recitals can be watched in the evenings at places such as the Kandyan Art . Association and other leading hotels in Kandy.
Kandy has two museums - the National Museum and the Archaeological Museum. The former is housed in what were once the quarters of the Royal concubines ; the latter is all that remains of the splended royal palace of the Kandyan Kings. Both museums contain many interesting exhibits of the period.
The audience Hall is an unique example of Wooden architecture of the Kandyan period. The memorable Kandyan Convention, ceding the territories of the once - impregnable Kingdom to the British was signed in the Audience Hall at 3 p.m. on March 2nd 1815, bringing to an end the 2,500 year old rule - by kings in Sri Lanka. The impressive, wooden -pillared hall dates from 1784.
The Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya 6 killometres from Kandy on the Colombo / Kandy road were the pleasure Gardens of a Kandyan Queen. The motorable, Gardens 150 acres, with seats, gazebos, pavilions and a restaurant at the entrance, are a paradise of tropical foliage. Highlights are the Great Palm Avenue, the Orchid House, the Pergola, the Octagon House the flower - beds of hibiscus, cannas, bougainvillaeas and croton.
The Peradeniya University barely a killometre from the Gardens, is magnificently laid out. The architectural scheme, pleasantly recollecting the old Kandyan style, was designed by Sir Patrick Abercromble who became famous as the designer of Greater London.
The Ceylon Tourist Board, Travel Information Centre is near the Temple of the Tooth Relic and almost adjoining the AIR LANKA office in Kandy.
Victoria Dam
The Victoria Dam under the Mahaweli scheme is located below the Polgolla Diversion barrage and above the Victoria rapids on the main stem of the Mahaweli river. The storage level of 438.0 metres of water corresponded to a crest level of dam of 442.5 m above s sea level and a height of dam above lowest foundation level of about 118m. The principal benefits from the scheme are hydro - power production and providing a regulated source of water for irrigation.
