The city is World Heritage of UNESCO since 1988. This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815.
You can spend time in Kandy by walking and visiting the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic. You’ll be able to see the daily traditional dance close to the temple in the afternoon. For fans of nature and botany, you will be delighted to visit one of the most beautiful botanical garden in the world, in Peradeniya created in 1821. For authenticity, move to the famous local market of fruit and vegetable of Kandy by tuk-tuk.
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals, where you will be able to admire dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, parades of decorated elephants. This is in Esala (July or August), which is a month that is believed to commemorate the first teaching by Buddha after he attained enlightenment. The Kandy Esala Perahera lasts for ten days while the Sinhalese term ‘perahera’ means a parade of musicians, dancers, singers, acrobats and various other performers accompanied by a large number of caparisoned Tuskers and other elephants parading the streets in celebration of a religious event.
Kandy is also a popular gemstone marketing area that supplying precious stones like sapphires, rubies, beryls, zircon and quartz.
Batik is the other famous handicraft in Kandy, and enthusiasts of this traditional dyeing process can purchase everything from large wall hangings to items of batik clothing.
