Top sights in Kandy

The Old Royal Palace Complex is the last royal residence and the administrative centre of the Kingdom of Kandy until it was taken over by the British in 1815.

A royal palace complex built in the 14th century under King Vickramabahu III is noted for a layout that centres on the King’s Palace, the Queen’s Palace, the Royal Audience Hall and the Queen’s Bathing Pavilion.

The site was organised around six main entry points called Wahalkadas, identified as the Maha, Uda, Pitathi, Mohana, Madhura and Kora gateways.

The buildings later faced significant damage during Portuguese attacks in the 17th century, followed by further losses after the British takeover, with remaining sections eventually converted for public access and museum use.

Sri Dalada Maligawa, known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a sacred Buddhist temple located within the former royal palace complex of the Kingdom of Kandy.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic houses the left upper canine tooth of Gautama Buddha and was inscribed along with the city of Kandy as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

The relic is regarded as a symbol of both religious devotion and royal authority. For centuries, Sri Lankan kings acted as guardians of the relic, with its custody regarded as a legitimate authority to rule the country.

According to tradition, the relic was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE by Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha. They carried it from Kalinga in India to protect it during a time of conflict.

Buddhist tradition holds that the tooth was recovered from the Buddha’s funeral pyre after his cremation in Kushinagar. It was preserved in Kalinga for several centuries before being brought to the island.

The relic is enshrined in the Handun Kunama, or Scented Chamber, and kept inside seven nested golden caskets shaped like stupas. The relic itself is not visible, and worship focuses on the casket displayed during rituals.

Daily worship centres on Thewawa ceremonies, held three times a day in the morning, midday, and evening. These rites are conducted by monks of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters.

The temple complex reflects classical Kandyan architecture, with whitewashed walls, carved wooden pillars, and painted ceilings. A key feature is the octagonal Paththirippuwa, built by the last Kandyan king and now used to house ancient manuscripts.

Sri Dalada Maligawa is also the focal point of the annual Esala Perahera. During the festival, a replica of the relic casket is carried through the streets on a ceremonial elephant, accompanied by dancers and drummers.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya is Sri Lanka’s largest botanical garden, located about five kilometres west of Kandy city centre.

Covering an area of 147 acres, the gardens were formally established in 1821 during British colonial rule. The land had earlier served as a royal residence and pleasure garden for Kandyan rulers.

The gardens are internationally recognised for their plant collections, which include more than 4,000 species. These range from large tropical trees to palms, spices, medicinal plants, ferns, and ornamental shrubs.

One of the main attractions is the Orchid House, which displays hundreds of orchid varieties from Sri Lanka and other countries. Popular walkways include the Avenue of Royal Palms, Cook’s Pine Avenue, and the Double Coconut Avenue.

A prominent botanical feature is the large Javan fig tree, whose wide canopy covers a significant area of the grounds. Another historic specimen is the Cannonball Tree, planted in 1901 during a visit by King George V and Queen Mary.

The gardens also house the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka, which supports plant research and conservation. Today, Peradeniya remains a centre for botanical study as well as a major recreational space in the Kandy region.

Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is a protected forest reserve located behind the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

The area was once a private royal garden of the Kandyan monarchy, known as Uda Wasala Watta.

It remained restricted to the royal court during the period of the Kandyan Kingdom.

Udawatta Kele was declared a forest reserve in 1856 and later upgraded to a sanctuary in 1938.

Forest supports a layered ecosystem with more than 400 plant species, including large canopy trees, shrubs, and orchids.

The sanctuary features shaded walking trails leading to viewpoints, ancient rock hermitages, and a central royal pond. 

The forest is home to around 80 bird species, including endemic birds such as the Layard’s Parakeet and the Yellow-fronted Barbet. Mammals recorded in the area include the golden palm civet, mouse deer, and the pale-fronted toque macaque.

Udawatta Kele also contains several archaeological and religious sites. These include the Senkanda Cave, remains from the British period, and three Buddhist forest monasteries.

Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple near Pilimathalawa, about 13 kilometres west of Kandy, known for its strong South Indian stone architecture.

The temple was built in the 14th century during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu IV of the Gampola Kingdom. It was designed by the South Indian architect Ganesvarachari under the guidance of the scholar monk Ven. Seelavamsa Dharmakirthi.

The main shrine is constructed mainly of stone and reflects the Vijayanagara architectural tradition. At its centre is a seated Buddha statue housed in a stone chamber with a tiered roof topped by a stupa.

A separate structure within the complex, known as the Vijayothpaya, stands nearby. It features a central stone stupa surrounded by four smaller shrines aligned to the cardinal directions.

The temple grounds also include a devale dedicated to Vishnu, who is regarded as a guardian deity of Buddhism. A Bodhi tree, a drummers’ pavilion, and a carved moonstone mark key ritual and entrance areas.

Long rock inscriptions at the site record land grants and administrative details from the medieval period. These inscriptions provide insight into religious patronage and governance during the Gampola era.

Lankatilaka Raja Maha Viharaya is a historic Buddhist temple complex located on Panhalgala Rock near Pilimathalawa, about 15 kilometres west of Kandy in Sri Lanka.

The temple was built in the 14th century during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu IV of the Gampola Kingdom and reflects a blend of South Indian and Sri Lankan architectural traditions.

Constructed in the “Gedige” style, the shrine was designed to support both Buddhist and Hindu worship, highlighting the religious coexistence of the period.

The main image house rises directly from the rock base and contains a large seated Buddha statue. Its interior is decorated with Kandyan-period frescoes and detailed plaster designs.

Historical records preserved at the site include several inscriptions that shed light on its past. The Lankatilaka Copper Plaque states that the original image house had four storeys, of which three still stand today.

Stone inscriptions written in Sinhala and Tamil record royal donations and land grants, offering valuable insight into the administration of the Gampola era.

The temple complex also includes six devales dedicated to Upulvan, Ganapathi, Sumana Saman, Vibhishana, Kataragama Deviyo, and Kumara Bandara.

Embekka Devalaya is a historic temple complex near Pilimathalawa, about 14 kilometres from Kandy, best known for its detailed wooden carvings.

The shrine was built in the 14th century during the reign of King Vikramabahu III of the Gampola Kingdom and is dedicated to the Kataragama deity, worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus.

The complex includes three main structures: the sanctum known as the Garbhaya, the Digge or dancing hall, and the Hewisi Mandapaya, used by drummers during rituals.

Each space plays a role in religious ceremonies, traditional dance, and music that continue to be practised at the site.

Embekka Devalaya has gained international attention for its craftsmanship, with UNESCO recognising it as one of the finest surviving examples of wooden architecture.

Most carvings are made from Gammalu wood and include 514 designs showing animals, mythical figures, plants, geometric forms, and scenes from daily life.

The Digge is especially notable for its 32 carved wooden pillars, which support a tiered roof designed to control rainwater.

Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, widely known as the Bahirawakanda Temple, is a major Buddhist site on Bahirawa Kanda hill, overlooking the city of Kandy and located about two kilometres from the city centre.

Situated at one of the highest points in Kandy, the temple is best known for its large white Buddha statue, one of the city’s most visible landmarks.

The statue, completed in 1992, depicts the Buddha in the Dhyana Mudra, or meditation posture. It stands at nearly 80 feet and dominates the skyline above the urban area.

The temple complex offers wide views across the Kandy plateau and the surrounding central highlands. From viewing areas near the statue, Kandy Lake, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and other key landmarks are clearly visible.

The name Bahirawakanda is linked to local legend associated with a guardian spirit known as Bahirava. Folklore holds that the hill was once feared as the dwelling place of the spirit.

According to tradition, the later establishment of the Buddhist temple symbolised the transformation of the site into a place of worship, peace, and protection.

Kandy Lake is an artificial lake in the centre of Kandy, adjacent to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The lake was built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe on land that had previously been paddy fields.

The lake extends for about 3.4 kilometres around its perimeter and is bordered by a shaded path used by walkers and joggers. Its parapet, known as the Walakulu Bamma, is a white cloud-shaped wall that was designed to hold oil lamps during festivals.

At the centre of the lake is Diyathilaka Mandapaya, a small artificial island. It originally served as a royal summer pavilion and was later used by the British as an ammunition store.

Kandy Lake supports wildlife including birds, turtles, and monitor lizards. Boat rides provide views of nearby historic structures, including the Ulpange, or Queen’s Bathing Pavilion.