Kandy: Sri Lanka’s Historic Hill City

Kandy is a historic city in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, located about 115 kilometres inland from Colombo. Surrounded by hills and valleys, the city is known for its religious significance, its history as the last royal capital of the island and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. UNESCO added the Sacred City of Kandy to its World Heritage List in 1988.The history of Kandy dates back to the 14th century, when the settlement was known as Senkadagalapura. It later became the capital of the Kandyan Kingdom, which remained independent while Portuguese and Dutch colonial powers controlled parts of Sri Lanka. The kingdom continued until 1815, when the Kandyan Convention transferred control of the territory to the British.Kandy was the last royal capital of the Sri Lankan kingdoms. Its historic centre contains buildings and religious sites associated with the Kandyan monarchy, including parts of the former royal complex.The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is one of Kandy's most important religious landmarks. The temple is believed to house a tooth relic of the Buddha. Throughout Sri Lankan history, possession of the relic was traditionally associated with the legitimacy of royal rule, giving the temple an important place in the country's religious and political traditions.Kandy is also known for the Esala Perahera, an annual Buddhist procession held in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The event takes place during the Esala period and features traditional dancers, drummers, musicians and decorated elephants. It attracts large numbers of local and international visitors.Kandy Lake is another well-known landmark in the city. Located beside the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the former royal complex, the artificial lake was created in 1807 during the reign of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Kandy. It remains a prominent feature of the city's historic centre.The surrounding area also contains attractions connected with Sri Lanka's natural and colonial history. The Royal Botanic Gardens in nearby Peradeniya house a wide collection of plant species. The gardens have a history associated with the British colonial period and are among the best-known botanical attractions in the country.