Colombo Trip Overview
Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sits pretty in a valley surrounded by rings of mountains. This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Sinhala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. The best-known site is the Temple of the Tooth relic; Buddhism’s most important religious shrine, and said to be the location of a portion of Buddha’s tooth. But Kandy also has much more than its number one attraction; it’s a city of delightful chaos, with its bustling streets, ancient temples, colonial architecture, aristocratic gardens and the glorious Kandy lake forming the backdrop to a perfect few days among-st Sri Lanka’s lush green hills!
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 13 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sits pretty in a valley surrounded by rings of mountains. This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Sinhala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. The best-known site is the Temple of the Tooth relic; Buddhism’s most important religious shrine, and said to be the location of a portion of Buddha’s tooth. But Kandy also has much more than its number one attraction; it’s a city of delightful chaos, with its bustling streets, ancient temples, colonial architecture, aristocratic gardens and the glorious Kandy lake forming the backdrop to a perfect few days among-st Sri Lanka’s lush green hills!
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens is just 6 kms away from the charming city of Kandy. It is home to an array of exotic and the most eye-catching blooms and plants. It is definitely not just a garden with pretty flora and a landscape. Its history dates back to 1371 it is a place that is not be missed if you are around Kandy. In ancient times the garden has been frequented by royalty as King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha has used it as his courts. With the colonial rule in Sri Lanka the garden received its official botanical garden state when Edward Barnes was the governor. It is said that the plants were even brought from the Kew Gardens to the Peradeniya gardens when the British were giving a new look to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Situated in the ancient kingdom in the central highlands of the country Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy also known as Dalada Maligawa is considered one of the holiest and sacred sites for Buddhists. It is believed that the Temple is home to one of the tooth relics of Lord Buddha. Many years later, following Buddha’s passing away, an Indian Princess named Hemamala has brought the tooth relic to Sri Lanka. The temple complex is surrounded by a moat and it is bounded by white carvings of elephants. You could also see the four main Devalas (temples of Gods) facing the temple complex.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy Lake, Centre of Kandy City, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Kandy Lake, also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk, is an artificial lake in the heart of the hill city of Kandy, Sri Lanka, built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe next to the Temple of the Tooth. The perimeter of the lake features a shady path that is used by locals for scenic walks, and is over three kilometres long with views of the surrounding hills. The lake itself encompasses an area of more than 6000 square meters and, at its lowest point, is seen to reach a depth of around 18.5 metres.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Arthur’s Seat, Kandy, 20000, Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe Mawatha, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
Arthur’s Seat is a popular lookout point southwest of Kandy Lake, just past the Royal Palace Park. It is located on Rajapihilla Mawatha at 550 m above sea level. It provides a panoramic view across Kandy Lake, Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Royal Palace of Kandy and the city centre. According to local folklore there was a bungalow owned by a Mr. Arthur, a British tea planter, situated above the lookout, who used to view Kandy by standing on a stone seat under a tree in front of his bungalow. The Kandy Municipal Council estimated in 2015, 1,500 tourists per day visit the location during the peak season, with 500 tourists per day in the off season. In early 2016 the Council undertook the construction of the new viewing platform at the location.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Kandy Lake Club – Cultural Dance Show, 7 Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, a country rich with culture & tradition offers a very vibrant and unique show of Sri Lankan traditional dances, in the form of Kandy cultural show. Dancers adorned with rattling anklets, elaborate beads, jingling bangles, funky headgear and colorful flowing costumes perform stunning high jumps and somersaults while drummers flank them, pounding out heart-thumping tribal rhythms. With a stage set amid the deep, lush jungle of Sri Lanka, a Kandyan dance performance captures the imagination by connecting audiences to their tribal roots. A cultural show in Kandy throughout the year gives you an imagination of the Kandy Perahera Festival, one of the most vibrant festivals in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 1 hour
