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Kandy - Culture |
The
laidback “capital” of the hill country and the historical bastion of
Buddhist power is built around a peaceful lake and set in a picturesque bowl of
hills. It has a distinctive architectural character thanks to its gently sloping
tiled roofs and the town centre is a delightful compendium of old shops, noise,
buses, markets and hotels.
Kandy, a historic city, is the centre of culture and art. Because of the history, pageantry and veneration associated with this exquisite city, Kandy is classed as a World Heritage City by UNESCO.
Kandy is a reflection of the variety, harmony and diversity of the people and
cultures that make Sri Lanka a great nation.
Its standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth),
a temple which houses Sri Lanka's most important religious relic - the sacred
tooth of Buddha. Here visitors can observe the ancient traditions of drumming
and sacred chanting in honour of the Tooth Relic, being performed several times
each day. During the (morning or)
evening Puja (= religious ceremony), the tooth relic is displayed to the public
After the Temple of the Tooth, the most famous landmark of Kandy is its lake, in
the centre of the city. The old building at its edge near the Temple of the
Tooth was the Queen's Bath. On the other side of the Temple of the Tooth, housed
in part of former royal palace, is the Kandy Museum which houses excellent
exhibits from the Kandyan period of Sri Lanka's history.
The city is a monastic centre of Buddhism with the two biggest monasteries - the
Malwatte and Asgiriya temples located here. Around the city are several other
Buddhist temples with special attractions for the visitor looking for the
cultural traditions of Sri Lanka. The rock temple at Degaldoruwa, has beautiful
Buddhist frescoes of the 17th century, while the Lankatilleke and Gadaladeniya
temples are unique examples of the Buddhist construction in brick and stone
during the same period. The shrine to a Hindu deity at Embekke is the best
extant example of the wood carvings of the Kandyan period. Another temple well
known for its frescoes is the one at Ranawana.
The Royal Botanical Gardens, the Peradeniya Gardens is easily one of the best of
its kind in the world. The many beautiful avenues will lead one to sections
which provide a burst of tropical colour. The great lawns highlight huge
tropical trees, while you will be surprised at the variety of bamboo that can be
found in one place. The best-known attraction of the Gardens is the Orchid
House, which house more than 300 varieties of exquisite orchids.
There are plenty of lovely scenic walks around Kandy, one of which leads to the Mahaweli, where you may see elephants being bathed.
Traditions have been maintained and still the colourful, and spectacular pageant
of great importance to Buddhists and others alike, the Kandy Esala Perahera is
held on ten
successive nights in the month of Esala (July/August) every
year, in honour of the tooth Relic. As the pagentry of the Esala Perahera
unfolds through ten nights each year, the city takes on the air of a torch-lit
dreamland, complete with a hundred or more colourfully caparisoned elephants,
drummers, dancers, and chieftains in the rare colourful trappings of the old
kingdom.
The Kandy Market is a great bazaar full of the sounds of exciting trade and
bargaining. The stalls are full to overflowing with fresh vegetables, spices and
fruits.
Kandy has good accommodation in several hotels and guesthouses located in and around the city. There is traditional entertainment in the way of performances of Kandyan Dancing, and traditional drumming. Plenty of gem shops offer good quality gems, while the silver craftsmanship is of the highest quality.
Kandy with its lake and nestled within green hills is a lovely place with a very special atmosphere. The city is a tourist's paradise because it contains so many places of interest ranging from the religious to the natural.
