Kandy
Kandy
is the Temple of the Tooth
A city replete with scenic beauty and salubrious climate, Kandy is the capital of the long line of Sinhalese kings. Situated amidst lush green hills overlooking an artificial lake, it possesses a unique character holding in its bosom the Temple of the Tooth. Its historic buildings displaying the best of Kandyan architecture, and the annual procession of the Tooth Relic, the Dalada Perahera, which attracts thousands of enthusiasts from here and abroad, add a charm and quite dignity to its historically important character. Kandy is counted amongst the World Heritage sites of UNESCO. Kadny has been a human settlement form very ancient times as evidenced by the pre – Christian inscriptions found at various sites and many references to it in the Chronicles of the Sinhalese. But its significance as a city begins with the fall of the two great kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva and the consequent shift of the royal capital to the south west in Dambadeniya. King Vikramabahu III, who established his capital in Gampola in the 14th century, built the Nathadevale. Thus, from the beginning of the 14th century Kandy became a city of royal residence but it had to wait another century for it to become the capital of the Kandyan Kingdom. Kandy boasts of two dynasties; the first of three kings lasted for 130 years while the second which had nine kings ended with Sri Vikrma Rajasinha. In 1815 in the reign of the last named king of Kadny came under the British which annexation lasted for 133 years until the country regained its independence in 1948.
Things to do in Kandy
Temple Of Tooth ( Dalada Palace) – What is referred to as the Tooth Relic is the left canine Tooth of the Lard Buddha venerated by Buddhists all over the world. According to Chronicles the story runs thus: King Guhasiva of Kalinga, a city in East India, had with him the left Tooth of the Lard Buddha which he held in daughter Hemamala and son-in-law Dantha and told them that if he lost the war, they should remove the Tooth and hand it over to his friend King Mahasena of Sri lanka. King Guhasiva lost the war and Hemamala and Duntha came to Sri Lanka with the Tooth and hand it over to the King Mahasena who was king at the time. Ever since Sri Lankan kings have safeguarded and revered the Tooth Relic and, it had been treated as their palladium. The last king of Sinhalese as well as Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe, made several alterations to the complex and built the octagon. It is worthwhile visiting the Tooth Relic Temple when service rituals are held daily in the morning, noon and evening.
The Council Chamber – Known popularly among the Sinhalese as the magul maduva, the Royal Audience Hall that the King used to carry out business of administration and for judicial purposes offers one of the best examples of timber architecture of the Kanyan period. This was designed during the reign of an earlier king but completed in the reign of the last king of Kandy. Many additions and alterations have been done during the British occupation. The present building contains 64 exquisitely carved timber columns ranged in four rows, two on either side of the centre aisle. The columns end in inverted lotus capitals and hold the timber roof with carved beams and rafters. The roof is clad with plain clay tiles. Prof. Nimal de Silva who directed recent conservation work under the Cultural Triangle observes that the steel supports and decayed timber added during the British period were replaced by new timber of the same identified variety. Now the building is used exclusively for state purposes.
Peradeniya Royal Botanic Garden – The history of the Royal Botanic Gardens dates as far back as 1371 when king Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli River. Later, in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe from 1747 to 1780 this was made a Royal Garden and from 1780 – 1798 King Rajadhi Rajasinghe resided therein, where a temporary residence was erected for him. This was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and later made in to a Botanical Garden during the British regime. The most amazing of the Garden have, Flower Garden, Palm Avenues, Plant House and Cacti, Bamboo Collection, Orchid House and Gardens, Fernery, Great Lawn, The lake, Spice Garden and Flowering Trees and the Arboretum. The most spectacular of the Gardens are the flowering trees which come into bloom at various times with peak blooming during the first half of the year. Amherstia nobilis popularly known as the Pride of Burma is the finest and a row of this is found planted near the main entrance. An extensive Arboretum of 20 ha in extent contains approximately 8000 trees. Some of these trees are magnificent specimens which are over 100 years old.
Royal Botanic Gardens at a glance
Extent: 60 hectares
Species under cultivation: Over 4000
Annual visitor turnout: 1.2 million
Gems & Jewelry Museum – Sri Lanka is world famous for its valuable & semi-precious Gems. Specially Sri Lankan Blue Sapphire. It is very exclusive & owns a huge reputation in the world. Clients could visit a Gemological Museum, a gem cutting factory & also can witness a documentary on Gem mining & the process. Later you can shop for Gems, Jewelry & Other ornaments. Don’t forget to collect your authenticity certificate for gems.
Silk Garden – Visit the Silk Garden. Clients will be shown the process of making silk & how the handloom sarees are been made in Sri Lanka.The ladies will be given a chance to wear a traditional Sri Lankn saree & it be an ultimate opportunity to experience the Sri Lankan dressing culture. You can shop for Silk items, sarees, sarongs, shirts & many other gorgeous materials according to your choice.
Wood Carving / Handy Crafts Centre / Braze work – Wood carving – is a traditional industry in Sri Lanka. Believed to be emerged in the ancient temples, the traditions & the techniques were passed from one generation to another. Today some of the wonderful craftsmen who belonged to such generations are still engaged in the field. They create wood carvings, statues, furniture, habitual masks, sculptures, handy craft, and paintings and to a variety of other products of same nature. A visit to a wood carving centre involves.