KANDY

Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka and lies in the midst of hills. It is the Capital of the Central Province. It is both an administrative ad religious city. Kandy is the second largest city in the country and is frequently visited by Buddhists.

Kandy is very famous among tourist for three main reasons: It is home to the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic ; Dalada Maligawa ), The Botanical Gardens ( Located in Peradeniya) and it always has a special place when it comes to festivities such as the Esala Perahara.

Province -		Central Province
District -		Kandy District
Populer for -		Palace of the Tooth relic Esala Perahera - kandy Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya
Weather -		28 °C
Type -		Cultural

The Temple of the Tooth relic is the place that houses the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Originally part of the Royal Palace complex of the Kandyan Kingdom, it is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhist around the world. The Palace of the Tooth relic, the palace complex and the holy city of Kandy are associated with the history of the dissemination of Buddhism. The temple is the product of the last peregrination of the relic of the tooth of Buddha and the testimony of a religion which continues to be practiced today.

Parks and Gardens
The Royal Botanical Garden is the largest botanical garden in the whole island providing residence to over a large variety of plants, some even hundreds of years old.

Festivals (Perahera)
Kandy as stated earlier is also very popular due to the annual pageant known as the Esala Perahera, in which one of the inner caskets used for covering the tooth relic of Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city. This casket is taken on a royal tusker. The procession includes traditional dancers and drummers, flag bearers of the provinces of the old Kandyan kingdom, the Nilames wearing their traditional dresses, torch bearers and also the grandly attired elephant. This ceremony which is annually held in the months of July or August attracts large crowds from all parts of the country and also many foreign tourists.


Kandy is must for anyone's itinerary when visiting Sri Lanka. It is considered one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka which at the same time show cases the Sri Lankan Culture at its highest level .

Sri Lanka Botanical Gardens More than two centuries after Buddha had entered Nirvana, Ceylon was converted to his creed. To this there is not only the testimony of the great Pali Chronicle, the Mahawanisa, which throws light on the marvelous royal parks that grew up there in the course of the centuries, but there are also ruins, long concealed under ancient forest growths, but rediscovered in the last decades by English excavators.
PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDENS     Established in 1816, these gardens are located about 6.5km before Kandy on the side of the Colombo-Kandy highway. Initially planted with Coffee and Cinnamon, now includes beautiful Sri Lankan and overseas species. No vehicle is allowed entry to this 147-acre garden. It is bounded on three sides by a loop of the Mahaweli River. Disabled persons can arrange vehicles on request. The garden is open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 5.45 pm. The Avenue of Royal Palms, Bamboo-fringed riverside drive, Bat drive, Spice garden, Orchard house, Cactus house and a Glasshouse of anthuriums, begonias, African Violets and other species and the giant Javan fig tree found on the great lawn attract local tourists as well as visitors from overseas. It covers an area of 1600 sqm. Keep your eyes open for an oxen driven lawn mover.  Hakgala Botanical Garden It is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, 'botanical gardens Hakgala the' site in the Hill Country, just ten kilometers (six miles) away from the city of Nuwara Eliya. Its cool weather prevailing throughout the year complement the exotic flora and fauna, creating a true paradise. Park famous locally for the collection of roses. The rose garden of this property on Twin - stands a piece of land, and it contains varieties of roses imported from England and America. This group includes items rose nearly 100, and that the old garden varieties are very suitable for landscape gardens.	HENARATHGODA BOTANICAL GARDEN About 30 km north-west of Colombo, near Gampaha off Colombo-Kandy road. This garden is home to trees from every corner of the tropical world - especially from Brazil. Most notable is the Para rubber tree - Hevea brasiliensis. Here at Henarathgoda, in 1876, the first seedlings ever planted in Asia grew and flourished. A British colonial agent had smuggled 70,000 rubber seeds out of the Amazon jungle. London's Kew Gardens succeeded in the cultivation of 2700 of them. About 2000 seedlings were transported to the warm, moist climatic conditions at Henarathgoda. These little trees sired the rubber industry thought Southeast Asia in Malaya, Indonesia and South India as well as in Sri Lanka.

Hundreds of waterfalls in Sri Lanka

 Bambarakanda Falls

This is the highest (241 m) waterfall in Sri Lanka. The fall is situated in the Badulla District in Belihul Oya area.

Dunhinda Falls

Dunhinda Falls is one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful waterfalls located about 5 km off Badulla town. The waterfall, which is 210 feet (64 m) high gets its name from the smoky dew drops spray, (dun in Sinhala means mist or smoke) which surrounds the area at the foot of the waterfall. The waterfall is created by the river called Badulu Oya which goes through the Badulla town.

Hunas Falls

Hunas Falls is located in Matale District in  Elkaduwa Village. Apart from the main fall several water streams can be seen during the rainy season. Many tourists visit this fall due to its proximity to both, Hunas Falls & Hunas Falls Hotel. There are two routes to the Hunas Falls. One is coming from Matale to Elkaduwa. The other is Watthegama to Elkaduwa.

Ravana Falls

Situated in the Ella-Wellawaya Road, this beautiful waterfall lies visible from the main road itself. The water rushing down over several steps adds more hues to its sublime beauty. The main drop, however, is 30 ft. in height. It derives its name from the mythical King Ravana of the great Indian epic The Ramayana.

Bopath Ella Falls

Just 15 kms from the Colombo-Rathnapura Road, it falls from a height of 100ft into the Kuru Ganga. The formation itself is a rare beauty with a perfectly heart shaped head, resembling the leaf of the Sacred Bo Tree, hence the name Bopath. Also a popular picnic spot, it is bound to take your breath away.

St. Clare’s Falls

St. Clare’s Falls is 80m in height and at 50m wide, and consists of two segments, known as 'Big St. Clare' and 'Small St. Clare'. Created by the Kothmale River, a tributary of the Mahaweli River, it flows down a slope through an abandoned tea estate  in the Nuwara Eliya District. The fall is located 1.5km from Talawakelle.

Devon Falls

This 280 ft high eye catcher is best sighted from the 20th Milepost on the Talawakelle-Nawalapitiya Road.

Ramboda Falls

It is situated in Pussellawa area. The fall is located 1.6km from the highway. It is near Pussellawa Rest House.

Diyaluma Falls

This is the third highest (171 m) waterfall in Sri Lanka. The fall is located along the Koslanda - Wellawaya Road in the Badulla District. Koslanda is the nearest town to the Diyaluma Falls.

Kirindi Ella Falls

This waterfall belongs to Rathnapura District. The height of this waterfall is 117 metres. Kirindi Ella Falls starts from Kuttapitiya mountain. This is created by Kirindi Oya. At the base of the fall, the water plunges into a deep pool called Diyagathwala.