Kandy

Located in central Sri Lanka, the picturesque town of Kandy is famous for Buddhist religious sites and its pristine natural landscapes. Set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, Kandy is famed for the Temple of the Tooth, where the tooth relic of Lord Buddha supposedly exists. As a hill station, Kandy boasts a cool and pleasant weather throughout the year, making it an ideal destination for holidaying.

Attractions

Tooth Relic - Housing the relic of the tooth of the Buddha, the temple of the tooth relic is one of the major attractions of Kandy. 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.

Lankatilaka Temple - This unique Buddhist temple stands on the outskirts of Kandy. Built of stone, lime plaster and bricks; the Lankatilaka Temple attracts a huge number of tourists every year. A beautiful blend of Sinhalese architecture of Polonnaruwa period and of Dravidian and Indo Chinese style, the temple is built on an uneven, large rock outcropping.

Knuckles Mountain Range - One of the most beautiful mountain range/ forest areas in Sri Lanka, the Knuckles Mountain Range’s appearance resembles a set of knuckles in a closed fist. Home to a large variety of flora and fauna, the entire mountain range is nothing less than a paradise for art lovers.

Kandy Lake - A sight to behold, the Kandy Lake with its lush green surrounding hills forms a perfect backdrop. The lake embraces you with serenity and resplendent beauty, and the most fascinating is the island situated in the middle of the lake. A walk around the shores of the lake is a must for anyone visiting the lake.

Festivals - Kandy is also famous for its 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.

Best time to visit
The best time to visit Kandy is during the months of July and August. Even though it’s the peak summer time, but being a hill station, the city experiences much cooler climate compared to the other regions of the country. Also during this time, the annual festival of Kandy Perahera is held.

How to reach
The Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo is the nearest airport to the city. Numerous flights connecting cities from India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Korea and the Middle East operate from this airport. Air Arabia, Air China, Air India, Malaysia Airlines, Korean Air are some of the airlines that operate here. From Colombo, travellers can take the bus or rail service to reach Kandy.