Kandy

Kandy:

The ascent to Kandy from Colombo is quite dramatic, past a ring of mountains including Bible Rock, several hairpin bends lined with wayside fruit stalls and a hint of the spectacular scenery to come deeper into the hills. Once across the bridge over the Mahaweli River, the magnificent Kandy Botanical Gardens with its immaculately designed lawns and tropical foliage come into view. Easy to visit by foot, there is however the option of taking a tour by cattle-drawn carriage. Beyond this is Kandy’s traffic-crammed main town, a contrast to the quieter outlying areas.

Temple of the Tooth:

where a tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined. A pooja (religious service) is held at dawn, midday, or in the evening, accompanied with traditional music and drumming. Kandy National Museum lies behind the Temple of the Tooth. The Kandyan dancer, drummer, musician, artist and the craftsmen – all contributes significantly to the vibrant culture, lifestyle and economy of the area. Daily Kandyan dance performances are held in town by the Temple of the Tooth. Kandy’s artisans produce intricate crafts as home-based cottage industries. Different villages in Kandy specialize in specific artistic skills that have been handed down to generations

Kandy Perehara:

In August each year, the spectacular Esala Perehara winds its way through the streets of Kandy. Tradition, religion, and the arts all come together in honour of Lord Buddha. For ten nights under the moonlit sky, Kandy dazzles. Musicians, dancers, Kandyan chieftains and hundreds of elephants dressed in glittering royal finery move to the rhythm of the Kandyan drums. Reels of
white carpet are laid on the roads for one special elephant, the temple tusker that bears the tooth relic of Lord Buddha encased in a golden casket. This historic ritual is one of the finest festivals in Asia.

Knuckles Mountain Range:

The Knuckles Mountain Range which spreads across the districts of Kandy and Matale, is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Red Dot can offer either a daily Knuckles trek or hill-country walking
holidays for the serious trekker who yearns for get-away-from-it-all camping or for the gentle walker
who likes a hot bath and a warm bar at the end of a contented and wearying day. Trek through dense
forests, along rivers and waterfalls, past tea plantation and terraced paddy fields, and along the way,
visit some of the small rural village communities.

Victoria Golf and Country Resort:

50 minutes east of Kandy, offers one of the most picturesque courses in Asia, ringed by Victoria reservoir and impressive peaks. A range of other sports and leisure activities are also available.

Kandy

Kandyan cuisine has a distinctive flavour, with unusual dishes such as ambul thiyal, a sour fish curry, being a favourite with many locals. The city’s bustling central markets are a great place to explore this local fare and see the vibrant spices that give the traditional dishes of this region their distinguishing taste. Kandy is also renowned for its sweet meats, small treats which are prepared mainly for festiveoccasions such as the new year in late April, and if you are travelling during a celebratory time these are not to be missed. Whatever time of year you are visiting, there is plenty of opportunity to explore Sri Lankan street food in Kandy: as you wander the city streets, you will pass many small shops selling Sri Lankan ‘short eats’, a popular snack across the island – favourites include pol roti, coconut flatbreads sandwiched with spicy onion sambol, and the deep fried egg rolls which have the addition of a spicy curry paste. As one of Sri Lanka’s main cities and a popular tourist destination, a wide selection of restaurants and cafés can be found in Kandy – check out our Kandy Restaurant Guide for our personal favourites.