Regions · Regions
Kandy, the hill capital, the back story
The back story
About Kandy, the hill capital, the back story
Kandy was the capital of the last Sri Lankan kingdom, which held out against the Portuguese and Dutch until 1815. The Sacred City of Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Temple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, houses Sri Lanka’s most revered Buddhist relic. Daily rituals (puja) take place in the morning and evening with drums. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes.
The Esala Perahera
Each year in July or August, the Esala Perahera fills the streets with dancers, drummers and decorated elephants over several nights. Dates follow the lunar calendar and are announced by the temple.
Every evening the drums of the Temple of the Tooth roll across Kandy Lake.
Around Kandy
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, just outside town, are famous for their orchids and avenues of palms.
Our advice: visit the temple at an evening puja, walk round the lake afterwards, and book hotels far ahead for the Perahera.
Why it's on our list
- The last kingdom
- The Temple of the Tooth
- The Esala Perahera
- The lake
- Peradeniya
- Getting there
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Kandy, the hill capital, the back story before you go.