Kandy wears a number of different hats; it is Sri Lanka's second city and the former capital, it is the principal city of the central Hill Country region and it is the most southerly point of the ‘Cultural Triangle', being the home of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, the Island's most important Buddhist relic.
At 500 metres above sea level, Kandy has a cooler climate and a different ambiance to what you experience in Colombo. Surrounded by rolling green hills and sprawled out around a huge lake, Kiri Muhuda, the city is one of the most picturesque in all of Asia and a pleasant day can be spent wondering around the delightful jumble of old shops and the bustling central market. Kandy is one of the best places to buy good quality Sri Lankan gem stones so, if jewellery is on your shopping list, it is well worth visiting a gemstone specialist while you are in town.
The surrounding countryside is lush and green and there are many pleasant walks and bicycle rides to be experienced from the city and further afield. There are also a number of interesting accommodation options in the countryside outside Kandy for those who don't want to stay in the city itself. Kandy is particularly well-known for the 10 day Esala Perahera, the most famous and spectacular of Sri Lanka's annual festivals and one of the most colourful religious pageants in Asia. During the festival, a replica of the Buddha's tooth relic is carried through the city followed by a procession of jewel-encrusted elephants. Esala Perahera takes place in July or August each year but hotels do get booked up very quickly so it is best to contact us early if you wish to see the festival.