| 4 mins read
Nestled in the center of Sri Lanka’s heartland, and elevated amongst lush hills, valleys and water bodies, is the second largest city of the country: Kandy. Once known as the Kingdom of Kandy, this monarchy reigned from the 15th to 19th centuries until its collapse to British colonialism. Thanks to its remote location, however, Kandy retained many of the ancient religious and cultural traditions due to which, visitors today can still sense a more traditional Sri Lankan (or Kandyan) experience when traveling through the city. Hence known as the Cultural Capital of Sri Lanka, a visit to “Maha Nuwara” or the great city promises great insights into Indian and Sinhalese architecture.
Kandy’s Religious Attractions
Amongst Kandy’s most important cultural attractions are its religious sites. Sri Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Tooth) is one of the most important Buddhist temples not only in Sri Lanka, but in the entire world. An integral part of the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, this ancient temple situated on the eastern end of the city along the beautiful Kandy Lake houses the sacred relic of the Buddha’s left canine tooth. A visit to the temple, worship hall and Dalada Museum are must-dos, and what’s more, plan your vacation between July & August to partake in the colourful processions of the Esala Perahera Festival. Dedicated to the Buddha’s tooth relic, this ten-day celebration is an incredible cultural event filled with marching, costumed elephants, traditional dances, music, fireworks and much more.
Other important religious sites within Kandy are the Embekke and Gadaladeniya Temples, and Lankatilaka Temple - famous for its traditional Sinhalese architecture. While visiting these spiritual sites, a Kandy tour guide is highly recommended to explain the history and mythology surrounding them, thus making the tour all the more riveting.
Kandyan Dancing and Drumming
What started as an ancient method of exorcism has since turned into one of Kandy’s most recognizable cultural performances. Symbolizing spiritual acts such as purification and worship, performers dress in costumes/extravagant accessories and dance interpretively to the beat of intricate drum patterns. Percussion is the only form of music accompanying the performance (though sometimes lyrics are sung), with special drums and cymbals used to keep the dancers in time. While Kandyan dance and drumming fell out of popularity during British colonial rule, it has experienced a great resurgence in the last 40 years. Now celebrated as one of Kandy’s modern cultural icons, visitors can usually find these traditional performances around the Lake area at night.
Kandy’s Royal Roots
A walk through Kandy’s culture is incomplete without visiting the Royal Palace. The final royal residence to be built in Sri Lanka, this palace complex dates back to the 14th century, last inhabited by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha before he was overthrown by the British in 1815. The complex houses the Royal Palace, Temple of the Tooth, old courts building and the National Museum of Kandy. While the palace and the temple are the main attractions, the museum is another great cultural visit, with artifacts and exhibits ranging from the Kandyan Kingdom era to post-colonial Kandy.
Where to Go Outside the City
Only a short drive outside the city’s limits are two more extremely interesting cultural visits. The Dambulla Cave Temple is Sri Lanka’s best-preserved complex of cave temples, dating back to the 1st century BC. Five of the 80+ caves are filled with religious paintings, statues, carvings and stupas, making this an extremely important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism. Also nearby the caves is the ancient palace of Sigiriya dating back to the 5th century. Built atop a massive rock, with an ancient citadel, upper palace, mid terrace region, lush gardens and the famous “mirror wall”, this ancient palace/fortress is one of the top things to see in Kandy.
