Kandy Day Tour

Kandy Day Tour

Description

The City of Kandy lies in the center of Sri Lanka at an elevation of about 600 meters from sea level and 115 kilometers away from Colombo and has its own cultural abundance around it. Kandy was the last capital of Sri Lankan kings' which was eventually snatched away by the English. As a result of torturous access routes through the mountains, Kandy, however, managed to hold its power against numerous foreign invasions from Portuguese, Dutch, and English. But it was betrayed by the local chieftains by signing a treaty with Britain at the "Magul Maduwa".The last king of Sri Lanka, King Sri wickrama Rajasinghe was imprisoned by the British.

The third point of the cultural Triangle which also comprises Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, Kandy is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka with a rich heritage of music, dance, and architecture. Home of the sacred Tooth Relic, the city is on nearly every visitor's itinerary. It also serves as a gateway to the Hill Country, the mountainous core of the island, where the countryside is dotted with tea plantations and towns still preserve the remnants of the British Colonial legacy.

Set amid verdant hills in the heart of the island, Kandy was founded during the reign of Wickramabahu III of Gampola (r.1357-1374). The city became the capital. of Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu's (r.1473-1511) kingdom in the 15th century, and its reputation was further cemented when the Tooth Relic arrived in 1592. Over the years, successive kings built, renovated, and rebuilt sections of the city, as they staved off Colonial powers. The British, however, were determined to conquer the whole island, and finally, in 1815, succeeded in overthrowing this last bastion of independence, thanks to the unpopularity of the tyrannical Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. Kandy soon became an important center for trade,

with a railway line linking it to Colombo. Today, it is Sri Lanka's second city, renowned for the Temple of the Tooth and the spectacular Esala Perahera. Beyond the bustle of Kandy, the pace of life slackens and the temperate climate provides a welcome relief. The southern Hill Country presents a range of contrasts- from wild and rugged landscapes with gushing waterfalls to carefully manicured tea plantations carpeting the hillsides. The Colonial-era railway creaks along at dizzying heights, past former British hill stations, such as Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, which are now modern towns. The area's other attractions include the hill towns of Ella and Haputale, which offer scenic views and lovely winding walks.

Exploring Kandy and the Hill Country

Located in the heart of the island, Kandy is home to the famous Temple of the Tooth, which attracts visitors and pilgrims from across the world. The area surrounding the city offers a mix of historical and natural attractions, which include Kandyan-era temples, the picturesque Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Those keen to explore the countryside can head for the Knuckles Range, north of the city. The southern Hill Country provides tea enthusiasts with the chance to visit factories and learn about tea production. Many visitors stop over at Nuwara Eliya to stay in one of its Colonial-era hotels or bungalows; the town also makes a good base for excursions to the Horton Plains National Park. Southwest of the town is Adam's Peak-climbing this mountain during the pilgrimage season is a moving experience. Walkers may also want to venture south to Sinharaja Forest Reserve to trek through the rainforest. The town of Ratnapura, famous for gem mining, can be visited on the way to or from Colombo.



Day(s) : 1 Max People : 10 Get a Quote
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Spread over an area of 10 ha (25 acres) in Pinnawala village, this government-run elephant orphanage is one of Sri Lanka's most popular tourist attractions. Originally set up in 1975 to take care of five orphaned elephants, today it is home to the world's largest group of captive elephants. Pinnawala is now home to more than 80 elephants. In addition, there are some baby elephants that were born here in captivity. The younger elephants are herded into the feeding sheds three times a day - 9:15 am, 1:15 pm, and 5 pm - to be bottle-fed with huge quantities of milk. At 10 am and again at 2 pm, the elephants are taken across the road and down to the Ma Oya river, where they can be seen splashing around and playing for about an hour.

Perched on a hill overlooking the town, this modern, white, seated Buddha statue is hard to miss. At the base of the huge statue is a temple, from where there are superb views over Kandy. It is possible to walk to the site or take a three-wheeler up to the temple by following the road that leads to the Topaz Hotel.

Located in the Hantane Estate, the Ceylon Tea Museum occupies a former four-story tea factory dating from 1925. Exhibits on the ground floor include drying furnaces, grinders, and sorters used in the 19th century. The highlights here, however, are the miniature working model of a tea factory and an 80-year-old tea bush. The first floor contains displays on two of Sri Lanka's greatest tea pioneers: James Taylor and Thomas Lipton. There is a small collection of Taylor's personal articles, which includes his books and walking stick, as well as a display of the life of Lipton. The floor also houses other tea-related paraphernalia, including Sri Lanka's oldest surviving packet of tea in its original packaging, dating from 1944. The third floor has small shops selling tea, and on the top floor is a restaurant, where visitors can enjoy a free cup of the beverage while admiring glorious views of the Knuckles Range.

Among the many Kandyan-era temples that dot the area around Kandy, the Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka, and Embekke Devale temples are exceptional. These three temples date from the 14th century, when the Kandyan kingdom was in its early days. Situated atop a rock, the Gadaladeniya Temple complex was built during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu IV in 1344. The first building within the temple complex is the cruciform subsidiary shrine. Each wing of this shrine houses a Buddha image and is crowned by a small dagoba. The interior is adorned with attractive wall paintings. Guarding the steps leading to the main stone temple are two small elephant sculptures. The carvings of dancers and drummers on the temple's exterior walls mark the influence of south Indian architecture in its construction. Inside, a serene golden Buddha sits under a Makara Torana (ceremonial arch) decorated with murals. Located 2 km (1 mile) southwest of the Gadaladeniya Temple, the imposing, bright white Lankatilaka Temple is probably the most impressive of the three shrines. Visitors arriving by carenter from the western side of the complex, while those on foot reach the site by a steep flight of rock-cut steps on the eastern side. The west door leads to a series of Hindu shrines. However, the main attraction here is the Buddhist image house, the entrance to which lies on the eastern side. Flanking the doorway leading into the chamber are two guardian gajasinghas(elephant-lions). Inside, there is a seated Buddha statue under a Makara Torana surrounded by Kandyan-era paintings on the walls and ceiling. To the left of the building is a rock inscription detailing the construction of the temple, which was completed in 1344. Dedicated to the guardian deity Kataragama, the Embekke Devale lies 2 km (1 mile) southeast of the Lankatilaka Temple. The shrine is famous for the richly carved wooden pillars of its digge (drummers' pavilion). The intricate design on each of these pillars portrays flowers, dancers, soldiers, and wrestlers among other themes. Just behind the digge is the main shrine, and to its right is a subsidiary shrine with a Buddha statue as well as a wooden statue of a peacock, the bird associated with Kataragama.

This 10-day festival, celebrated in honor of the Tooth Relic, attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists to Kandy. The perahera took shape in the 18th century during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe, when Buddhist monks visiting from Thailand expressed their disapproval at the Hindu nature of the festival, with parades in reverence of Natha, Pattini, Vishnu, and Kataragama from the four devales in the city. The king, therefore, ordered that the Tooth Relic be carried at the head of the four processions, hence incorporating the Temple of the Tooth parade into that of the devales. Esala Perahera begins with the Kap Tree Planting Ceremony, followed by the Kumbal Perahera which marks the first five days of the festival. The last five days, known as Randoli Perahera, are when festivities become more spectacular. Every night there are processions, featuring dancers, drummers, and acrobats, as well as splendidly decorated elephants. The water-cutting ceremony, the concluding ritual of the festival, takes place before dawn on the last day of the perahera.

These grounds were originally laid out as pleasure gardens for the Kandyan royalty in 1371. However, after the British dethroned the last Kandyan king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1815, the royal park was turned into botanical gardens in 1821. A useful map at the entrance helps visitors explore some of the 60 ha (148 acres) of foreign and endemic plants and trees. The most notable among these are the giant bamboo, palmyra palms, and talipot palms. Near the entrance is the Orchid House, which displays more than 300 varieties. Close by, the spice garden teems with a wealth of plants such as clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg. A short walk to the north lies the fernery. Lined with exotic varieties of trees, the attractive avenues provide a pleasant stroll. West of the entrance is Cook's Pine Avenue, which is bordered by twisted Cook's pines. Running down the center, Royal Palms Avenue is one of the most impressive. Another notable avenue is the Double Coconut Avenue near the entrance, which is fringed by stumpy coco de mer trees. West of the Royal Palm Avenue lies the Great Lawn, with a gargantuan Javan fig tree in the middle. The cool shade of the tree's sprawling branches attracts picnickers and casual visitors. Just north is the Grand Circle where memorial trees planted by various international figures can be seen.

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