The most sacred place of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka and perhaps the world's most sacred Buddhist shrine venerated by millions of the Buddhists all over the world, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa is a monumental palace built in the heart of the city of Kandy to house the sacred relic of the tooth of Gautama Buddha, brought from Kalinga (Orissa) in India during the reign of Sri Meghavanna (310-28).
2) Visit Kandy National Museum
Lying in between the palatial complex and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the Magul Maduwa (audience hall) which is an open-air tall carved wooden pillared pavilion built in 1784 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha. The Magul Maduwa which served as an audience hall as well as the place where the Royal Court was convened is a place where a number of historic events took place. It was at the Magul Maduwa that the patriots such as the Madugalle Disava and the Keppettipola Disava who fought against the English for independence were sentenced to death by them. Also it was at this hall that the Kandyan Convention of 1815 was signed between the British and Kandyan Radalas on 5th March 1815 ceding the Kingdom of Kandy- the last kingdom in Sri Lanka - to the British.
3) See Awesome Kandy Lake
The lake surrounded by an ornate wall of 2060 ft in length lies in a parameter of 2.1 miles and the depth of which is about 60 ft. The islet in the centre of the lake was used by the King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha as his private harem and the Royal Bathhouse was used by the king's wives and concubines as a bathhouse.
4) Go to Pothugal Vihara
Pothgul Vihara that has been in existence for about seven decades is a Buddhist temple located in close proximity to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, perching on the foothills of the famous Udawattekelle Sanctuary, overlooking the breathtaking views of the splendid city of Kandy. The word 'Pothgula' means 'Library' in English. During the British colonial rule, the ancient library known as 'Keerthi Sri Rajasinha Pothgula' located at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic was ruined.
5) Visit Udawattekelle Sanctuary
Located north of the Kandy Lake, 119 hectares in extent, Udawattekelle is a protected forest reserve designated in 1856. The forest reserve which is rich in a variety of plant species and avifauna was declared a sanctuary in 1938. This tall wet evergreen forest is a very popular site especially among local and foreign birders. The lake within the sanctuary attracts many species of birds that feed on fish.
6) Go to British Garrison Cemetery
The cemetery which is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission lies in a serene tranquil location several metres east of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Opened in 1822, the British Garrison Cemetery consisting 195 graves is the resting place of British nationals who died while in then colonized Ceylon. The cemetery was closed in 1870s due to lack of space.
7) Shopping at Kandy City Centre Commercial Shopping Complex (KCC)
Located at Dalala Veediya (a street) in the city centre, this is the largest and the most modern shopping complex in the city of Kandy. The shopping complex has been designed with ultra modern features yet preserving the iconic Kandyan architecture. The shopping complex consists of scores of shops including several leading banks, a fully equipped supermarket, a variety of restaurants, an entertainment zone, a well-designed state-of the-art food court and so on.
8) Watch a Cricket match in Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium
Asgiriya stadium, the inception of which dates back to 1910, is Sri Lanka's only stadium owned by a school, Trinity College Kandy. The stadium was built under the pioneering work of Rev Alec Garden Fraser who held the office of the principal of Trinity College for 20 years (1904-1924). In 1981, the stadium was upgraded to an international cricket stadium. Since then a number of international cricket matches have been played, the first being Sri Lanka Vs Australia. Sri Lanka's first Test win at this stadium came in 1998 against Zimbabwe, 15 years after the ground hosted its first Test. The stadium, located in a picturesque setting can be reached within ten minutes from the city centre.
9) Go to Stunning Hantane Mountain Range
Hantane Mountain Range consisting seven peaks the highest being 3800 ft from sea level, lies southwest of the city of Kandy. Popular among mountaineers, Hantane was declared an environmental protection area in 2010 under the National Environment Act. If you are into mountain hiking and visiting Kandy, mist-clad Hantane is ideal for you. Atop the peaks, you can see stunning scenic views of the splendorous hill capital and its suburban areas. Going with an experienced guide is advisable especially during the rainy season.
10) Relax the day at Royal Botanic Gardens- Peradeniya
Lying beside Colombo-Kandy Road six kilometers west of the historic city of Kandy, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya occupies a horse-shoe-shaped peninsula and the scenic splendour of the garden has been raised to greater heights by the longest river of Sri Lanka, 'Mahaweli' which flows through its fringes. This is the largest botanic gardens in Sri Lanka, spreading over an area of 147 acres (about 60 hectares) containing about 4,500 plant species.
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