J.F.Tours and Travels:Sri lanka places to visit

Kandy

Kandy was the last stronghold of the Sinhala kings before it fell to the British
in 1815. The Buddhist Chapter headquarters of Malwatte and Asgiriya were
venerated from a distance by lay persons and monks alike for centuries, as
Kandy was considered the last bastion of independent Buddhist thought.

Kandy is the most visited city in the island. The city is best explored
on foot, the higher altitude making the climate conductive to long and
leisurely strolls. The charming buildings, quaint streets, and bustling
crowds add to the charm of the hill capital. The Municipal Market, with
its colorful displays of fruit, vegetables and textiles, and the many
glassy lakes, will enhance the pleasure of your walk. The tired traveler
can repair to the old-fashioned Queen's Hotel in the center of town, to
enjoy the well-maintained ozone filtered swimming pool and the excellent
club sandwiches, or to the old tea planter's haunt which has a colonial
bar overlooking the street.

Some of the main attractions of the city are:

Royal Palace Complex
The buildings of the Royal Palace Complex , consisting of the King's
Palace, the Queen's Palace, the Audience Hall, the Royal Bathhouse
and Royal Summer House, represent the final flowering of Sinhalese
architecture and craftsmanship.

The airy rooms of the Queen's Palace, complete with cloisters and a
central courtyard, have been converted into the National Museum
(open 9am-5pm except Fridays), where royal regalia and pre-colonial
artifacts are displayed in the rooms where once the courtly concubines
lounged. There are also sad mementoes of the capitulation to the British
in 1815, which was officially agreed by the Kandyan chiefs who met in
the Audience Hall. Carved teak columns support the roof and cooling air
circulates in its shade. The Archaeological Museum, which is housed in
the surviving portion of the King's Palace, and the four Hindu Devales
(shrines), which are perhaps as old as the city itself, are well worth
exploring. While Sinhalese Buddhists were in the majority in Kandy, the
ancient rulers of the kingdom gave equal prominence to every racial
and religious group in existence in the country. Robert Knox noted
"Not only was there complete freedom of worship, but Kandyan Kings
granted lands to Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. The
Christian religion, he [the King] does not in the least persecute, indeed
he honors and esteems it".

The devala devoted to Lord Vishnu is revered by Buddhists for the role
played by that god in the preservation of Buddhism. The devala dedicated
to Goddess Pattini, a popular deity who favors chastity and good health,
is worshipped by people of all faiths. God Natha, the preserver of faith and
love, is the third deity revered in Sri Lanka. The god of Kataragama,
Skanda, is the fourth deity, adored for his perspicacity and patronage
of the unfortunate.

The Royal Bathhouse , on the edge of the lake, is a beautiful pavilion with
a traditional Kandyan roof supported by white columns.

The Temple of Tooth
Built by King Wimaladharmasooriya in the 16th century, the Temple of the
Tooth (or Dalada Maligawa) contains the most sacred relic of Buddhism
and the most precious symbol of Sinhalese pride. Guarded and venerated
by the ancient kings, this sacred tooth was once feared to have been burnt
by the Portuguese, only for these claims to be falsified soon afterwards. The
best time to visit the temple is for the evening pujawa (ceremony). The
traditional drum beats create an ambience of anticipation and mystery,
which is rather fitting considering that the tooth itself is never seen.

Kandy Lake
This lake was built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Kandy.
It has certainly enriched the beauty of the city and refreshes the mood of
the visitor who walks by it.

      Kandy

     Shopping Centre
      Kandy is an ideal place for shopping, especially for
      traditional handicrafts. The Arts and Crafts Centre
     offers a wide selection of handicrafts including batik
     works. Even the gems and jewellery shops maintain
     traditional practices and customs.

     The Royal Botanical Garden
     The royal botanical garden (located in Peradeniya),
     which hosts more than 5000 varieties of plants and
     flowers, is considered one of the finest in Asia.

     Cultural Dance Centers
     There are several centers where cultural dance
     shows with traditional dancers and Kandyan drums
     are performed for the benefit of foreign tourists.

      Elephant Village
      Kandy has several places where you can see and
      ride elephants, such as “The Riverside Elephants”,
      located near the Mahaweli river.

      The University complex of Peradeniya and the Hakgala
      mountain are also worth a visit.
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