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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.
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 andride
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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