Kandy Sacred city | BOL

day tours in kandy, kandy day tours, day tours departing from kandy, day tours from kandy, kandy day tours sri lanka, sri lanka day tours kandy

Kandy is a city located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in the province and is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Senasammata Vikramabahu ruled the Kingdom of Kandy as a semi-independent kingdom under the Kingdom of Kotte, Vikramabahu founded the city of Kandy making it the new capital of the Kandyan Kingdom. After 1476 the kingdom became a separate entity seceding from Kotte. The Kandyan Kingdom lasted from 1597 to 1815 (437 BC — 463 AD). The last King who ruled the Kandyan Kingdom was Sri Wickrama Rajasingha till it was taken under the British Empire in 1815.
One of the most popular attractions in Kandy is the Temple of the Tooth, which is believed to house a tooth relic of the Buddha. The temple is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists and is known for its beautiful architecture and stunning scenery.

Other notable attractions in Kandy include the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, and the Kandy Lake, which is a popular spot for boating and picnics. The city also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including the famous Kandy Esala Perahera, which is a grand procession featuring dancers, drummers, and decorated elephants.

Overall, Kandy is a beautiful and culturally rich city that offers a unique experience for travelers who are interested in history, religion, and nature.”

Temple Of the Tooth Relic

Considered as one of the most important temples of Buddhists in Sri Lanka, the Temple of Tooth Relic is located to the north of Kandy Lake and is one of the most remarkable places to visit in Kandy Sri Lanka. It was built by Vira Narendra Sinha. The octagonal Paththirippuwa and moat were added during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The royal architect Devendra Moolacharya is credited with building the Paththirippuwa. The sacred tooth of Lord Buddha enshrined in the temple makes it one of the popular Kandy tourist places. The room housing the tooth is open to devotees to offer their prayers. However, nobody gets to see the tooth because it is kept in a golden casket inside a stupa-like structure. The temple is housed in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy.

Kandy Lake

Adjoining most of the popular tourist places in Kandy and eateries with lake view, the Kandy Lake is certainly among the best places to visit in Kandy, Sri Lanka. An ideal place to spend hours during your lazy vacation, the lake offers stunning nature views around it and is a perfect romantic sojourn for a romantic couple visiting the place. The lake, existing since 1807, has a flurry of idyllic places and historical structures around.The lake is also known as the Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk and is an artificial lake. Being in the heart of the city and beside some of the famous attractions of Kandy, it is a popular tourist site.

Bahirawakanda Temple

Just 1 km away from the Kandy city, the Bahirawakanda Temple is a major attraction and a distinct structure. The place is a popular attraction for Buddhists and there are quite a few international Buddhist relations meetings that are carried out here. This makes it one of the popular things to see in Kandy. The magnificent structure is huge and can be spotted from anywhere in the city. The place is also an important monastery where many Buddhist events do take place. The statue was started in 1972 and ended in 1993. People may actually see the Buddha statue from all around the city but it is a sight to visit it to see the beauty in an up-close-and-personal way.

Udawattekele Sanctuary

Located at the hilly terrains of the temple of the tooth relic, this sanctuary served as the retreat for the Kandyan kings in the older times. Later, converted into a sanctuary, it is an important bio reserve of Kandy. The sanctuary is spread over 104 hectares and is primarily known for the different species of birds residing in it. Offering as many as 80 species of birds and animals like mammals and insects, it is one of the visiting places in Kandy. Along with the wildlife, you can also visit the three Buddhist forest monasteries present at this place.

Kandy Viewpoint

Kandy is the heart of Sri Lanka and watching the gorgeous hill station from a height is not something everyone gets to witness, so don’t miss out on exploring the most beautiful places to visit in Kandy on your vacay. The viewpoint is located at a distance of 1.7 km from the city centre and the route to the viewpoint is equally mesmerizing.

Royal Botanical Garden

This place is counted as one of the best attractions in Kandy. Spanning over 60 hectares, the Royal Botanical Garden is largest and one of the best places to visit in Kandy with a-hidden charm to explore. This was created in 1821 and was mostly contained with coffee and cinnamon plants.Situated in Peradeniya, the place is quite close to the Mahaweli River. Along with the most striking orchids, you can find more than 4000 species of plants in this Botanical Garden. There is the historical Cannonball Tree present in this garden which King George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary planted in 1901.

CommonWealth War Cemetery

This is one of those tourist places in Kandy that should definitely be a part of your itinerary.There are 203 war graves in the cemetery.
This cemetery is maintained by the officers. By maintaining the place they pay tribute to the brave heart soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War. Between 1817 and 1873 this was the town’s main burial ground for British nationals. Kandy commonwealth war cemetery is notable amongst all because of the praiseworthy scenic beauty.

Wales Park

The Royal Palace Park, also known as Wales Park, Wace Park or Rajawasala Park, is a small park on top a small hill in the heart of the city of Kandy, that overlooks the Kandy Lake and most of the city. This was created in year 1800 The Wales Park is known for its majestic beauty and the splendid view of the Kandy Lake makes this place very special. For tourists this place is an attraction because of the Beauty and the enjoyment people can indulge in under the lap of Nature. This park is rightly considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Kandy.

Millennium Elephant Foundation

The place is located in Randeniya. This is the only place where tourists can actually ride on the elephant’s back and travel around the place, they are allowed to interact with them. The educational tour conducted by the organization is rendered helpful and amusing for the tourists as they can witness right in front of them the activities of the animal.This Foundation is established in the estate named Samragyi inherited by the Samarasinghe family and was found in 1999.

Galmaduwa Temple

This is the only Hindu temple-style Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. As we explore the history of this temple we see that this temple was built on request. Galmaduwa Gedige Rajamaha Viharaya in this historic Kundasale was built at the request of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, This temple consists of special temples It is believed that the Gedige Vihara was built in accordance with the Pallava tradition under the guidance of South Indian craftsmen. It is said that this temple was built according to the Pallava tradition of South India as the king was a Nayakkara by birth and his queen was a Hindu woman.

Ceylon Tea Museum

The museum located in Hantane.In the 1925 vintage tea museum built on four floors where the first two floors consist of vintage tea making equipment, machinery, libraries, museum. To taste the authentic Sri Lankan flavored tea. Visitors can savor a free cup of the tee to relish the flavor. This is one of the most amazing places to see in Kandy.

Ranawana Purana Rajamaha Vihara

Ranawana Purana Rajamaha temple’s history dates back to the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu IV during the Gampola period. History states that this place was originally started by a man named Ranawana Mohottala, according to the gold inscription given to his son Ranawana Vederala in the year 1602.The specialty about this temple is that is has the tallest walking Buddha statue in Sri Lanka sitting in this Ranawana Vihara. This is also considered to be the tallest walking Buddha statue in the world. This Buddha is 80 feet high. The total height is 100 feet with lotus flower and base. The scene of the Asumaha Arahants walking behind the Sakman Buddha statue is wonderfully displayed here.

Giragama Tea Plantation

Giragama is one of the premium tea plantations near Kandy. The British started this tea factory and tea plantation in the colonial era. In the beginning of British rule tea plantation was introduced to the Island in hoping of creating lucrative export industry. Giragaram tea plantation offers the much needed peace and tranquility along with picturesque views that will leave your soul stirred. There are estates wherein you can walk and soak the views.

Lankatilaka Temple

Lankatilaka is Buddhist temple of the 14th century in the Hiyarapitiya village, from the Udu Nuwara area of Kandy district in Sri Lanka. This historical temple was built by King Buwanekabahu the fourth in 1344 AD. Gampola was a stronghold on the banks of Mahaveli River. Lankatalika temple which is very famous amongst the locals as well as tourists. Dedicated to Lord Buddha, the temple is the epitome of rich history and culture of the beautiful city. The architecture is something you can marvel at and it is divided amongst three sections.

Gadaladeniya Temple

Built in 1344 by King Buwanekabahu IV, the Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya stands on the border of Udunuwara and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district. Located very close to the town of Pilimathalawa. Saddharmakirthi was the name of the founding monk. According to the history the chief architect of the temple was a South Indian and temple’s design has the South Indian influence in it. It is also reported that the Viharaya fell into neglect over a period of time until King Viraparakrama Narendrasinha (1707–1739) handed its care over to Velivita Saranankara Thero and it was maintained thereafter by his students and generations of students.

Embekka Devalaya ( Temple)

The Embekka Devalaya (Embekke or Embekka) Temple is situated in an area known as Udunuwara in the Kandy district. It was built during the Gampola Era (AD1357–1374) by King Vikramabahu lll, as a place of worship dedicated to Mahasen, also known as “Katharagama Deviyo”. It is also where local deity Devatha Bandara is worshipped by devotees. It is said that Embekke devalaya ( Temple) is one of the best places to see finest woodcarving in Sri Lanka. The main Temple or Maha Devalaya itself has two sections, the “Wedasitina Maligaya” (in which the Deity resides), and another which has the “Digge” (Dancing Hall) and the “Hevisi Mandapaya” (Drummers Hall). The Wedasitina Maligaya is where the wooden image of the Deity has been placed.