📖 About Kandy

Kandy is Sri Lanka's cultural capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled in the central highlands at 500 meters elevation. With approximately 125,000 residents, this sacred city surrounds a picturesque lake and serves as the home of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic—Buddhism's most venerated site in Sri Lanka. For over two centuries, Kandy was the capital of the last independent Sinhalese kingdom, resisting Portuguese and Dutch colonization until finally falling to the British in 1815.

The city's setting is beautiful—green hills rise around the lake, colonial and traditional architecture lines the streets, and the climate remains pleasant year-round. The famous Esala Perahera festival brings elephants, drummers, and dancers through the streets each August in one of Asia's most spectacular processions honoring the Sacred Tooth.

Kandy offers visitors temple visits, botanical gardens, traditional arts, and hill country scenery. The city serves as gateway to tea plantations, ancient capitals, and Sri Lanka's mountainous interior. For those seeking Sri Lanka's spiritual heart and cultural essence, Kandy delivers an unforgettable experience.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Kandy's economy relies on tourism, tea industry services, education, and commerce. The city serves as the commercial hub for Sri Lanka's hill country tea plantations. The University of Peradeniya is the nation's largest. Tourism—both religious pilgrims and cultural visitors—provides significant employment. Traditional crafts including brass work, wood carving, and batik continue.

Kandyan culture represents the Sinhalese Buddhist heartland. The distinctive Kandyan dress, dance, music, and architecture define Sri Lankan tradition. Buddhism permeates daily life; temples throughout the city host regular worship. The Sinhala New Year in April brings celebrations. The famous Esala Perahera in August honors the Sacred Tooth with ten nights of processions featuring decorated elephants, dancers, and drummers—one of Asia's most spectacular festivals.

📜 History

Kandy became capital of the Sinhalese kingdom in the late 16th century when Portuguese coastal pressure pushed the kingdom inland. The city's strategic mountain location helped resist European colonization for three centuries. The Sacred Tooth Relic arrived in 1592, cementing Kandy's religious significance. The Kandyan kingdom developed distinctive arts, architecture, and traditions.

British forces finally captured Kandy in 1815 through treachery, ending Sri Lankan independence. The 1818 Uva Rebellion resisted colonial rule. British development brought railways and tea plantations to the hills. Post-independence Kandy remained Sri Lanka's cultural capital. UNESCO designated the Sacred City as a World Heritage Site in 1988. Today's Kandy balances heritage preservation with modern development, maintaining its role as Buddhism's most important Sri Lankan center.