Nestling midst low mills and looped by Sri Lanka's longest river, the Mahaweli, Kandy is still the home of the arts and crafts, music, dance and song which flourished during the reign of the king - their patron. This beautiful city, with its hills and valleys, rivers, lakes and cascading waterfalls around the hills, has its share of hallowed and living shrines, of the Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and the Muslims in the city and around. But to Buddhists, Kandy is an utmost sacred town.

Travellers sensitive to atmosphere discover Kandy's greatest charm in the aura of age and splendour, oriental — style, a crowded market place filled with fruits, flowers and foodstuff to buy, and a hive of activity everywhere.

Dalada Maligawa : Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha

The temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is the "Loadstar of the Buddhists", dating back to the 16th Century AD, built by King Narendrasinghe. The temple consists of a number of buildings, of which at the center, stands the main temple in which the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is preserved.
Right around the main temple are other accessory buildings, all rich in tradition. One of the most spectacular sections of the temple; the Paththirippuwa or the Octagon, was added by King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe (1798 -1815 AD). He also built the Kandy Lake. Rituals are enacted daily in the temple to venerate the Tooth Relic, accompanied by flute playing and drumming. A golden canopy was constructed recently over the Relic Chamber.

Public honour is paid to it when the Esala Perahera or the glamorous pageant of colourfully dressed dancers, elegantly decorated elephants and vibrant drummers stroll along the Copra lit Kandyan streets for 10 nights during the month of Esala in July/August each year, escorting the Sacred Tooth Relic in procession on elephant back. Its audience usually counts in thousands which comprises of locals and foreigners alike, observing this simply marvelous traditional event with little elephants dancing to the beat of the drums as they proceed

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Raja Maliga - Royal Palace
The Royal palace is now a museum run by the Department of Archeology. The adjacent buildings, presently occupied by the National Museum, are the District Courts and the High Courts, belonging to the Royal Palace. The impressive Audience hall with wooden pillars was the place where the king and his ministers met daily for administrative purposes. This is the historical place where the Sinhalese Chiefs and the British Governor signed the treaty known as the Kandyan Convention under which the Sinhalese bought to an end their 2500-year-old monarchy and handed over their country to The British monarchy to be governed strictly according to the laws and customs of the Sinhalese and protect Buddhism, the religion of the land. This hall was built in 1784, by the last king of Kandy, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe.

Degaldoruwa and Gangarama Temples
Degaldoruwa and Gangarama temples are approachable along the Thennekumbura road by the side of the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Both these viharas, built by King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe, are cave temples of the 18th Century and are famous for the Kandyan murals. The first temple has a standing Buddha image and the second has a redining image of Buddha in the main shrine. The Gangarama is the closest to the town. The frescoes depicting the Buddhist Jathaka Tales, represented as scenes from everyday life in contemporary Kandy, are some of the finest examples of Buddhist Temple Art in Sri Lanka.

Malwatta and Asgiriya Monasteries
The two most important Buddhist monasteries are on the two sides of the lake. The chief incumbents of these two temples are the senior ecclesiastics of the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka. The Malwatte monastery on the southern side across the lake is embellished with 10th Century architectural design and planning. The higher ordination of Sanghe, the monks take place annually In both these temples. The Asgiriya Temple is situated to the western side of the city at Asgiriya. In one of the shrine rooms of this temple is a gigantic statue of the Recumbent Buddha. In Asgirlya also found the cremation grounds of the Kandyan Royalty.

Embekke Temple
The Embekke Devale Is situated at the village of Embekke In Udunuwara In the district of Kandy. TMs devale is dedicated to KATARAGAMA DEVIO. Another focal Deity called DEVATA - BMOARA is also worshipped here. The main devate has three sections, the GARBHA or the Sanctum, the DIGGE or the Dancing hall and the HEVISI MAMDAPA or the Dinners' Hall. The roof as well as the pillars on which it stands are famous for splendid carvings.

Even the VAHALKADA or the gateway has carved pillars. Some of the best examples of wood carvings of the Sinhalese are found here. This devale is said to have been built by King Vidcrkemabahu Til (1357 - 1374 AD ) of Gampola.Lankathilaka Temple

This temple is situated at Handeressa near Kadugamawa in the district of Kandy. The temple is an Image house built on the rock surface, and the walls are mada of bricks. There are two buildings, of which the inner one is enclosed on at sides by the outer one. The Inner building is the house of Buddha Image (BUDUQE) white the outer one is the Devale or the shrine of Gods. This temple has the paintings of Kandyan period. It also has the Inscriptions belonging to the 14 century.

Gadaladeniya Temple
This site with an ancient monastery is found on the flat rock at DIGGALA In the district of Kandy. It is a unique temple, having not only the Buddhist shrines, but also Hindu shrines. The main shrine is the image house wherein a seated Buddha statue and four standing Buddha statues are placed. Next to that exists the shrine for Vishnu. By the side of the shrine is a STUPA built on the rock. A roof has been constructed over this Stupa, and the entire unit is known as the VIJAVOTHPAYA. In the image house the sedent Buddha has a mythologies

MAKARA for the bade wall ornamentation. The rock inscription of Venerable Dharmakirthi is also found within the temple premises. This inscription reveals that this temple was built in the year 1344.

The Drives and Walks off Kandy
Scenery unparalleled unfold in Vie Dumbana Valley; on the heights of Hanthana spread with tea plantation; in the vidnity of Hunnasgiriya Falls in the mountain plateau of Hangurankelha at Katugastota the andent ford upriver at Haloluwa where the road winds past predpitous heights. Tea, rubber and coconut crops merge in to the forested hillsides of Udawatte Kele, Apatch of jungle surrounded by the city, at Bahirawakanda untamed mountain abode of the Guradian Deity of the land.

At the Kandyan Arts Association and at the Government Handicraft Shop which is Laksala by the lakeside near Queens Hotel, you can see woric of skilled craftsmen displayed for sale. At the former, you can also watch the work of the weaver, the copper, brass and diver smith actually in progress. At KALAPURAYA, Nattarampotha, 07 kilometres from Kandy, beyond Kundasale is a settlement of craftsmen created with Government assistance. As in olden times they produce their work in their own homes in their own rhythms. Kandyan Dance recitals can be watched in the evenings at places such as the Kandyan Art Association and other leading hotels in Kandy. Kandy has two museums - The National Museum and the Archeological Museum. The former is housed in what were once the quarters of the Royal concubines, the latter is all that remains of the splendid royal palace of the Kandyan Kings. Both Museums contain many Interesting exMbits of the period. The Audience Hall is an unique example of wooden architecture of the Kandyan period. The memorable Kandyan Convention, ceding the territories of once - Impregnable kingdom to the British was signed in the audience half at 3.00 p.m. on the 02 of March, 1815, bringing to an end the 2500 year old rule - by kings in Sri Lanka. The Impressive wooden pillared hall dates from 1794.