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Kandy - The Hill Capital of Sri Lanka nestling among the misty hills in the central region of this paradise island is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was here once the Sinhala kings ruled majestically. Next to Colombo, it is also the most visited city in Sri Lanka . As the shrine holding the sacred tooth relic of the lord Buddha is placed in the heart of the city, it's also the most venerated city in Sri Lanka. Because of the history, pageantry and veneration associated with this exquisite city, Kandy is classed as a World Heritage City by UNESCO.
Kandy is a reflection of the variety, harmony and diversity of the people and cultures that make Sri Lanka a great nation. It was once the capital of the Kandyan kingdom, the last bastion of resistance to the colonial domination of the nation. This royal city fell to the British in 1815 sealing the fate of Sri Lanka's long cherished independence.
This last seat of the Sinhalese kings, who ceded power to the Britishin in 1815 after many a battle with the western colonial forces, still retains much of the old charm and tradition of the truly Sri Lankan life style.
Among the most picturesque cities in the island, the importance of Kandy is mainly due to it being the home of the Dalada Maligawa or Temple of the Tooth - which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Here visitors can observe the ancient traditions of drumming and sacred chanting in honour of the Tooth Relic, being performed several times each day.
Centre of attraction in Kandy is the Dalada Maligawa, the temple housing the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Kandy Lake enhances the charm of the City.
Kandy is a romantic city any time of the year, but in August, this ancient capital becomes the venue of one of the most legendary festivals in Asia, the Festival of the August Moon when thousands of people from all parts of the country and from foreign countries throng to the Hill Capital to witness the magnificent spectacle.
Situated in 116 km from Colombo, Located in the foothills of the central highlands around the banks of a picturesque lake, steeped in history, and possessing a salubrious climate, Kandy is Sri Lanka's renowned second city. In many ways, however, Kandy is more important than the true capital, for although Colombo may be the hub of commerce and communication, it is Kandy that has always been the centre of Sri Lanka's rich culture and the symbol of the nation's complex identity.

King was changed to act as a mad person from then onwards. A large number of people including Buddhist monks who were guilty and innocent were condemned to death as traitors. Then the brutal death punishment carried out on the wife and children of Ehelepola shocked the entire nation. It is said that for two days the whole of Kandy except the Kandyan court was like a house of mourning and no fire was kindled, no food was dressed and a general fast was held due to that incident. Both the people and their chiefs awaited the arrival of British to drive away the cruel king. British declared the war against the king of Senkadagalapura on the 10th of January in 1815 with the advice and help of Ehelepola and Molligoda maha adikaram too joined the British.although the king fled to Dumbara with his consorts and few attendants soon he was captured and on the 18th of February in 1815 and sent to Colombo and from there in 1816 to vellore in South India.Then on 2nd of March in 1815 the representatives of the two parties The British and the Sinhalease met in the audience hall of Kandy and to sign a pact as the British are the rulers of the whole country.
Although the Kandyan chiefs and peasants and monks joined British to get rid of the cruel king Sri Vikrama Rajasingha, They never expected the British to rule the country. They only asked British to help to drive away the king. Kandyan expected that Ehelepola would become their king. People again lost their hopes and they had no king to rule or protect them and their religion. Then the people got together under the leadership of Kandyan chief like ? Madugalle? and ?Keppitipola?. In the men time British took ?Ehelepola?, ?Millawa? and few other in to custody, as they were to join the new rebellion. British could over come the situation with the capture of Keppetipola and Madugalle and condemned them to death. From then British continued to rule the whole country until 1948 and Sri Lanka was offered the freedom on 4th of February in 1948.





Dalada Malgawa

The Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Malgawa dates from the 16 th century, though most of the present buildings were built in the 19 th century. Entering the shrine over a moonstone step, you pass a stone depicting the Indian goddess Lakshmi and a wall with frescoes illustrating the Buddhist conception of hell. The upper stories house the relic of the tooth, caged behind the gilded iron bars. Behind the tooth relic sanctuary is a hall with a number of golden Buddha statues and modern paintings, showing Buddha's life and the arrival of Buddhism in the land. We end our tour just before the evening drumming begins, which precedes the ceremonious opening of the window for the public viewing of the casket with the tooth.

Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world. Built in the 16th century this temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga province in ancient India in the 4th century AD. Several buildings have been added to the temple complex by successive rulers, the latest being the Golden Canopy over the inner shrine where the Tooth Relic is placed. Originally the Temple was within the King's palace complex as it was the symbol of Royal Authority.

Kandy Asala Perahara

Kandy is also the venue of the Esala Perahera, easily the most colourful pageant of Asia, held in July/August each year, in honour of the tooth Relic. As the pagentry of the Esala Perahera unfolds through ten nights each year, the city takes on the air of a torch-lit dreamland, complete with a hundred or more colourfully caparisoned elephants, drummers, dancers, and chieftains in the rare colourful trappings of the old kingdom.
The city is a monastic centre of Buddhism with the two biggest monasteries - the Malwatte and Asgiriya temples located here. Around the city are several other Buddhist temples with special attractions for the visitor looking for the cultural traditions of Sri Lanka. The rock temple at Degaldoruwa, has beautiful Buddhist frescoes of the 17th century, while the Lankatilleke and Gadaladeniya temples are unique examples of the Buddhist construction in brick and stone during the same period. The shrine to a Hindu deity at Embekke is the best extant example of the wood carvings of the Kandyan period. Another temple well known for its frescoes is the one at Ranawana.The numerous smaller temples that dot the Kandyan landscape are places of unusual calm and peace, where one could still discover the close link between the temple and the village, which was the mainstay of Sinhalese social organization.
Kandy Esala Perahera - Origins of a historic pageant steeped in ritual (Before 1775, the Esala perahera in Kandy was exclusively held to entreat and implore the four guardian deities of the island, viz: Natha, Vishnu,
Buddha Statue - Kandy Kataragama and Pattini. This is confirmed by Robert Knox, who was a captive in the Kandyan provinces for twenty years (1659-1679).
The Kandyan areas are where the crafts of the Sinhalese have been kept alive. From the art of mat weaving at Dumbara, to the silver craftsmen of Nattaranpotha, and wood carvers of Embekke, the Kandyan craftsmen produce the exquisite material which makes up the most sought after souvenirs of Sri Lanka.