Kandy is the second-largest city in Sri Lanka. This is a city in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Kandy or Senkadagala is the last kingdom of Sri Lanka and is a World Heritage City. Situated in the middle of a mountain range in the central highlands, Kandy is 1629 feet above sea level and is surrounded by the Mahaweli River, the longest river in Sri Lanka. The pattern of the terrain in which the city of Kandy is located is very conducive to the security of the city. For this reason, many say the city is a marvel of nature.
In the past, Sri Lanka had to face many foreign invasions. It was very difficult for the invader to enter Kandy. The reason for this is that to enter the city, one has to cross gorges, forest forts, and water forts. Due to this, it was very difficult to conquer the kingdom of Kandy. Kandy is known as a unique city that is naturally protected.
Important
places in Kandy city
The Kandy has many historical and tourist attractions. Below is a brief introduction to some of them.
Temple
of the Tooth
The Temple of the Tooth is the most sacred place in Kandy. Today, the left tooth relics of Gautama Buddha are housed here. The Temple of the Tooth was first built by King Wimaladharmasuriya I. The Temple of the Tooth built by him was destroyed by the Portuguese invaders. The present Temple of the Tooth was built by King Sri Weera Parakrama Narendrasinghe. Later Nayakkar dynasty Tamil kings even improved and protected the Temple of the Tooth. The monks of both Malwathu and Asgiriya pay homage to the Tooth Relic.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden
This is located in Peradeniya, a suburb of Kandy. Around 4000 different types of plants can be seen in the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens. This is a path made up of very scenic palm trees and a large collection of orchids. There are also a large number of medicinal plants as well as spices and the park is spread over 60 hectares. When visiting the park you can get a guide if you want and get all the information about the park from him. A visit to the park usually takes two to three hours.
Kandy Lake
Built-in the year 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, it is located close to the Temple of the Tooth. At present, the size of the lake has decreased due to various reasons and it is known as a reserve lake where fishing is prohibited. It is also known as Bogambara Wewa or the Sea of Milk.
Kandy Forest Park in UdawatteKele
The Kandy Forest Park in Udawattekele , located behind the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, was designated a reserve in 1856 and declared a sanctuary in 1938. Udawattekele Forest Reserve is rich in biodiversity and is home to about 405 species of plants. About 100 species of plants are endemic to Sri Lanka. It is said that there was a tunnel from the Bogambara tank in the past up to now.
Bahirava Kanda
This beautiful
hill is located at a height of about 650 feet above the city of Kandy. The 88 feet high Samadhi Buddha statue is
located on the top of the hill facing the Temple of the Tooth. Bahirava Kanda is one of the must-visit
places in Kandy.
National Museum Kandy
The Kandy National Museum operates as a branch of the Colombo National Museum and is housed in the Kandy Palace Complex adjacent to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. About 5,000 artifacts can be seen here and it was opened to the public as a museum in 1942. Weapons, jewelry, furniture, and items from the British rule period can be seen here in large numbers. There is also a copy of the Kandyan Pact signed in 1815.
We look forward to seeing you again in an
article detailing the important historical sites of Sri Lanka.
0 Comments