Royal Botanical Gardens - Kandy

Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya is  near the Mahaweli River. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres. at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall.

The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli river. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy.

Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya - Kandy

Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya is picturesquely situated on a rock close to the University Campus at Peradeniya along the Galaha Road. Hindagala temple is very important place in Sri Lankan history since the Hindagala temple is related to many of ancient legends and amazing wall paintings. The architecture of the Hindagala Temple is also wonderful. The vihara geya is totally built under a natural large rock. You can see many of ancient architectural technologies such as "Kataram" and wooden joints.

Commonwealth War Cemetery - Kandy

The Kandy War Cemetery is a British military cemetery in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for most of soldiers of the British Empire who were died during World War II as well as a soldier died during World War I.  

Lankathilaka Temple - Kandy

Background

Lankatilake Viharya built on the summit of a rock called Panhalgala provides a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding hills, paddy fields and the diverse vegetation around it. On the temple premises are the shrine, stupa and a Bodhi tree.

History

The temple has the same name as the well-known construction of Parakramabahu I at Polonnaruwa. This is a religious devotion of Senalankadhikara, a minister of Bhuvanaikabahu IV of Gampola in 1344 CE. Further establishments in the form of stucco work carried out by the King, Parakramabahu VI of Kotte (1412-1467 CE). The building was four storeyed during its glorious days. However, today there is only the ground floor and a part of the first floor.

Gadaladeniya Temple - Kandy

Gadaladeniya  Temple is located at Pilimathalawa, Kandy. Gadaladeniaya Temple was build by king Wickramabahu in 1344 during the Gampola Kingdom time. There are four pagodas (Dageba) you can see here and the main Dageba is covered with a roof. There are four small shrine rooms around it with small dageba located top of each. The Boo tree is located in front of the dageba and there is a old inscription located by it. In the main shrine room has a large Buddha statue. This temple has some features of the south Indian architecture.

Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue

The Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya at Bahirawakanda is a very attractive and mountain peak in the Kandy Town. The gigantic Buddha statue is about 88 feet in height. This is a very famous tourists attraction in Kandy. This monastery temple was established in 1972. The omnipresent Buddha statue seen panoramic view of Kandy town. The small gallery inside displays a collection of some magnificent pictures of Buddha’s life from baby to manhood.

Udawatta Kele Sanctuary

Udawatta Kele Sanctuary a historic forest reserve on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy. It is 104 hectares (257 acres) large. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawatta Kele was known as "Uda Wasala Watta" in Sinhalese meaning, "the garden situated above the royal palace". The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees. There are several giant lianas. The important places in Udawatta Kele are the The water Pond, Highest peak "Kodimale", The Senkanda Cave, and the Garrison cemetery. There are also several Buddhist temples and hermitages inside the forest reserve.

Many of small and medium size mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might also be seen. Udawatta Kele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938. The Sri Lanka Forest Department has two offices in the reserve, one of which (i.e. the one located at the southeastern entrance) has a nature education centre with a display of pictures, posters, stuffed animals, etc. Being easily accessible and containing a great variety of flora and fauna the forest has a great educational and recreational value. Groups of school children and students regularly visit the forest and the education center. 

Degaldoruwa Cave Temple - Kandy

The Degaldoruwa Temple was built in 1771 AD by King Rajadi Rajasinha and was initiated during the rein of his elder brother King Kirti Sri Rajasinha [1747-1782 AD].This is considered as a Cave Temple with Kandyan era Paintings and Architecture.

This temple is situated at Amunugama, a village near Kandy Town.The easiest way It can be reached from Kandy is via the roadway over Lewella Bridge or by proceeding along Kundasale road and turning left at Nattarampota.

The temple had been built at a place where two rocks were touching each other from above and below.The rock mass has a height of about 40 feet. A Cave had been made by breaking the rocks large enough to accomodate the Shrine Room of the Buddha and an area leading to the Shrine Room.

Ceylon Tea Museum - Kandy

It was in the Kandy district that the first successful experiments in tea cultivation were made, and it was from this ancient Sinhalese capital that the dominant modern industry of Sri Lanka spread out to cover the entire hill country. Kandy was thus the appropriate choice for a museum dedicated to the history of Ceylon Tea.

The Ceylon Tea Museum is located at the Hantane Tea Factory, about 5km. (3 miles) from Kandy. Hantane was one of the first areas successfully opened up to tea cultivation after the failure of the coffee enterprise, but the factory that now houses the Museum is a relatively modern building, constructed in 1925.

Bogambara Lake - Kandy

Kandy Lake is a lake in the heart of the hill city of Kandy, Sri Lanka, built in 1807 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Sri Lanka next to the Temple of the Tooth. Over the years, it was reduced in size. It is a protected lake, with fishing banned. There are many legends and folklore regarding the lake. One such is that the small island at its center was used by the king's helm for bathing and was connected to the palace by secret tunnel.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka . It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple.

Bhikkhus of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.

Map of Sri Lanka - Places

Tourist Map of Sri Lanka