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Kandy, Sri Lanka
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, and its setting — a city wrapped around an artificial lake surrounded by misty green hills — creates an immediately atmospheric walking environment. The Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the city's spiritual center, housing a tooth relic of the Buddha and hosting elaborate puja ceremonies twice daily. The Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, six kilometers from the center, are among the finest tropical gardens in the world, with a massive collection of orchids, a Giant Javan fig tree, and an avenue of royal palms. The Kandy Lake, created by the last Sinhalese king, provides a scenic walking circuit in the city center. The Bahirawakanda Vihara, a large white Buddha statue on a hill, offers panoramic views over the lake and city. The bustling Kandy Central Market sells spices, produce, and local crafts, while the nearby Kandy City Centre building houses shops and restaurants.
explore by interest
Kandy is hilly and the temperature is pleasant but can be humid — walk the lake circuit in the morning or late afternoon when the light on the Temple of the Tooth is most beautiful.
January through April offers the driest weather. The Esala Perahera festival in July or August is one of Asia's most spectacular Buddhist processions with elephants, dancers, and fire performers.