Kandy
Kandy, the cultural capital, and World Heritage city in the hill-country of Sri Lanka, is located on the Kandyan plateau amidst the hills as the last capital and stronghold of ancient Sri Lanka. The city is approximately 120 kilometres East of Colombo.
Historical records suggest that Kandy was first established by the King Wickramabahu and it was named Senkadagalapura, although some records suggest the name ‘Katubulu Nuwara’ may also have been used. The origin of the more popular name for the city, Senkadagala, could have been from several sources, include naming it after a brahmin named Senkanda who lived in a cave nearby, after a queen of King Wickramabahu named Senkanda or after a coloured stone named Senkadagala.
When planning to visit Sri Lanka, Kandy should be included, not just for historical reasons. In Kandy, there are many places to visit, as it is well-known for the important Buddhist monuments, such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) and the yearly Kandy Esala Perahera procession around August. Kandy is also the start of the famous Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Ella train, the most extraordinary railway journey experience for any visitor because of the fantastic views of mountains, waterfalls, forests, and tea plantations.
Kandy is a small city of happy chaos with its busy streets, old markets, ancient temples, colonial structures, aristocratic gardens, and the spectacular man-made Kandy Lake.
Historical records suggest that Kandy was first established by the King Wickramabahu and it was named Senkadagalapura, although some records suggest the name ‘Katubulu Nuwara’ may also have been used. The origin of the more popular name for the city, Senkadagala, could have been from several sources, include naming it after a brahmin named Senkanda who lived in a cave nearby, after a queen of King Wickramabahu named Senkanda or after a coloured stone named Senkadagala.
When planning to visit Sri Lanka, Kandy should be included, not just for historical reasons. In Kandy, there are many places to visit, as it is well-known for the important Buddhist monuments, such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) and the yearly Kandy Esala Perahera procession around August. Kandy is also the start of the famous Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Ella train, the most extraordinary railway journey experience for any visitor because of the fantastic views of mountains, waterfalls, forests, and tea plantations.
Kandy is a small city of happy chaos with its busy streets, old markets, ancient temples, colonial structures, aristocratic gardens, and the spectacular man-made Kandy Lake.
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
Udawatte Kele Sanctuary
Udawattakele Forest Reserve, often spelled as Udawatta Kele, is a historic forest reserve on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy. It is 104 hectares large. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawattakele was known as “Uda Wasala Watta” in Sinhalese meaning “the garden above the royal palace”. The sanctuary contains three Buddhist forest monasteries and three cave dwellings for Buddhist monks.
The sanctuary is famous for its birds. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees. There are several giant lianas. Many small and medium size mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might be seen. Udawattakele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938.
