Kandy, Sri Lanka: on our own we go to the city of dreamers and flying dogs. Districts. Where is the best place to live. Direct bus to Kandy from the airport

The city of Kandy in Sri Lanka will not leave you indifferent and will be remembered for a long time. A trip to the mountain town of Kandy will be remembered as another pleasant impression of Sri Lanka. When your eyes open views from which you want to fly, then you want to return to this place again and again.

After a long journey from Unawatuna with a change in Colombo, we arrived at our destination - the railway station of the city of Kandy. The conductor from the train tagged us, trying to get us into a taxi, but was successfully sent. After that, 100 meters from the station, we caught a tuk-tuk for 150 rupees and successfully reached the hotel.

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Kandy Railway Station

We checked into a wonderful hotel with a pool and a view of the valley -.

Kandy city in Sri Lanka

Kandy is not very Big city. The population is about 100 thousand people, mostly Muslims. Walking through local sights delivers exceptionally positive emotions.

The streets of the city are winding. Many houses were built in the mountains, when you look at these buildings you wonder how it was possible to build in such conditions.

Beauty opens from a height when you see the city at a glance. Mountains, forests, fog that accompanies Kandy almost every day and many bats and dogs at night. Kandy is located in the mountains, so there are wonderful views, Fresh air and chill.

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Weather in Kandy

The weather is radically different from the beach villages. Mostly during the day +26 +28С, in the evening + 23, at night it is even colder. The coolness was very useful to us after so many days spent in hot weather. Luckily, we came at the right time and Right place by chance. But more on that later. And now the sights of Kandy, which we were lucky to see.

What to see in Kandy in 2 days

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Temple tickets: 1000 rupees. What to wear: cover your shoulders and knees, hand in your shoes before entering (or take with you in a bag).

What to see in Kandy first of all? All tourists are brought to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic - this is the main attraction of Kandy. On the square in front of the entrance to the territory, enterprising Sri Lankans will offer you skirts at a price of 400 to 1000 rupees. They will assure that even men cannot enter the territory in shorts.

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Temple of the Tooth in Kandy

As with everything in Sri Lanka, you have to pay to enter the temple. Tickets to the temple are sold for 1,000 rupees ($6) per person. By the way, at the entrance you need to take off your shoes and hand them over to the storage room, of course, also for a fee of 300 rupees.

We handed the camera into the safe hands of our fellow travelers, who really wanted to get inside. They took some good pictures.

After looking at the pictures and listening to the story from the girls, we were convinced that we had done right choice that remained to admire the temple from the outside.

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It looks like the Temple of the Tooth Relic inside

Kandy lake

Kandy Lake, located in the very center of the city, we liked. Beautiful views and a huge number of large fish. And if you go a little further along the lake, you can meet large monitor lizards.

Near the lake there are locals who try to talk to you. Typical questions: where did you come from, how long have you been traveling in Sri Lanka, do you like the country, etc. In a minute they are already asking for cigarettes or some money. Apparently, no one in Sri Lanka can just walk past a tourist without asking him for anything.

• This is interesting:

Jewelry stores

For people who are interested in buying gems and jewelry, there is plenty to do in Kandy. The girls and I visited one of these shops. Although it is official, it is possible to bring down the price a little. Products are beautiful and very cheap compared to Russian prices. Also, prices here are lower than on the coast.

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Leather goods

Passing through the main places visited by tourists, you will come across shops with leather goods. The choice is very large, slates, vests, hats, wallets, bags and leather stools. The skin is often hard and not very pleasant to the touch. Apparently in Lanka they tan leather in a special way.

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Walk around the city of Kandy "where the eyes look"

Walking alone in Kandy is quite interesting. Since our stay in the city lasted only 3 days, we did not miss the opportunity and walked along the streets, looking at everything around, going into shops and studying the local way of life. Photos of Kandy taken in different parts of the city:

City center

In the photo: the central street of Kandy

We especially remember the smiles and eyes of the children! These smiles were not fake, you can’t play like that. Unlike adults, children do not need to breed you for money, deceive and lie. They are just happy for tourists and those who smile back at them.

cultural show

Our guide suggested that we visit some kind of tourist cultural show with dances and dances. You had to pay 500 rupees for entry. We collectively refused. And they did it right.

The very next day, walking around the center, we got to the parade. It was a celebration of grandiose proportions by local standards. This holiday is celebrated twice a year. We are lucky! Roads are blocked, elegant elephants walk along the roadway, dancers dressed in colorful national costumes perform religious dances.

And we, with our mouths open, rushed to the epicenter of events, like thousands of staring tourists.

Video of cultural show in Kandy

flying dogs

Bats and dogs are not uncommon. On the way to we saw a tree on which several hundred flying dogs nest.

During the day, these creatures sleep peacefully upside down on a tree, and after dark they come out to hunt. People are not approached. They can dive and drink some water from your pool. Very smart and interesting. They look like bats, only big and with the head of a dog. They are also called flying foxes. Some even wanted to touch

Spice plantation (divorced)

We looked at the spice plantation, where a kind Sri Lankan in Russian told everything intelligibly about all the herbs. Entrance is free, but at the end of the "tour" you need to listen to a 15-minute lecture about the drugs they produce, smell the jars and endure the "free" massage. You have to exit through their store.

Then he organized a "free" massage for us, advertising these "miraculous" remedies. The massage is very mediocre. It is not very pleasant for a man when another man gently rubs his face with cream.

After a massage on a voluntary-compulsory basis, you need to leave a tip. We gave our masseurs 500 rupees for two. The money was received with such a face that it became clear that they were waiting for much more. After that, the guide took everyone to the store, where the prices went off scale to the limit. Read more about similar spice plantations in the article:.

These 3 days, filled with a charge of inspiration, flew by like one. Thanks to Kandy, we saw another Sri Lanka, less touristy, more real and alive. We advise everyone to go to Kandy on their own or with a guided tour.

Hotels in Kandy

• Hantana Home Stay(rating 9.4 out of 10)
• 38b Homestay Heerassagala(rating 9.6)
• Mountain View Holiday Home(rating 9.5)
• Greenwood Edge Hanthana— hotel in the mountains (rating 9.9)
• Hill City Mansion — inexpensive hotel near railway station

All hotels in Kandy

The way back from Kandy to Unawatuna

Traveled to Kandy and back by train. I will talk about this route in a separate article:

Kandy is another historical capital Sri Lanka, which we managed to visit. This last city Sri Lanka, which remained a stronghold of independence from the British until 1815. Unlike the dead one, Kandy, although it has lost its official status, still holds the title of the spiritual center of Sri Lanka. And all because here is the main shrine of the Buddhists of the island - the tooth of the Buddha.

In the morning we drove off to the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala and returned to Kandy only in the evening. There are two main attractions in Kandy: the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Temple of the Tooth Relic. But we only made it to one of them. I am absolutely indifferent to gardens and parks, but I love temples of all religions, so the choice was obvious. After checking into the hotel, we went along the banks of Kandy Lake in the center of Kandy to the Temple of the Tooth.

An island rises in the center of a hand-dug lake. Allegedly, it housed the harem of the king of Sri Lanka. The lake was dug by the last king of Kandy. It seems to have happened at the beginning of the 19th century, it is known that the subjects did not approve of this wasteful and useless project. But for us tourists the lake is quite OK.

The baths of the Queen of Kandy were located in this pavilion.

Closer to the Temple of the Tooth, there is a small market where you can buy lotus flowers, which are usually offered to the Tooth.

The fence that runs along the entire shore of the lake to the temple symbolizes a heavenly cloud. During the holidays, lamps are inserted into the holes so that the entire lake is in the lights around the perimeter.

In the center of Kandy there are several pretty streets built in the colonial style during the British rule. Let's face it, after the British, nothing decent was built in the city. The most interesting building is the former residence of the governor, and now the Qeens Hotel, one of oldest hotels islands. Here is the conditional center of the city, the farther from it, the more trash and devastation.

This boy's family Madduma Bandara Ehelapola) was sentenced to death for resisting the British. His elder ten-year-old brother was afraid of the execution and hid with his mother. Then the younger brother, who was only eight years old, said: "I will show you an example of how to meet death." And he boldly went to the execution, however, asking the executioner to cut off his head the first time.

Well, enough walking, it's time to visit the main attraction of all of Sri Lanka.

Another monument on the way to the Tooth. The monk tearing down the British flag is Wariyapola Sri Sumangala. During the uprising against the British in the early 19th century, he stole the Tooth of Buddha from the temple and dragged it to the rebels, which greatly encouraged them. Then he was caught... and after a couple of years in prison, he was forgiven by the local governor.

The area around the Temple of the Tooth is quite pretty and well maintained. IN museum complex includes not only the temple itself, but also many others historical buildings. For example, in the photo is the former royal palace of Kandy.

The most spectacular building is the octagonal tower in the wall of the complex (according to the reports, many tourists mistake it for the temple itself).

The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy was built in the 17th century. It is believed that the upper left fang of the Buddha is located there. This precious relic attracts white-robed pilgrims carrying lotus and jasmine flowers every day. According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha while he was lying on a funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in the fourth century AD in the hair of Princess Hemamali, who was fleeing a Hindu army besieging her father's kingdom in India. The tooth immediately became an object of worship and reverence, it began to be considered one of the most precious relics. It was taken out only for special occasions and carried on the backs of elephants, which are sacred animals. Countless attempts have been made to capture and destroy the tooth.

When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was brought there; he was placed in a temple built in his honor. The temple was built by the rulers of Kandy at the end of the 17th century, but then suffered heavily during the colonial wars against the Portuguese and Dutch in the 18th century. After the war, the original wooden buildings were restored in stone. In January 1998, Tamil separatists blew up the temple, damaging its façade and roof. Recovery began immediately after that.

Temple buildings do not look magnificent or ornate. White with red roofs, they cluster around Kandy Lake. In stark contrast to the simple exterior is the interior of the temple, richly decorated with carvings and inlays of wood, ivory, and lacquer.

Around the whole complex is a low white stone wall, with holes delicately carved into it. During celebrations, candles are inserted there, illuminating the entire temple. The tooth is in a two-story sacred vault. The relic lies on a golden lotus flower, enclosed in a precious box, lying on the throne.

Lotus flowers are brought to the tooth.

Even on a normal day, there are quite a lot of pilgrims and tourists here; on holidays, according to reviews, it’s not crowded at all.

For me, the most interesting hall was the temple room, where the history of the Tooth of Buddha was clearly depicted. Very interesting and informative.

I honestly walked around all the pictures (there are several dozen of them here) and read all the signatures. I will not torment readers with a complete set of pictures, I will post only a couple for example. Let's say this one shows how godless Hindus tried to break a tooth with hammers. And, of course, they were disgraced. The tooth soared into the sky and shone like a bright star. Oh! Well, everything, I'm silent, I'm silent.

Before it got dark at all, we wandered around the territory of the complex a little more.

The main religious and historical monument of Kandy, and perhaps the whole of Sri Lanka, is Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Tooth. It is located on the northern shore of Kandy Lake. In the form in which it appears before us today, it also existed during the Kandyan state. (1687-1782) . In 1998, the temple was badly damaged by a terrorist attack, but was completely reconstructed.

The room where the relic is kept is crowned with a majestic gilded roof, erected with donations from former President Premadasa, who died in 1993 at the hands of fanatics.

The sacred tooth was found in the ashes at the cremation site of the Buddha in 543 BC. e. It was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century. n. e. Initially, the tooth was kept in Anuradhapura, but then it was moved to Kandy, where it was until the arrival of the Portuguese on the island. (XVI century).

During the struggle of Europeans with local beliefs, the tooth was transported by them to Goa, where, according to rumors, it was burned by Catholic priests.

However, the people of Kandy never believed this, claiming that a false tooth was slipped into the Portuguese, and the real relic was hidden. Subsequently, she was solemnly transferred to the temple of Sri Dalada Maligawa.

Today this temple is the spiritual and cultural center of Kandy. Pilgrims and tourists come here in an inexhaustible stream. The service, puja, is held at 6.00, 10.00 and 18.00. This best time to visit the temple.

Don't forget to dress appropriately: cover your legs and shoulders. As before entering all Buddhist temples, you need to take off your shoes. Get ready for a personal search - the unfortunate consequence of the civil war and terrorist attack in 1998. Puja is accompanied by an incredible cacophony of sounds - from drums to stringed instruments; in a word, you will have a unique spectacle.

Sri Dalada Maligawa, Dalada Vidiya. Open: daily from dawn to dusk. Paid entrance.

Museums

Open: Tue-Sat 9.00-17.00. Closed: Sun, Mon and public holidays. Paid entrance.

Nearby are the National Museum of Kandy and the Archaeological Museum, which houses the regalia of the rulers and a copy of the treaty of 1815, according to which the sovereignty of Kandy passes into the hands of the British authorities.

Dharmapala Mawatha. Open: Tue-Sat 9.00-17.00. Closed: Sun, Mon and public holidays. Paid entrance.

Neighborhood Kandy

Kandy is a very beautiful city. There are many attractions here, and, of course, the main one is the Temple of the Tooth. You will surely enjoy walking along the lake.

There are no significant monuments on its banks, with the exception of the Buddhist monastery Malvatta Vihara, located south of Sri Dalada Maligawa.

Nearby is the hotel "Suisse" - the former residence of the British governor, built in the middle of the XIX century. This old house is now a beautiful hotel in colonial style. The bustling city center, with markets, mosques, churches and restaurants, lies to the northwest of the island.

After the Temple of the Tooth, perhaps the most interesting attraction of the city is the Kataragama Devale Temple, located next to the street. Kotugodalle Vidiya. The temple is dedicated to Skanda, the Hindu god of war. It is decorated with magnificent carvings, paintings and tiles.

South of the Temple of the Tooth is the Kandy Cultural Center, which opened in 1984. Its staff is active in conservation and promotion cultural traditions Sri Lanka, and especially Kandy. There is a museum here, as well as concerts of folk music and dances, including dances on hot coals.

Victoria Rd. Open: daily 9.00-17.00. Paid entrance.

Western temples

The most interesting in the vicinity of Kandy is located in the southwestern hills. These are primarily three Buddhist temples (by the way, something reminiscent of Hindu).

The first is Embekke Dewale, located 10 km from Kandy. The temple was built in the XIV century. Its carved wooden columns are covered with images of animals, birds, dancers and wrestlers. Once these columns were in the audience hall of the palace of the rulers of Kandy.

2 km away is the Buddhist-Hindu Temple of Lankatilak Vihara, famous for its magnificent murals from the heyday of Kandy (1600-1800) , stone carvings and a Buddha statue in a pure Kandyan style. Walking on foot will surely give you pleasure, because the temple offers beautiful views.

Open: daily 8.30-17.00. Paid entrance.

Third Temple - Galadeniya Vihara (Galadeniye Vihara) located 2 km from Lankatilak. You can easily reach it on foot. This is a Buddhist temple with a special annex for Hindus, erected on a rock in the 13th-14th centuries. Its main attraction is Moonstone at the entrance.

Open: daily 8.30-17.00. Paid entrance.

Botanical Garden of Peradeniya

Peradeniya Botanical Garden is located 7 km from Kandy on Highway 1 towards Colombo. This is the oldest and most beautiful botanical garden in Asia, its area exceeds 60 hectares. Mahaweli Ganga divides it into three parts. At first, it was a park laid out by the rulers of Kandy for their own pleasure. The park became a botanical garden in the 19th century, under the British, and currently there are about 4,000 plant species in it.

Visiting the garden of Peradeniya, you will see giant ficuses, royal palms, "double coconuts" with Seychelles and plants from which various spices are produced. The trip here from Kandy takes a whole day. Keep in mind, at the entrance to the garden there is a good cafeteria "Royal Botanical Gardens", not cheap by the standards of Sri Lanka, but with excellent and varied cuisine. Also at the entrance you can buy quite affordable and quite informative illustrated guide to the garden "Illustrated Guide to the Royal Botanic Gardens". With it, you won't miss anything interesting.

Sirima Bandaranaike Mawatha. Open: daily 9.00-17.30. Paid entrance.

Robert Knox

The state of Kandy remained mysterious, almost mythical, until 1815, before the British conquest. But the first Englishman appeared here back in 1660. It was the English sailor Robert Knox, who ended up in the mountain capital as a prisoner. Knox spent almost 20 years in Sri Lanka. After escaping and returning to England, he published the book Historical outline Nylon" (1681) , which still remains the most valuable source of information about the history of the Kandyan state (1597-1815) .

A young sailor from London, Robert Knox, set foot on the Sri Lankan coast at the mouth of the Mahaweli Ganga River, near Trincomalee, and was captured by the warriors of the ruler of Kandy, Rajasinha II, who brought him to the capital of their state, where he was surprised to meet other European captives. The Dutch, French, Portuguese and English enjoyed some personal freedom here, but they could not leave the city and had to follow the rules of court etiquette.

I must say that Knox's stay in Kandy was quite comfortable. He was allowed to start his own business and buy a house. Moreover, he was even free to marry, but chose not to do so, so that the bonds of marriage would not prevent his flight. However, he noticed that extramarital affairs were widespread here and were not condemned. To some extent, this was due to the caste structure of society: men from higher castes were allowed to have relations with women of lower origin, but they could not marry them.

Knox writes that people led a simple lifestyle, their main food was rice and various vegetables, fish and meat appeared on the table much less often.

The rule of Rajasinha was rather mild, although executions were still arranged. Despite relative prosperity, Knox dreamed of freedom. In 1679 he fled to the north of the island, occupied by the Dutch, and later returned to England. In his story about the state of Kandy, there is sometimes a European prejudice, but in general it can be said that the Englishman liked the people among whom he lived. Knox calls them "kind and affable ... efficient and enterprising, very sincere and almost never quarreling with each other."

Kandy, Sri Lanka: map, attractions, how to get there

The city of Kandy is located 107 km from Colombo International Airport and 222 km from the popular resort town of Galle, in the central part of the island. Kandy is the second largest city after Colombo island nation Sri Lanka, as well as the southern tip of the country's Cultural Triangle. Also, the city, until 1815, was the capital of the last independent kingdom of Kandy.

Kandy is one of the most popular tourist sites in Sri Lanka. The city's most famous landmark is the Temple of the Tooth Relic (also called Sri Dalada Maligawa), a recognized site world heritage UNESCO. Kandy hotels and guesthouses are mainly located on the slopes of the mountains surrounding man-made lake, with a panoramic view of the city.

The city is part of the administrative region of Kandy and is the capital of the Central Province of the island, located on the shores of Lake Bogambara, at an altitude of 500 m above sea level. Kandy has a unique, special atmosphere, and its architecture only complements this impression. The specially designed, patterned walls of Walakulu Bamma, meaning "wall of clouds" in Sinhalese, fringe the waterfront of Lake Bogambara to give the impression of being framed by clouds.

The snow-white walls have triangular holes, into which at night, now only on holidays, small oil lamps are inserted, used not only for decorative purposes, but also for street lighting.

The Valakulu wall project was not completed because The kingdom of Kandy fell under the pressure of the British conquerors. The river that flows through the city is called the Mahaveli Ganga. Mahaweli Ganga is the most long river Sri Lanka.

Map of Kandy, Sri Lanka

Name of the city of Kandy

The exact origin of the name is unknown, presumably earlier the city of Kandy was called the "Prosperous Capital of Senkadagala" (Senkadagala Siriwardhana Maha Nuwara), this name was shortened over time to Maha Nuwara (great city / capital). Moreover, in Sri Lanka, the name Maha Nuwara is currently actively used, it can often be found in transport schedules.

There is, and even historically entrenched, also another version of the origin of the name "Kandy" since the time of colonization: according to this version, it comes from the words Kanda Uda Pas Rata, which means "land on the mountain" in Sinhala.

Attractions Kandy

Temple of the Tooth Relic / Sri Dalada Maligawa
(Sri Dalada Maligawa)

The temple, located on the lake, in close proximity to the royal palace, is considered one of the most important places of worship for Buddhists around the world, because. one of the two surviving relics, the Tooth of the Buddha, is kept there. The second is kept in Somawathi Chetiya in the suburbs of Polonnaruwa. The Temple of the Tooth Relic was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Kandy was the capital of the kingdom of the same name from 1592 to 1815. Especially for the storage of the relic in Kandy, the temple of Sri Dalada Maligawa was erected, built in the 16th century by King Vimaladharmasuriya I. The king moved the relic from the temple in Delgamuwa, where it had been stored earlier. At the beginning of the 18th century, the temple was restored.

The temple building was rebuilt several times, the last Kandyan king Wickrama Rajasinghe erected an octagon to accommodate the shrine - Octagon / Pattiripuwa (Octagon / Pattiripuwa), although located on the palace territory, it is part of the temple.

The entrance to the temple is through Maha Vahalkadda, the entrance has two sides: the outer Valakullu Bamma (wall of clouds) and Diyarelli Bamma (wall of water ripples). After passing Vahalkada and the moat, there is the Ambarava tunnel. Walking through it will take you to the first floor. temple complex. The lower floor of the building is called Pallemaluwa. This inner room is provided with a large wooden door and is decorated with bronze and ivory. The area in front of the door is called Hevisi Mandapaya (drummers' yard) where daily rituals are held.

The relic is kept on the top floor of the temple in a chamber called Vadahitina Maligawa. The door of this room is covered with gold, silver and ivory. The tooth is enclosed in seven golden caskets nested one inside the other and decorated with precious stones. The outer box is decorated with precious stones presented to the relics by various rulers. The relic itself was virtually never seen, except by British explorers and the reigning monarchs of Ceylon.

In the 20th century, the Temple of the Tooth Relic was attacked by LTTE terrorists on January 25, 1998, when the terrorists detonated a bomb, killing 8 people. The explosion damaged many buildings located next to the temple, but the relic itself survived and did not suffer any damage.

Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is open daily from 5:30 to 20:00. Services (Thevava) are held daily, three times a day: 5:30-7:00, 9:30-11:00 and 18:30-20:00. The temple also hosts the Saffaron Water Festival every Wednesday.

Every year, the Temple of the Tooth Relic takes part in 6 festivals (perakheras):

• January: Alut Shal Mangallay - new festival harvest (Aluth Shal Mangallaya);
• April: New Year's Festival for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Sinhala & Tamil New Year);
• May: Vesak Perahera & Upasampada Ceremony for the birthday, enlightenment and paranirvana of the Buddha (Vesak Perahera & Upasampada Ceremony);
• June: Poson Perahera;
• July - August: Kandy Esala Perahera;
• November: Festival of Lights (Karthik Festival).

Old Royal Palace of Kandy
(Old Kandy Royal Palace)

The remains of the buildings observed today in the Royal Palace of Kandy are the residence of the last king of the Kingdom of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe (1797 - 1814). The original building of the palace was burned and destroyed several times throughout its history and rebuilt and rebuilt by subsequent kings. Today, the former royal chambers are used as district courts.

The first building of the palace was built by King Wikramabahu III, the ruler of the Gampola Kingdom in the 14th century, then he passed to the Senasamata Wikramabahu in the 15th century, after which the palace was owned by Vimaladharmasuriya I in the 16th century. Each of them spent various changes and expansion of the existing palace.

During the reign of King Senarat, at the beginning of the 17th century, the Portuguese attacked the kingdom of Kandy and destroyed the palace. King Rajasinghe II restored the palace in the middle of the 17th century and then subsequent Sinhalese kings used it as their Royal Palace until 1815, when the kingdom became a British colony. By the end of the reign of the last king of the independent kingdom of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe in the 18th century, the palace already consisted of many buildings.

After the British invasion, the palace was used as the seat of government offices. Today, only the entrance, located to the left of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, remains from the old royal palace. This building currently houses the Museum of the Department of Archaeology.

Magul Maduwa Assembly Hall
(Magul Maduwa / Audience Hall)

The assembly hall of Magul Maduwa is also called Magul Naduwa (high court), the building was so named because the kings of Kandy used it to hold courts.

The assembly hall was built in 1783 by King Rajadi Rajasinghe, the building of Magul Maduwa is a witness to many historical events. This place is considered the hall where the missionaries carried out "the most terrible cruelties."

So, in the Assembly Hall, documents were signed on the transfer of power over the last independent Sinhala kingdom of Kandy to Great Britain in 1815, and documents were drawn up here on imposing the death penalty on participants in counter-colonial patriotic uprisings. After the transfer of power to the British, the Assembly Hall, where the royal courts had previously been held, was transferred to the church. Services and sermons began to be held in Magul Maduva.

The original Assembly Hall we see today was rebuilt and enlarged by the British to host the Prince of Wales' reception in 1875.

To expand the building, 32 carved wooden columns were taken from the Pale Vahale building (now National Museum) and replaced by brick pillars. Of these 32 pillars, 16 were used to expand Magul Maduwa: 8 pillars were installed on each side of the building, the old pillars were replaced with new wooden bases. Now the building has two rows of delicately carved pillars, each of the rows includes 32 pillars, on these pillars there is a roof made in the Kandyan style.

Fountain of coffee planters
(Coffee Planters Fountain)

Before tea became the country's main export, Ceylon was one of the largest coffee producers in the world. Coffee production reached its peak by 1870, at which time coffee plantations in Ceylon occupied more than 110,000 hectares.

When the Prince of Wales announced his intention to visit Ceylon, the coffee planters built a fountain to mark the occasion. The bowl of the fountain is made in the form of a coffee flower, it was made at the factory in Glasgow and imported to Ceylon in parts.

The Coffee Planters' Fountain was assembled in Kandy and first launched for the Prince of Wales in 1873. After that, the fountain was not rebuilt and came to us in its original form.

Lake Bogambara / Kiri Muhuda
(Bogambara Lake / Kiri Muhuda)

The city of Kandy is located on the banks of the artificial mountain lake Bogambara, at an altitude of 500 m above sea level. An ornamental lake was dug in 1807 on the site rice field Sinhala king Vikram Rajasinghe. To preserve the decorativeness of the lake, the local population was forbidden to fish in it.

The second name of the lake is "Kiri muhuda", it is translated from Sinhalese as "Milk Sea". In the middle of Lake Bogambara, on an island, is the Royal Summer House.

The king's ministers advised the king to pursue more practical projects instead of building a lake, as the resources of the kingdom of Kandy by this point were already depleted by the opposition of Britain. However, the king did not heed the advice of the ministers and the project was implemented, and the kingdom a few years later, due to the short-sighted and irrational policy of the king, was captured by the British colonialists.

Sri Dalada Museum
(Sri Dalada Museum)

The Sri Dalada Museum is located on the grounds of the royal palace, it is located on the upper floors of the Alut Maligawa building. The Sri Dalada Museum occupies the top two floors.

The exposition of the museum includes many different gifts made to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, antique letters from the times of colonialism, ceremonial items, sculptures of Sinhalese kings, archaeological excavations and much more. The museum is open from Saturday to Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00, Friday is a day off.

Ulpange Royal Baths
(Ulpange/Royal Bathhouse)

The Royal Baths are part of palace complex King of Kandyan Kingdom Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe.

The baths consist of two parts: one is located on land, near the temple of the tooth of the Buddha, the second part is on the water, in the waters of Lake Bogambara.

On the opposite side of the road from the Temple of the Tooth Relic are the royal baths used by the king's wives and concubines (Royal Bathhouse). During the British rule, a second floor was added to the baths, and the room was turned into a library, at the moment it houses the police department.

International Museum of Buddhism
(International Buddhist Museum)

The International Museum of Buddhism is located on the territory of the palace complex. The museum's collection contains statues and images of the Buddha, models of Buddhist temples around the world.

The exposition of the museum allows you to visually demonstrate the spread of the traditions of Buddhism in Asia and around the world. The museum is interesting for visiting with children, it gives a general idea of ​​the subject, clearly demonstrating the differences.

Photography is not allowed in the International Museum of Buddhism. Entrance to the museum: 500 rupees. Opening hours: 9.00-20.00.

Hindu temples - four Devalayas
(Maha Vishnu, Natha, Paththini, Khaali Devalaya)

Four Hindu temples are dedicated to the gods Vishnu and Nath, and the goddesses Pattini and Kali. The temples are located on the territory of Sri Dalada Maligawa, in close proximity to the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth Relic.

The Vishnu Devalaya Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and is located north of Nata Devalaya. Natha Devalaya is dedicated to the Hindu god Nath.

Pattini Devalaya is dedicated to the goddess Pattini, who is addressed to get rid of various childhood and infectious diseases and also to propitiate her in times of drought. Pattini Devalaya is one of the objects of the festive Perahera.

Hindu Temple Kataragama Devalaya
(Kataragama Devalaya)

The temple is located outside the territory of Sri Dalada Maligawa, on Kotugodella st. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Kataragama, also known as Murugan, Arumugam, Kandasami, Sabramaniam.

According to Tamil beliefs, the god Skanda arrived in Sri Lanka after a violent quarrel with his wife Thevani, and there he took a sixteen-year-old concubine from southern region Sri Lanka - from Kataragama.

Temple and Monastery of Malwatu Maha Viharaya
(Malwathu Maha Viharaya)

The temple complex is located in the city, on the south side of Lake Bogambara, on Saranankara Mawatha Street. There are two temples on the territory of the complex: Malwatu Maha Viharaya (second name Pushparama Viharaya), and Sirimalwaththa Temple (also called Poyamalu Viharaya).

The Poyamalu Viharaya Temple was built in the early 16th century. Sinhala king Senasammata Vikramabahu (Senasammata Vikramabahu). According to the chronicles, the king built another 86 monasteries for monks from the monastic brotherhoods of Malwathu and Asgiri Viharaya. Initially, the monastery was built for only three monks.

The Malwatu Maha Viharaya Temple is one of the two main temples of the Theravardin Buddhist monastic community of the Siam Nikaya order. Currently, the Malwatu Maha Viharaya temple complex serves as a meeting place for the Sangha and also attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Udawattakele nature reserve
(Udawattakele Sanctuary)

Reserve Udvavttakele, or as it is also called the Royal Forest Park (Royal forest park), located on a hillside behind the Sri Dalada Maligawa complex. During the reign of the Sinhalese kings, visiting Udawattakele was forbidden for the local population.

After the fall of the kingdom of Kandy, the state of the forests in the region began to deteriorate sharply, deforestation began. The territory became a reserve in 1856, then in 1938 the territory was included in the list of objects protected by the state.

In the reserve there is a pond, the highest peak of Kodimale (Kodimale), Senkanda cave (Senkanda), and cemetery Garrison (Garrison), several Buddhist temples and hermitages. Also in the Udawattakele Reserve grows a giant liana 200-300 years old, called "Pus Wela" or "Entada pusaetha".

Kandy Clock Tower / Ismail
(Kandy/Ismail Clock Tower)

The history of the creation of the Kandy Clock Tower, also called the Ismail Clock Tower, is very tragic: in August 1947, the city of Kandy experienced a severe flood that caused numerous landslides in the area. The bridge across the Mahaweli River to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya was completely submerged.

Haji Mohamed Ismail owned a company during this period to import British cars to Ceylon. One day on August 14, 1947, Ismail's son, Mohamed Zakki Ismail, traveled from Colombo to Kandy in a car with his brother-in-law, friend and driver. In Kadugannawa, the car was buried under a landslide and all four occupants were killed.

For Mohamed Ismail, the only consolation was the creation of a memorial to his son. He learned that the city of Kandy needed a clock tower. Kandy Municipality had already purchased the land on which it is now installed. clock tower, and Ismail paid for its development and construction. The design of the clock tower is made in the Kandyan style. All equipment needed for the project was brought from the UK. The Kandy Clock Tower was completed on December 23, 1950.

Temple with Buddha statue Bahirawa Kanda
(Bahirawa Kanda Buddha Statue)

A huge Buddha statue sitting on a hill is visible from anywhere in Kandy. Bahirawa Kanda Temple is located 2 km from Kandy. The name "Bahirava Kanda" is translated as "mountain spirit mountain".

According to the first legend, Bahirava Devalaya was located on the top of Bahirava-Kanda. According to legend, there are hundreds beautiful girls were sacrificed to Bahirawa Deviyo. These temples flourished during the time of the Nayakkar kings. One day, the bride of one of the royal commanders who controlled the king's elephants was sentenced to be sacrificed at the Bahirava Puja ceremony, but he intervened and freed his bride. This marked the end of the practice of the Bahirava Puja sacrifice ceremony, and the Bahirava Devalaya temple itself was destroyed over time.

According to the second legend, during the time of the kingdom of Kandy, a terrible roar began to be heard every day from the mountain where Bahirava Kanda is now located, frightening the inhabitants of the city. People decided that this was the work of the evil spirit of the mountains, demanding a sacrifice to him, then they turned to the king, but he did not know what to do. His minister came to the king and advised him to propitiate the evil spirit of the mountains by annually sacrificing a beautiful virgin to him. The minister did so because he himself was also an evil spirit, and the king ordered a sacrifice, and the bride of the minister's son was chosen as the victim. At night, the girl was taken to the mountain and left her there, but her fiancé came for her and saved her, fighting with the evil mountain spirit. After rescuing the bride, the son of the minister made the same sound that people heard every day from the mountain, and they thought that the sacrifice was accepted. That same night, the couple ran away from the city.

What to see around Kandy

Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya
(Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya)

The Royal Botanical Garden is located 6 km from Kandy in the city of Peradeniya. The Sri Lanka Botanical Garden covers an area of ​​about 60 hectares, its collection includes more than 4,700 plant species, including rare orchids, spices, medicinal plants, royal palms, banyan trees, etc.

Peradeniya is one of the most popular tourist places in Sri Lanka, it is visited by more than 2 million people a year.

The Botanical Garden is open all year round, daily from 8.00 to 17.30, tickets are sold until 17:00.

Temples of Asgiri Maha Viharaya
(Asgiri Maha Viharaya)

To the north of Lake Bogambara is the ancient Buddhist temple complex Asgiri Maha Viharaya. The temple complex was founded by Sirivardana, the commander of the royal army, on behalf of the monarch of the kingdom of Kurunegala Parakramabahu IV in the early 14th century.

Initially, the temple building was created as a monastic training center for the residence and training of monks. The first monks to settle in Asgiri Viharaya were monks from the Valasgala hermitage in Yapahuwa. According to legend, the name "Asgiri" was formed by translating the name "Valasgala" into Pali as "Acchagiri".

The first reconstruction of the buildings took place during the reign of King Vimaladharmasurya II in the early 18th century, when he built a wall around the city. Then, during the reign of King Rajadi Rajasinghe at the end of the 18th century, the streets of Kandy were straightened, as a result of which the old temple buildings were destroyed, and a new temple was built in Umadadapot. This place is now known as Pahala Pansala (lower temple).

Among historical monuments belonging to Asgiri Maha Viharaya distinguish between Purana and Alut Viharaya (old and new temples). In the old Purana Viharaya temple, built in 1768, there is a statue of a seated Buddha. The new temple of Alut Viharaya was built in 1801, inside it is an 11-meter statue of a reclining Buddha, carved from the rock.

Adahanamaluwa Gedige Temple
(Adahanamaluwa Gedige)

Adahanamaluwa Gedige Temple is the second the oldest monument in the city, it is in the same architectural style as the temples of Natha Devale and Gadaladeniya Vihara. According to legend, the temple of Asgiriya was named after Chandravati, the queen mother of the ruler Vikramabahu, who was cremated at the current Adahan Maluwa cremation site.

One of the most important monuments located on the territory of Asgiri Maha Vihara is the temple of Gedige Viharaya in Adahana Maluva, which means "Royal Land of Cremation". The temple had three levels: Uda Malyuva (upper terrace), Meda (central) and Palle (lower terrace). The cremation of members of the royal family took place at Meda Malyuwa, hence the temple was known as Adahanamaluwa Gedige Viharaya.

In 1878-1880, during the construction of the railway in Matale near Adahanamalyuwa, a tunnel was built, and the last of the royal tombs was destroyed.

Lankatilaka Viharaya Temple
(Lankatilaka Vihara)

The temple is located 15 km from Kandy, in the city of Hiripitiya. Lankatilaka Temple is a beautifully preserved example of traditional Sinhalese architecture. Initially, the building of the temple included 4 floors (now 3), in total the height of the building is about 80m.

The central objects of the temple complex are the traditional Bo tree, the Maitreya Buddha statue, the footprint of the Buddha and the Vihara Ge Temple. On the western side are 5 Devilai - five places of generation for the deities: Upulvan or Vishnu (Upulvan), Saman (Saman), Vibhishana (Vibhishana), Ganapathi (Ganapathi) and Kumara Bandara (Kumara Bandara). The god Kumara Bandara was considered the protector of the Lankatilaka temple.

The temple was founded in the 14th century, in the pre-colonial era of the Gampola Kingdom, by the Sinhalese king Buwanekabahu IV. King Buwanekabahu IV, who reigned in the mid-14th century, chose Gampola as his kingdom and built this temple with the help of South Indian architect Sthapati Rayar.

The five Sinhalese kings following Buwanekabahu IV also chose Gampola as their kingdom. And although the Gampola kings were not strong warriors, they made a significant contribution to the art of Sri Lanka.

Temple of Embekka Devalaya
(Embekka Devalaya / Embekke Temple)

Embekka is the name of the place, Devalaya is the place of worship. The temple is located on the road to Gampola, 15 km from the city of Kandy and 10 km from Peradeniya.

The second name of the temple is Kataragama Deviyo (Katharagama Deviyo), served as a place of worship for the local deity Devata Bandara.

The temple was built in the 14th century. Sinhalese king Vikramabahu III (Vikramabahu III) during the era of the kingdom of Gampola. Embekka Temple is considered to be one of the finest examples of wood carving art, with fine carvings decorating the entrance, doors and 32 pillars of the temple. To the left of Embekk Devalaya are the ruins of Ambalama Devalaya (Ambalama) - ancient place for the rest of travelers, also built by King Wikramabahu III.

Temple of Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Vihara
(Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Vihara)

The temple was founded in the 14th century, during the era of the Kingdom of Gampola, by the Sinhalese king Buwanekabahu IV (Buwanekabahu IV). South Indian architect Ganesvarachari was invited to build the temple.

The main shrine of the temple is a statue of Buddha under the protection of Makara Thorana, surrounded by the gods Brahma (Brahma), Suyama (Suyama), Santhusuta (Santhusuta), Nath (Natha) and the Buddha Maitreya (Maithree).

Inside the shikhara (dome) there was previously an image of the Buddha, which was destroyed during the era of the conquest by the Portuguese. Next to the altar room is Devalaya, dedicated to the god Vishnu. According to the great Sinhalese chronicle Mahavamsa, Upulvan Deiyo was founded here, thus Vishnu was chosen as the patron god to protect the land of Sri Lanka and Buddhism.

How to get to Kandy

To Kandy from Colombo Airport:

• by bus No. 1/245 Negombo-Kandy directly from the stop at the airport;
• by bus number 187 from the airport to Colombo (see below);
• by tuk-tuk to Negombo bus station, then by bus number 1/245;

To Kandy from Colombo:

• by train, there are about 8 trains per day Colombo-Kandy;
• by bus number 1 Colombo-Kandy;
• by bus number 8 Colombo-Matali;
• by bus number 79 Colombo-Nuwara Eliya;

In Kandy from the southwest coast:

• by bus number 2, 32, 60 to Colombo, from Colombo by train or bus (see above);
• by train to Colombo, from Colombo by bus or train (see above);
• by bus number 17 from Panadura; No. 315/1 from Khorana;
• by bus number 10 from Kataragama;

In Kandy from the northeast coast:

• by bus number 45 Trincomalee-Kandy;
• by bus number 22 from Ampara.

Kandy Photos

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Weather in Kandy

Kandy, like its surrounding cities, is located above the low-lying coastal areas, so the average temperatures there are lower than on the coast. The average annual daytime temperature is +28C, at night +20C. Kandy is suitable for visiting almost all year round, but the driest period is from January to March, as well as July-August, during the traditional Perahera.

The wettest, rainiest months in Kandy are the periods of influence of two rainy seasons, bringing rainfall to the city from the west and east coasts: April-May and October-November.

The city is usually chosen as one of the points of the route, heading further north - to Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, or south - to the Central Highlands.

History of Kandy

The first mention of the city dates back to the middle of the 16th century, during the reign of King Gampola Wikramabahu III (Wickramabahu III). From 1527 to 1658 there was a Sinhala-Portuguese war, between the Sinhalese kingdom and the Portuguese troops. As a result of this confrontation, by the end of the war, all the Portuguese invaders were expelled from the island of Ceylon. Kandy became the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom in 1592. The transfer of the capital was caused by the capture of coastal lands by the Portuguese: due to the impassability of roads and the isolation of the mountainous part of the country, the new one was much safer than the previous capital Kurunegala. The relic, symbolizing royalty, the tooth of the Buddha, was brought to Kandy by King Wimaladharmasuriya I, who brought it from the Delgamuwa temple in Sabaragamuwa, the ruins of which have not survived to date.

In the period 1761-1766, the kingdom fought against the Dutch invaders, who by that time had already occupied the coast of the island. The Kingdom of Kandy tolerated the Dutch presence on the coast of Sri Lanka, although clashes did occur from time to time. The most ambitious offensive was undertaken by the Kandyan kingdom in 1761, when King Kirti Sri Rajasinha attacked the Dutch and captured most coast, leaving the Dutch only the heavily fortified city of Negombo.

When the Dutch punitive force returned to the island in 1763, Kirti Sri Rajasinha relinquished control coastline and withdrew troops inland. Then, in 1764, the Dutch continued their offensive, but their path ran through the jungle, they were pursued by illness, heat, and lack of provisions. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the Kandyan army, hiding in the jungle, caused serious damage to the Dutch army. The Dutch army suffered heavy losses and therefore the offensive was unsuccessful.

In January 1765, the Dutch army took steps to change the tactics of warfare: stockpiled provisions, changed uniforms to more oriented jungle campaigns, changed bayonets to machetes. Thus, the Dutch reached the capital of the kingdom - Kandy, after which they discovered that the city was empty. The Sinhalese army retreated into the jungle, refusing to conduct an open battle, moving into a long war that exhausted the enemy, which had some success - despite all the preparations, the Dutch troops suffered significant losses. The result of the war was the signing of the peace treaty of Batticaloa (Treaty of Batticaloa) in 1766, according to which the Dutch remained under the control coastal areas, the situation remained so until 1796.

From 1796, the territories that were under the control of the Dutch (belonging to France) came under the control of british empire according to the Treaty during the French Revolutionary Wars, during this period Britain, at the expense of the military losses of others European countries became a leading world power. British possession of Ceylon was documented in 1802 by the Treaty of Amiens (Treaty of Amiens). In 1803, the British Empire invaded Kandy, which marked the beginning of the First Kandian War, but the advance was repulsed by the army of the kingdom.

The British made a second attempt to take over the kingdom of Kandy in 1815, starting the Second Kandyan War. The British launched an invasion, but did not meet any serious resistance on the way and reached the capital of the kingdom of Kandy on February 10, 1815. The last king of Kandy, Sri Vikram Rajasinha, of South Indian ancestry, as a result of his activities, the king faced strong opposition from the Sinhalese aristocracy of the Radalas, who sought to strengthen their own power. The successful coup and overthrow of the king of Kandy was orchestrated by the Sinhalese aristocrats in February 1815.

On March 2, 1815, the Treaty (Kandyan Convention) was signed between the aristocracy of Ceylon Radalas and the British. With this treaty, Ceylon recognized George III as its king and became a British colony. It was a unique treaty - it was not signed by the deposed king himself, but it was signed by dignitaries of various levels.

The last king of the kingdom, Sri Vikram Rajasinha, was captured and imprisoned by the British, and subsequently exiled to Vellora Fort in southern India, along with all the pretenders to the throne. Some of the family members were exiled to the city of Tanjore (now known as Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu). The residence of the family of the last king of Kandy, located in the eastern part of the city, is still called "Kandy Raja Aranmanai".

In 1817-1818 the Great Rebellion took place in Uva, also called the Third Kandyan War. The uprising was brutally suppressed by the British. As a result of this uprising, the entire Sinhalese aristocracy was practically destroyed. During their reign, the British expropriated the land of the peasants, which actually led them to extreme poverty. The inhabitants of Kandy were forced to abandon their traditional way of life, the maintenance of their own farms and become hired workers.

In the 1830s, the British brought coffee to the island and started building the railway. The working conditions of hired workers on the plantations were so terrible that the Kandyan peasants, despite their poverty, refused to work as slave labor for the British. This caused the British to bring hundreds of thousands of Tamil coolies (laborers) from South India to Ceylon. Tens of thousands of Tamils ​​died while traveling and then working on the plantations. The British aristocracy needed money all the time, so more and more taxes were introduced, which became an unbearable burden for the population.

In 1848, the Matale Rebellion took place in Ceylon. The uprising began on July 26, 1848 in Dambulla with the blessing of the Buddhist monk Gongalegoda Banda, proclaimed "unmarried king", and Veera Puran Appu, proclaimed prime minister of Ceylon. Their main goal was to capture Kandy and gain independence from the British Empire. The instigators of the riot were caught, tried and expelled to Malaysia.

The revolt in Matali, or the Great Revolt, was the result of the predatory policy of Britain in relation to the population of colonial Ceylon, the rebels were mainly peasants and artisans, thus, for the first time in the history of Ceylon, the uprising was led by ordinary people, because. the Sinhala nobility was almost completely destroyed during the uprising in Uva. The uprising in Matali is considered the first step towards the transition of the anti-colonial uprising into the struggle for the independence of Ceylon from Britain.

In 1944, during the Second World War, the command of the army of the allied forces in Southeast Asia was transferred to Kandy, where it was based until the end of the war.

In 1998, terrorists from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) tried to drive into the Temple of the Tooth Relic in a truck filled with explosives, several people were killed and injured, but the explosion did not cause significant damage to the temple.

Kandy is located in the center of the island, you can get to the city from any part of the coast, from cities and towns.

By train

Kandy is located on the railway track - Badula. The central station is located in the center southeast from the lake. In addition, the train makes stops in residential areas and suburbs of the city. You can buy tickets at the station before the train departs (with the exception of first-class carriages, tickets for which are booked through local travel agencies), seats are occupied according to the principle of seats in the train - whoever is first, that one with a seat. Buy, at least, in the second class. You can check train schedules on the Sri Lankan Railway website.

Bus

The main bus terminal of Kandy Goods Shed is located near central station. It is convenient to get to Kandy by bus from (3-4 hours), Negombo (3-4 hours), (3-4 hours) and Polonaruwa (3.5 hours) and Nuwara Eliya (2 hours). Buses on long routes run large.

Local buses can be reached from and suburbs of Kandy.

Taxi

Long-distance taxis are a popular option in Sri Lanka. Calculate the cost of traveling around Sri Lanka by taxi at the rate of Rs 70-90/km. Ask for a taxi in hotels and guest houses, almost all hotels in Sri Lanka will be happy to help you with transport.

If you are taking a taxi from or Negombo, immediately negotiate with the driver a stop at elephant nursery Pinavella. If you have time and energy, you should also make a stop at botanical garden Peradeniya.