The trio sightseeing of Kandy!

Nestled amidst scenery hills with rice fields and tea plantations, Kandy in Sri Lanka is beautiful. It’s a fascinating city which is full of rich culture and heritage. Today, the sacred city of Kandy is a UNESCO world heritage site and is the second largest in Sri Lanka, behind the capital Colombo. From an ancient indigenous kingdom to a British colonial outpost, Kandy has a long and intriguing history. The ideal time to visit Kandy is from December to April as the weather is dry and pleasant. Unlike some parts of India, the weather doesn’t get really very cold in Kandy even during winters.

A 3.5 hour-drive from Colombo, the town of Kandy is one of the most scenic and atmospheric places in Sri Lanka and offers a great deal of sightseeing for the visitors. The utmost frequented places in Kandy are the Temple of Tooth, Kandy Lake and Kandy Cultural Dance Show. Located adjacent to each other, these 3 attractions can be easily covered in the second half of the day and the best way to get oriented to the hill city is by taking a walking tour. The trio sightseeing is pretty popular and admired amongst the native and non-native visitors.

Temple of Tooth is one of the holiest shrines in the Buddhist world overlooking the vast expanse of the Kandy Lake. This revered temple is said to hold a tooth relic belonging to the spiritual leader Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. The tooth is carefully preserved in a golden casket in the shape of a stupa, thus it is not possible to catch a glimpse of it. In addition to the main shrine, the complex includes several small temples, shrines and museums. Wander through the giant temple complex and marvel at beautiful shrines of Buddha that are made from marble and the mural paintings depicting the story of Buddhism. The Temple of Tooth has flawless white walls along with glided roofs and is also renowned for its splendid interior structures which are intricately decorated, elaborately carved and painted with exotic woods and ivory. There is an annual festival known as the Festival of the Tooth which is held in month of July and August. It is a grand festival celebrated with elegant costumes and many travellers visit Kandy especially to enjoy this festival at Temple of Tooth.

Close to the Temple of Tooth, Kandy Lake is a dominating part of the Kandy city. It’s an ideal place to spend hours gazing at the calm water and stunning nature views. The iconic serene lake is considered as the heart and soul of the city because of its central location and undeniable beauty. The lake is charming, peaceful and a perfect place to spot some of the wildlife such as Monitor Lizards, Turtles, Ducks, Monkeys and much more. A silent stroll especially during the sunset time around the massive Kandy Lake is an experience that one should not miss. If you are too lazy to walk throughout, just relax on the wooden benches and enjoy the cascading beauty of the lake.

After the Kandy Lake visit, walk to the Kandy Lake Club to witness the 70 minutes spectacular cultural dance show. The energetic show starts at 17:30 hours and it portrays the ancient culture, tradition and rituals of the country. It is established with a view of having a unique cultural dance performance bringing together all Sri Lankan dance types to one platform. This enthralling performance is full of vibrant colours, loud beat of drums and raw energy. Marvel at the subtle expressions, graceful dance moves, extravagant costumes, brisk eye movements, enthusiasm and gusto of the dancers. The highlight of the show is the Fire Walk which is performed at the end where the artists walk barefoot through a specially prepared fire pit with red-hot charcoal. This last piece of fire walk performance will definitely add more wonder to your amazement.

Once the show is over, it’s time to pamper your food cravings. Kandy charms its numerous visitors with its delicious cuisine. Try out the famous Devilled Chicken dish served in a spicy sauce with onion and chilli, Kottu which is a traditional Sri Lankan dish and Hoppers – a small bowl shaped pancake. All in all, Kandy is a picturesque city surrounded by lush green hills and is a must-visit destination for its immense beauty and heritage along with a vibrant city feel.

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