Kandy nice
A one-day trip to Kandy on September 29th—easily the most fulfilling day of the entire journey: Temple of the Tooth Relic ～ Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens ～ Kandyan Dance Founded in the 14th century, Kandy lies in the central-southern part of Sri Lanka, long embraced by mountains teeming with rare plant species. Historically, it served as an administrative and religious hub. Renowned as a Buddhist sacred site, the ancient city of Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings. Before being conquered by the British in 1815, it thrived culturally for over 2,500 years. The Temple of the Tooth Relic here is a famous historic building and a pilgrimage site for Buddhists 🏯. Temple of the Tooth Relic Ticket 🎫: 2,000 rupees. Visit duration: 2.5 hours. Also known as "Dalada Maligawa," the temple was founded in 1595 and is famous for enshrining the tooth relic of Buddha Shakyamuni, a national treasure of Sri Lanka. It’s a bustling pilgrimage site with devout worshippers. Over 95% of Sri Lankans practice Buddhism, making this a sacred spot for locals. The tooth relic can be worshipped daily at 5:30, 9:30, and 18:30. Every July and August, the grand Esala Perahera is held here—people carry torches, drum, dance, and over a hundred elephants in festive attire join the parade, creating a lively spectacle 🐘. Fun fact: The other surviving Buddha’s tooth relic is enshrined at Lingguang Temple in Badachu, Beijing. Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens Ticket 🎫: Around 2,000–3,000 rupees (a bit fuzzy on the exact price). Visit duration: About 2 hours. The garden isn’t overly large but boasts a rich variety of plants and many towering ancient trees 🌳. The highlight of the trip was finding the tree planted by Premier Zhou Enlai during his visit, alongside another planted by Dengo. They stand side by side, near the entrance of the palm avenue, to the right. Kandyan Dance Kandyan Dance is the most iconic traditional dance of the Sinhalese people and a symbol of their culture. Originating in the central highlands once ruled by the ancient Kingdom of Kandy, it’s also called "Highland Dance." Rooted in ancient rituals to honor the god Kohomba, the dance involves chanting, drumming, dancing, and offering food to deities—blending wishes for warding off evil and divine protection with entertainment 🕺. For an authentic experience, the renowned venue shown in the picture comes highly recommended. Ticket price: 3,500 rupees. Kandy was full of pleasant surprises: spotting elephants by the roadside on the way there 🐘, savoring incredibly delicious seafood fried rice 🍚, the universal relief of slipping on shoes after visiting the temple (a feeling all foreigners could relate to!), greeting a local with "Good evening" and getting a warm "Good evening, madam" in return, and watching a giant turtle 🐢 slowly cross the road from a tuk-tuk. We set out with excitement, returned fully satisfied, yet still felt a tinge of longing to stay longer. #KandyToothRelicTemple #KandyRoyalBotanicalGardens #KandyLake #KandyanDance
