If you find relaxing on a beach is becoming a bit too slow paced and are looking for a bit of immersion of cold breeze where the brownish environment is substituted by the greenish environment, then Kandy is the ideal place to visit. Located in between multiple mountain ranges including Hanthana Mountain range and Knuckles Mountain range and protected with Mahavili River, gave enough reasons to King Sena Sammatha Wickramabhahu (1473-1511) to establish his kingdom in this magnificent place of the country. When you are greeted by a soft rain in the most unpredictable moments during the journey, when you stop travelling for a moment in order to experience the greenery of the environment which will make you forget all your problems of yesterday for a moment, when you had to battle with the unforgiving, sharp and stubborn silver mist and mellows you out and say ‘aaw this is life!” under your breath, that’s when you realize that you reached to Kandy.
On its way to this beautiful city, the Kadugannawe area has one of the breathtaking views in the whole country. This mesmerising vista must have been the same reason why it took a lot of years for the British army to capture the kingdom, where it made them forget all the things in mind about the invasion and fall in love with its beauty instantly. If you were able to elude from this hypnotism which caused by the beauty of that view and continued your journey along the road, you will find the famous entrance to the city; Kadugannawe tunnel. Kadugannawa tunnel is made by the British in order to link Kandy with other parts of the country. It is said that the British chose to build this short tunnel rather than just blasting the rock, as a form of psychological warfare. According to a prophecy, the Kandyan Kingdom wouldn’t fall until the mountains were tunnelled. However this grand entrance was able to give a small glimpse about the prodigious city they are about to enter.
Peradeniya Botanical garden
The route is all about defining the Kandy city. While Kadugannawa tunnel reflects the dynamism of the city, the Peradeniya Botanical garden reflects the amiability of the city. The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept the court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli River. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy.
Thereafter, the groundwork for a botanical garden was formed by Alexandar Moon in 1821. He used the garden for coffee and cinnamon plants. The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo and the Kalutara Garden in Kaluthara. The Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844. There are avenues in the River Drive such as Cook's Pine Avenue, Palmyra Palm Avenue, Double Coconut Avenue, Cabbage Avenue, and Royal Palm Avenue. The classical Avenue of Palms is in this Garden. One item with a significant history is the Cannonball Tree planted by King George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary in 1901. It is often laden with fruit, which is thought to resemble cannonballs.
During World War II, the Botanical Garden was used by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the supreme commander of the allied forces in the South Asia, as the headquarters of the South East Asia Command. This is a place where it contains 4000 species of plants throughout an area of 147 acres. Being the centre of limelight results this place to attract more than 2 million visitors annually.
Temple of Tooth relic
Our next stop is the very core heart of the Kandy city; the temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalanda Maligawa). It is not just a temple. This is considered to be the most sacred place in Sri Lanka. The temple is built within the royal palace complex, as the relic symbolised the governance of Sri Lanka in ancient times. Large pillars of the palace, gold plated roof over the temple and the vibrant greenery of the garden balances the mystique aura within the temple. The city declared as a world heritage city by UNESCO in part due to the temple. Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily ritual worship in the inner chamber of the temple, in annual rotation. They conduct these services three times a day: at dawn, at noon and in the evening. On Wednesdays, there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and flagrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.
Kandy Esala Perahara
July and August are 2 months filled with special events; for Canadians, its Canada day. For French, it’s Bastille Day and for Americans and Indians, it’s their independence day. However, for Kandians in Sri Lanka, it’s Perahara time. On this time of year, something unique happens during the nighttime. The usually busy streets during the daytime become restricted during the nighttime. The ordinary buildings during the daytime get decorated with colourful lights during the nighttime. Take a deep breath. You will feel a sweet aroma of incense sticks mixed with burnt oil. This is a sign which gives you a hint of what’s about to happen on these streets.
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka, featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and lavishly decorated elephants. This is held in Esala (July or August) which is the month that is believed to commemorate the first teaching given by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. The Kandy Esala Perahara lasts for ten days while various festivities can be witnessed right throughout. The Sinhalese term ‘Perahera’ means a parade of musicians, dancers, singers, acrobats and various other performers accompanied by a large number of caparisoned Tuskers and Elephants parading the streets in celebration of a religious event.
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four ‘guardian’ Gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini. It is followed in order by those of the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini ‘Devales’ (Temples dedicated to these Gods) which are situated in the vicinity of the Temple of the Tooth. This is a celebration which goes beyond the ordinary. Every item itself individually adds a unique value and a colour to the perhaps.
Kandy view point
Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered “If I had a chance to fly over these stars and look at them from above? To look at them like the great creator looks at these tiny starts and galaxies from above?” Well, you can make this dream a reality in the Kandy view point. If you want to get a good panoramic view of the Kandy city you can go on top of the Rajapihilla Mawatha where you can fulfil that fantasy. Grab a glass of wine and if you can make there during the sunset, with its cold breeze, magnificent view of the city, greenery and the way the city turns dark with the dusk will make you fall in love with this place at just a simple glimpse of it.
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