Visit Kandy and you are entering the heart of one of the world's most beautiful and spiritual regions - the Sri Lankan Hill country.
The city has a relaxed atmosphere and is an integral part of the Buddhist world with its proud and long history. It is surrounded by stunning scenery in the tea scented hills and lush forests that guard the city. The city is based around a beautiful lake which is surrounded by gem and antique stores and bustling markets perfect for lovers of shopping bargains.
Museums and cemeteries that document both the Kandyan's valiant resistance against colonial invasion and the early struggles of European invaders will fascinate those with an interest in history.
Numerous Buddhist relics are there to be explored and Kandyan drummers and elephants attached to the temples will live long in the memory.
The surrounding countryside is spectacular, a land of thick jungle, tea plantations built on seemingly impossible angles, imposing colonial houses, free flowing rivers and mighty waterfalls. A night time walk up the pilgrimage site of Adam's Peak, or an early morning climb to World's End, where at the top a view of dazzling splendour awaits. Nuwara Eliya, probably the best preserved colonial hill station in the sub-continent, is a must. The Sri Lankan Hill Country is a land like no other.
Must do experiences
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Visiting the huge array of Buddhist temples. The most prominent being the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, which has Lanka's most important Buddhist artifact, a tooth of Lord Buddha.
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Taking a stroll around the Royal Palace Park where the lake and rolling hills combine to give an air of complete tranquility.
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A trip to the Udawattakelle Sanctuary just north of the city, where monkeys and exotic birds can be seen in their natural lush homelands.
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Admire the huge array of orchids at the Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya just outside the city limits.
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Taking a ride on elephants or see them taking a river bath at the Riverside Elephant Park 4kms south west of Kandy.
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A walk back into the time of the British colonial era with visits to the Tea Museum and the British Garrison Cemetery.
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Visiting the Dalada and National Museums to understand Kandyan culture and see spectacular relics of a long-gone dynasty.
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For golf lovers, a trip to the Victoria Golf Club is a must. It is a superb course with even better views, 18kms east of the city.
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Rafting in Kitulgala where some of the world's finest rapids are to be found in a breathtaking setting. "The Bridge Over The River Kwai" was filmed there.
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