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The
laidback 'capital' of the
hill country, and the historical bastion
of Buddhist power, is built around a peaceful lake and
set in a picturesque bowl of hills. It has a distinctive
architectural character thanks to its gently sloping
tiled roofs and the town centre is a delightful compendium
of old shops, noise, buses, markets and hotels. Its
standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa
(Temple of the Tooth), a temple which houses Sri Lanka's
most important religious relic - the sacred tooth of
Buddha. There are daily ceremonies of homage to the
Tooth Relic, each attracting white-clad pilgrims carrying
lotus blossoms and frangipani.
During the frenetic Kandy Esala
Perahera celebrations, a replica
of the shrine is carried through the city on an elephant.
Other sights include the small but excellent National
Museum, the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, and the Udawattakelle
Sanctuary, a peaceful haven for birdlife. There are
plenty of lovely scenic walks around Kandy, one of which
leads to the Mahaweli, where you may see elephants being
bathed. The Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre
beside the lake has good displays of local crafts and
an auditorium for popular dance performances.
Kandy is just on 100km (62mi) north east of Colombo
and although the town lacks an airport, there are any
number of buses and trains running between the two destinations.
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