Kandy city

Kandy city

Kandy is the main cultural capital of Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in the country after Colombo. You will stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens with rare plants, orchids and giant bamboos. Tens of thousands of plants are collected here, striking the imagination of tourists in the middle zone, accustomed to a temperate climate, low trees and spring-summer flowering. The bushes and trees here are of impressive size. Also one of the interesting plants in the garden is the Curupita Guiana tree, which is called the cannonball tree. The tree often sags under the weight of the fruits, which resemble cannonballs. According to one legend, Buddha was born under this tree. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred and revered places of worship in the Buddhist world, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The Temple of the Tooth Relic is located on the shore of the lake, in close proximity to the royal palace. It is considered one of the most important places of worship for Buddhists around the world, as it houses one of the two surviving relics - the Tooth Relic of Buddha. The artificial Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake) is located in the very center of the city, and is the main tourist area and an independent attraction. It appeared in 1807 on the initiative of the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy - Sri Wickrama Rajasinha. In the center of the lake there is a small island that the king used as a harem and during colonial times the British stored ammunition there. The Bahirawakanda Buddha statue is located on a hill whose height is 850 meters. The height of the statue is about 25 meters. The name "Bahirava Kanda" translates as "mountain spirits". Such an impressive natural hill has its own history and legends. The temple grounds have deep religious significance: prayers, meditations and ceremonies of both monks and believers take place here. According to legend, the name of the hill comes from the demoness Bakhirava, who is associated with this place. The complex is run by the Asgiriya monastic community, one of the two main sections of the Siyam Nikaya, the leading Buddhist order in Sri Lanka, and is actively involved in the spiritual and cultural life of Kandy. Visitors are encouraged to adhere to traditional norms of dressing modestly and removing shoes before entering sacred areas. The temple is open to the public and provides opportunities to study Buddhism, perform ceremonies and enjoy scenic views, including a city skyline A walk through a tea plantation: an opportunity to see how pickers (usually with local hands) carefully pluck the top leaves (“two leaves and a bud”). The production process: the guide will show you the workshops with rattling vintage machines from the 19th and 20th centuries for withering, rolling, fermenting, drying and sorting tea. Tasting: you will be asked to compare different categories of drink - from delicate Orange Pekoe (OP) to strong leaf or small tea. Brand store: purchase authentic Ceylon tea directly from the factory You will also be treated to an evening performance with national Kandy dances and walking on coals.