Kandy - නුවර

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Kandyan History, Architecture, Kandy Lake and Tourist Attractions of Kandy Town

Kandy City of Sri Lanka

Situated in the Central province of Sri Lanka, and being the capital of the province, Kandy is also the second largest city of Sri Lanka. Being 115 km from Colombo by road, Kandy can be reached by main road and by rail. It has attracted the interest of the world due to being home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha, which is worshipped by the Buddhists world over. The city is nestled among the surrounding hills in the Kandy plateau at an elevation of 1526 feet above sea level. The manmade Lake in the heart of the city is the main feature of the city covering an area of 19 hectares or 47 acres. Udawatta Kele next to old Royal Palace is a forest reserve covering an area of 104 hectares or 257 acres and is at an elevation above 377 feet from Kandy Lake. To the south west of the town lies the Hantana Mountain Range with seven peaks with a maximum height of 3800 feet. Kandy has a tropical climate with a humidity around 70-80 present most time of the year and have a dry weather from January to April. The monsoon periods of May to July and October to December brings rain to the area having rough weather intermittently. Though the heart of the Kandy city is covering a small area, it has now spread further up to Peradeniya, Katugastota and Kundasale. The main attractions of the city are the Temple of the Tooth and the annual Perahera of the Temple of the Tooth or the Dalada Maligawa. The Four temples of Natha, Vishnu, Pattini and Kataragama lies in the vicinity of the Dalada Maligawa. Kandy Shopping Center is very popular and caters for the many needs of the population. Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue, Peradeniya Botanical Garden , numerous hiking paths at the main city area, view points of Kandy town and Knuckles Mountain Range in the Dumbara valley to mention a few. Further away from the town one comes across Embekke, Lankatilaka and Gadaladeniya temples and also Spice gardens with many hundreds of plant varieties of Sri Lankan spices. Kandy also is a stepping stone to all other tourist destinations since being situated in the center of the island with a network of roads leading to all parts of the country.

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How the name “Kandy” was derived and the meaning of "Kandy"

During the times of the Kandyan Kingdom, the Sinhalese called the kingdom as "Kanda Udarata" or the country on the hills and the ruling king as the "Kande Raju" or the king of the hills. The Portuguese who invaded this area used to call the area as "Candea" to synonymize the Sinhala pronunciation of the word Kanda. Later the Dutch (1658-1796) and the British (1796-1948) whom also wanted to rule the area called it as "Kandy" which is used today all over the world. The main reason for Kandy to be a world recognized city today is due to the fact that the Buddha’s Tooth Relic Temple being situated in Kandy and the annual Kandy Dalada Maligawa Perahera which is considered to be the best procession in the whole of Asian region which is held in the vicinity of the Tooth Relic Temple. Historically this kingdom was called as Senkadagalapura and the present Sinhala name "Mahanuwara" or the "great city" had been in use since the 18th century which is the official Sinhala name for Kandy today. Among the local population, the name used for Kandy is "Nuwara" - a shortened form of the word "Mahanuwara".

Kandy and Malaya Rata (Hill Country)

Kandy and the historical Malaya Rata

Malaya Rata means the “mountainous country” and had been an entity apart from Ruhuna, Maya and Pihiti countries in the long history. On several occasions, the rulers from these countries seeked the protection of this mountainous country which could not get easily penetrated by the enemies. The most noteable incident is the great sinhalease king Dutugemunu seeking refuge in Malaya Rata while he was still a young prince having a dispute with his father who was the king at that time. Staying in Kotmale, he amassed his own army to wage war on king Elara and later became the king of the whole country. Another noteworthy king to seek the safety of Malaya Rata is King Walagamba (103-89 BC) who spent much time in Malaya Rata before becoming the king of the country again. It is noteworthy to mention that the boundaries of these three regions of Ruhunu, Maya and Pihiti Rata were not static but were of changing nature most of the history. Being situated in Malaya Rata, the Kandyan Kingdom was the last to be dominated by the British on the way to make Sri Lanka a British colony in 1815.

According to historical facts, in the 14th century AD, king Wickramabahu III of Gampola (1357-1375 AD) had made Senkadagala his kingdom. After his death, Sena Sammata Wickramabahu (1469-1511 AD ) became the first king to be crowned at Senkadagala. Of the twelve kings ruled from Senkadagala, Sri Wickrama Rajasingha (1798-1815 AD) became the last king of Senkadagala as well as of Sri Lanka when the British conquered the country in 1815.

“The town of Kandy, Maha–nuwara, The Great City, is the Hill Capital of Ceylon. It has been said of it, by one who has travelled the world over, that it may have equals in the matter of situation but has no superiors. The town itself lies for the most part at one end of the beautiful lake, which snuggles as a broad pool under the hills which rise all around it. The hills are thickly clad with palm trees and tropical flowering trees, and the lake itself is ever changing, now calm and sparkling when the sky is high in the heavens, now rippling with laughter under the magic touch of the morning breeze, and again defying description under the soft caress of the lowering sun. But perhaps, most fascinating of all, it is when the moon has risen over the palm trees, reflecting its silvery glory in the silent waters, while round the trees along the banks myriads of fire-flies fill to the full their brief mysterious life.”

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Peradeniya, Kandy

"If Ceylon is a paradise for every botanist and a lover of flowers, then Peradeniya deserves to be called the very heart of paradise. Peradeniya differs widely in one respect from most of our European Botanical Gardens, for instead of displaying the plants in formal beds, drawn up like soldiers in line as companies, the whole plan of the garden is park like and calculated for pleasing and characteristic effect as well as for scientific instructions, and at Peradeniya, I had admired the amazing fecundity and variety of tropical vegetation. ”

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Temple of the Tooth Relic - Kandy

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Dalada Maligawa Perahera - Kandy

Kandy Royal Palace

Royal palace of the Kandyan Kingdom is also known as the "Mahawasala" and is situated between the Dalada Maligawa and the Vishnu Temple in Kandy. King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798-1815) was the last king to reside in it. Anyone who visits to see it can access the Royal Palace from the area near to Vishnu Temple. The earlier Palace Complex consisted of King's Palace, Queens's Palace, Royal Audience Hall, King's Harem chambers, Queen's Bathing Pavillion and the Building of Temple of the Tooth Relic. The remains that can be seen today of the Royal palace was the residence of the Last king of Kandy [1762 A.D.] Though what we see today is only a section of the original palace complex still many important areas survive. Many Kandyan wood carvings can be found there.

"The palace did occupy a considerable space of ground. Its front, about 200 yards long, made rather an imposing appearance, it looked towards the principal temples, and rose above a handsome moat, the walls of which were pierced with triangular cavities for purpose of illuminations. At one extremity it was bounded by the women's apartments on the front of which, at public festivals, the King and his ladies stationed themselves to witness the procession. The intermediate space was occupied chiefly by the great entrance to the palace, and by the temple a little in the rear. The entrance was by a drawbridge over a moat, though the massive archwayon one hand, up a flight of huge steps, and through another arch-way to the hall of Audience, and on the other hand, up, another flight of steps to the temple and the hexagonal building." ”

Audience Hall

Kandyan architecture in Wood - This was the place where the king had carried out his administration work with ministers on governing matters. The Audience Hall or the Assembly Hall is set on a raised Stone plinth and open in all sides. This was first built in 1784 A.D. Among the few elaborate wood constructions in the Kandyan period, the Audience Hall displays excellent carpentry work as well as fine wood carvings.

Kandy Lake

History of Kandy Lake runs back to year 1807and was built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe It is also known as Kiri Muhuda or Sea of Milk. This is an artificial lake having a water surface of of 19 hectares or 47 acres. Kandy Lake round walk is very popular walking route which is about two miles in distance with a fine view of the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha across the lake. Large trees dotted along the Lake round road gives the shade as well as beauty with a blend of nature and greenery to the atmosphere.

"The Lake, which lies nearly east and west, is one of the most attractive features of Kandy, being embosomed in hills which, in some parts, rise abruptly from its margin, their bases having being scraped to make the road, which runs all round it ( a distance about two miles), and forms one of the most favourite walks and drives of the European inhabitants, as well as a bathing and washing place for the natives. The insulated buildings formed, from their privacy and security, a favourite retreat of the late king; they are now used as a powder magazine and ordnance store. The ground it covers was formerly a swamp, or paddy fields; and it is said that it was at the suggestion of the unfortunate Major Davie, then a prisoner there, that late king of Kandy resolved to convert it into a lake, by leading into it several small streams. For this purpose, the natives were forced to labour in great numbers, without hire, as was the case in all public works, called Rajah karriah, and the discontent thereby produced is said to have chiefly led to the rebellion amongst the Kandyans, which so materially assisted the British arms in the subjugation of their country in 1815. ”

The Four Temples

Natha Temple - The Natha Temple or the "Natha Devale " as called by the Sinhalese, is the most oldest building of the Ancient capital. It dates back to 14th century AD. God Natha is considered be to a Bodhisatva of Mahayana Buddhism. The Architecture is of Indian Vijayanagar style, it is said.

Vishnu Temple - This temple is situated near the Royal palace and is popular as the "Maha Devalaya " or the main temple. It is said that the announcement of the appointment of the new King of Kandy took place in a ceremony at this temple during the rule of the Kandyan kings

Pattini Temple - This temple belongs to the Goddess Pattini, which is about four hundred years old. She is the most popular among the country's village population since she is associated with the welfare of newborn babies and small children.

Kataragama Temple - This is dedicated to the god of Kataragama. He is considered to be one of the four guardian gods of Sri Lanka.

Kandy City Center

The state of art Kandy City Center - The need of a good Shopping Center in Kandy was fulfilled in the year 2008 December with the opening of the Kandy City Center of the international caliber for the general public of Kandy. This ten storied modern shopping complex is one of the most frequented shopping malls by people in Sri Lanka. Built on the land earlier belonged to Walker Sons and Company, the front entrance to this Kandy Shopping Center still displays the earlier features of the existed build which is a requirement of the building code of the city of Kandy cultural heritage. The land area covered by the shopping center is nearly 12 acres and the shopping mall design is a blend of traditional Kandyan architectural features with latest technological marvels of the modern world. Having nearly 400 shops with in the complex, it caters for almost most of the requirements of the public having sectors such as banks, telecommunications, supermarkets, restaurants, clothing stores, bookshops and more. The five level carpark adjoining the shopping center boosts the customer convenience which helped the whole of the Kandy town to ease the parking problem in a successful way. A visit to Kandy City Center is a must for any visitor coming to see the beauty of the Kandy town and the feel of the Kandyan experience. (Image source - Kandy City Center website)

Kandyan Spice gardens

Spice Gardens in Sri lanka - Sri Lanka is world renown as the "Spice island of the East" and many tourists to the famous Kandy city don’t forget to visit a spice gardens found along main roads of Colombo-Kandy and Kandy- Matale- Dambulla mainly. Sri Lankan cuisines have flavours of their own and are celebrated too. Sri Lankan rice and curries are prepared to variety of tastes in Sri Lankan homes daily and uses condiments and spice mixtures to prepare the meals. Each spice and herb adds a unique smell and taste to the preparation and the combination of them gives a variety smells and tastes to meals. Condiments, curry powders, pastes and spice mixtures are prepared using cinnamon, cardamom, pandan leaves, curry leaves(karapincha), pepper corn, clove, ginger, turmeric, black mustard, fennel seeds, coriander, cumin seeds and many more. All of these varieties can be found in many good Spice Gardens not difficult to come across.