Kandy

Kandy is a big city in the central part of Sri Lanka. It's a good place to stay overnight while traveling around the country. The city has good infrastructure and a lot of hotels. In 1592, the city received the status of a capital as well as the "Tooth of Buddha" relic. At the moment, the Temple of the Tooth is one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka. From 1815 to 1948 the city was a British colony.

Around 540 BC after Buddha's death and his cremation, 4 teeth were found. In 371 AD one tooth was brought to the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It was credited with magical properties, so only royal dynasty owned the tooth. After the tooth had appeared in Kandy, the temple was founded where the relic has been kept until now. It is stored in 7 caskets, one inside another. The tooth is a symbol of the Buddhist faith in Sri Lanka, so various radical groups tried to destroy it. The tooth is rarely shown to people, the vast majority of temple visitors can only see the golden stupa in which it is stored. The temple itself belongs to a huge complex of buildings, among which are royal palaces with museums inside.

We stayed overnight at a hotel on the hillside above the artificial lake, which offers the best view of the Temple of the Tooth. Here is also an observation deck that you can reach by tuk-tuk. The lake was built in 1807 by the last king of Kandy. His harem was located on a small island in the lake. In the evening you can watch national dances on the lake banks.

Getting there: By train or bus from Colombo (3.5 hours). From Colombo airport take a free shuttle to the nearest bus station, and from there go by bus. But the most convenient way is by taxi (~$50 - $60).