Ancient Delights at Kandy
Kandy is Sri Lanka’s second city and was its last royal capital. It is an important cultural centre with the Temple of the Tooth taking centre stage. Like most urban areas in Sri Lanka, it’s busy and noisy during the day, but it is small enough to wander around comfortably. The lake is at the heart of the city and its lush surroundings add to its charm.
Getting a fair priced tuk tuk from the station to my accommodation was easier than I had anticipated. I stayed in a private house run as a B&B. It was the most comfortable accommodation on the whole trip and the views to the lake and the temple complex are spectacular. There were plenty of good places nearby to eat and several with views over Kandy Lake.
The Temple of the Tooth
The grounds and the temple of the tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) are beautiful. The old royal palace with its heavy and solid 17th century structure forms the main part of the complex. The Temple of the Tooth is a wooden structure in the centre of the palace. Its name is reference to a canine tooth of the Buddha held deep inside the temple. Obviously, many of the visitors to the site are Buddhist devotees. That and the fine golden decorations and traditional religious objects, such as the incense burners, all help to create a serene atmosphere.
