Mar 28, 2016
Visit Kandy, the ancient Capital of Sri Lanka!
The majestic city of Kandy was once the Capital of Sri Lanka in ancient times and is the second largest city in Sri Lanka.
Founded in the 14th Century, it is located in the center of the country and is a beautiful mountainous region complete with gorgeous scenery. There are some awesome sights to see here that are also included on the UNESCO World Heritage list!
1. The Royal Botanical Gardens
One of the largest botanical gardens in Asia, the Royal Botanical Gardens was founded in 1821. It is located five kilometers from Kandy and provides for some lovely walks among old trees. A massive tree called ‘The Elephant Leg’ should be embraced so that one can welcome personal happiness into his or her life.
The Garden is home to exotic plants collected from all over Asia and is also famous for a collection of 175 varieties of palm trees. You can also see a tree planted by Yuri Gagarin.
Given the large area of the botanical Gardens and the variety of plants to be viewed, the best time to visit is the first half of the day. The garden is open every day from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm.
2. Spice Garden
An informative and fun trip to take, at the Spice Garden we discovered the best spices to cook with, and also Ayurvedic herbs which are to make cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
There is a guide to be found in the Garden, who is also an Ayurvedic doctor. He speaks Russian fluently and shares interesting facts about the herbs to be found there.
There is only one variety of herbs within the Sandalwood category that has an uplifting effect and tightens the skin.
You can also see how spices are mixed into the concoctions that we see on the counter at shops. We tried a fresh dried carnation for its taste and it was quite oily! But, it’s very fresh!
3. Gems Factory
The factory has a Russian Speaking guide who will tell you about the mining and processing of precious stones in Sri Lanka. You can also look through the varieties of precious and semi-precious stones mined on the island. The guide will also teach you how to ascertain the quality of the stones you choose.
In Sri Lanka, it is better to buy the stones rather than the finished jewelry products as gold and silver are imported and therefore, the finished products are quite pricey, but the stones are quite affordable.
If you’re looking for something special, keep an eye out for the star sapphires, which are considered a beautiful symbol of the country.
4. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
This temple where the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is housed is a place of pilgrimage to Buddhists from around the world.
The sacred tooth relic is housed is a separate room under a golden canopy in seven cases and is only exposed to visitors once a year.
Beside the hall, you can also see the temple library, and the lounge with Buddha statues which have been brought from different countries. It is best to visit the temple after 6 in the evening when the pooja, or service starts.