Kandy

Kandy (Sinhala: මහනුවර Mahanuwara meaning 'Great City', Tamil: கண்டி Kaṇṭi), situated 465 meters above sea level at coordinates 7°17'35"N 80°38'6"E in Central Province, stands as Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist city and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. Originally established as Senkadagalapura by King Parakramabahu III (1357–1374 CE), the city derives its English name from the anglicized version of Sinhala 'Kanda Uda Rata' meaning 'the land on the mountain.' The Kingdom of Kandy, founded by Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu in 1469 CE, remained the last independent Sinhalese kingdom, successfully resisting Portuguese (1592-1638), Dutch (1638-1796), and British invasions until the signing of the Kandyan Convention on March 2, 1815. The city's spiritual significance centers on Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, where Buddha's sacred tooth has been housed since King Vimaladharmasuriya I brought it from Delgamuwa in 1595 CE. This sacred relic symbolized legitimacy to rule Sri Lanka for over 2,500 years. Modern Kandy encompasses 28.53 km² with a population of 125,400, surrounded by the Knuckles Mountain Range and Hanthana Mountains. The artificial Kandy Lake, created by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha between 1807-1812, provides the city's scenic centerpiece. The annual Esala Perahera, held in July/August, represents one of Buddhism's most spectacular processions worldwide, featuring the sacred relic casket carried on decorated elephants accompanied by traditional dancers, drummers, and torch bearers. Kandy serves as gateway to Sri Lanka's hill country while preserving authentic Kandyan architecture, culture, and 2,500-year-old Buddhist traditions.