Journey through Sri Lanka - Paradise on Earth - The Sacred City of Kandy (KANDY)

Kandy, also known as Mahanuwara, meaning "great city," is the second largest city in Sri Lanka. Built by King Vikramabahu of the Kingdom of Kandy in the 14th century, it became the capital in 1480. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and the last stronghold against colonial rule. Before being conquered by the British in 1815, it boasted a rich and splendid 2,500-year history, leaving behind a renowned Sinhalese heritage and becoming famous worldwide as a Buddhist pilgrimage site. The Temple of the Tooth, initially built in 1595, is a famous Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. It houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic - the tooth relic of the Buddha, making Kandy a sacred place for Buddhists around the world. The Temple of the Tooth stands quietly by Kandy Lake, resembling a white lotus floating on the water from afar. The temple's interior is not large, split into two levels with interconnected halls and a complex structure. The core is the inner chamber on the second floor, where the national treasure, the Buddha's tooth, is enshrined. The tooth is kept in a seven-tiered golden stupa within a dark chamber, which opens around 6:30 pm every evening. Believers from all over the world flock here, holding various flowers and with sincere hearts, lining up to admire the sacred tooth relic. Kandy Lake, located in the city center, is an artificial lake built over 12 years by Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last king of the Kandyan Dynasty in the early 19th century. It has a circumference of over 3,000 meters and is surrounded by a white, triangular decorative wall. The small island in the center of the lake was once the bathing place for the king and queen. The scenery around Kandy Lake is incredibly beautiful, with lush tropical flowers, plants, and trees forming a natural canopy. Various flowers bloom in vibrant colors, creating a breathtaking sight. There is also a flat road around the lake, and it takes about 2 to 3 hours to walk around it. The University of Peradeniya, located south of the Peradeniya Botanical Garden in Kandy, was formerly the University of Ceylon, established in 1942. It is the oldest and largest university in Sri Lanka and one of the most beautiful universities in Asia. The campus covers an area of 10 square kilometers and has nearly 10,000 students. The vast, open campus has no walls and features an elegant environment with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, and birdsong. Ancient buildings are scattered throughout, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance. A thousand-year-old banyan tree attracts many visitors to take photos. Kandy is an ancient city that best represents Sri Lankan culture. It is a cultural hub, bringing together traditional art forms such as sculpture, architecture, dance, music, and painting. It lacks the vibrant and diverse life of a modern metropolis or the charming scenery of a coastal town. The streets are bustling with people coming and going, living simple, unhurried lives. The sky is often clear blue, and the emerald green mountains embrace the crystal-clear Kandy Lake. Perhaps this is the true soul of Kandy.