Located in a green valley surrounded by the Knuckles and the Hanthana Mountain Ranges, this sacred Buddhist city is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka and home to a plethora of medieval Buddhist temples, which gave it a World Heritage Site title in 1988. The most famous pilgrimage site in Kandy is clearly the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), within which the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is worshipped through generations. Other highlights are the Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, daily Kandyan cultural show, and many imposing colonial-era buildings.
• Best things to do: Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Watch a traditional dancing show, Walk around Kandy Lake, Take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens, Explore one of the many Museums
• Insider’s tip: If you want to get out of the bustling Kandy downtown, Udawattakele Forest Reserve (just north of the Temple of the Tooth) is a great place to enjoy the greenery and tropical wildlife.
