Kandy

Kandy was the last royal capital before British rule and remains the cultural heart of Sri Lanka. It is home to the Temple of the Tooth which enshrines a sacred relic of the Buddha. The annual Esala Perahera procession fills the city with dancers, drummers, and richly adorned elephants creating one of Asia’s most spectacular religious festivals. The lake at the city’s center was built by the last king of Kandy and reflects the hills that cradle the city. Every street and shrine carries stories of resilience and devotion that still shape Sri Lankan identity.