Speak to any Sri Lankan about their country and the first question you’ll be asked is: ‘Have you been to Kandy?’ Why? Because Kandy is a special place. Journey here for your culture fix. History and creativity can be found in abundance, and, what’s more, at an altitude of 500m, Kandy offers a cooler temperatures than elsewhere in Sri Lanka, with colourful buildings and a beautiful lake at the heart of the city all surrounded by forested hills, while busy street markets, bus stations and restaurants provide that urban buzz.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, ancient Kandy is widely accepted at Sri Lanka’s cultural capital. In fact, it served as the actual capital of Sri Lanka’s last Sinhalese kingdom, which finally fell to the British in 1815. Even today, locals see themselves as a little different – maybe just a little superior – to Sri Lankans from the island’s lower levels.