Kandy

Once the capital of the Kandyan Kingdom, the last indigenous state of the Sri Lankan kings, the bustling town of Kandy is surrounded by the Knuckles, Madulkele and Kotmale mountain ranges. Set at 500m above sea level and accessible only by a series of steep road and rail passes, this historic city is still a focal point of Sri Lankan culture and is renowned for the sacred Kandy Temple, where it is said that Buddha’s tooth is enshrined. An evening visit to the temple coinciding with the rituals and prayers is highly atmospheric. It can be combined with a lively late afternoon cultural show to see traditional Kandyan drummers, jugglers, fire breathers and colourful dancers.

At Peradeniya, near Kandy, the Botanical Gardens are home to an incredible collection of orchids, exotic plants and rare trees. One of the natural wonders of this botanical garden is the double-lobed coconuts joined like Siamese twins, a strange palm native to the Seychelles.

While in Kandy, a visit to a spice garden is recommended and provides a fascinating insight into the variety of spices grown on the island, their role in Sri Lankan cuisine, and how the spices played a significant role in shaping the history of Sri Lanka.