Kandy is the historic and cultural capital of Sri Lanka, and has born witness to the pomp and splendour of the last Sinhalese kingdom. Several religious sites, clustered around the famous temple of the Tooth Relic, imbue the city with an atmosphere of religious devotion. Kandy is right in the heart of Sri Lanka and is the historic city that symbolises the island. From 1590 to 1815, it was the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom, which had taken refuge here to escape the European settlers. Of this glorious past, the town has conserved the remains of highly-respected temples. The most important of these is the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Its construction dates back to the 17th century and it houses what is believed to be the tooth of Buddha and is the Mecca for Buddhism throughout the world. Around the lake on whose banks it is set, other Hindi temples, Natha Devale, Vishnu Devale, Pattini Devale and Karatagama Devale, are dedicated to the main gods and goddesses of the island. In Kandy, the dance of the bonzes with incandescent purple robes is reason enough to stay awhile in this town with its old-world charm.

From Kandy, it is easy to penetrate another of Sri Lanka’s hidden treasures, that of tea growing. In the nearby mountains, huge plantations cover the slopes; tiny female hands harvesting the leaves bring them to life. From the green fields to the drying sheds, this sparkling agricultural tradition infiltrates everything, including the markets, such as Kandy market, its paths overflowing with fruit and vegetables.

The town is also the gateway to the ‘Cultural Triangle’ and to six other bastions of Buddhism, classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also the starting point for a spectacularly scenic rail journey to the capital, Colombo, on board a historic steam train known as the ‘Viceroy Special’.