Central Province
Kandy
The last royal capital, cradling a sacred lake and temple
Sri Lanka's cultural heart sits around a tranquil lake in the hill country, home to the revered Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the annual Esala Perahera festival of drummers and decorated elephants.
cultureunescohill country
Nearby attractions
temple
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The most venerated Buddhist site in Sri Lanka, said to house a tooth relic of the Buddha.
nature
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
A sprawling 147-acre botanical garden with a giant fig tree avenue and orchid house.
viewpoint
Kandy Lake
A serene man-made lake encircled by a lakeside walking path popular at dawn and dusk.
Explore on the map
Best time to visit
June–September
Visit on a tour
