7°17N 80°40E, pop (2000e) 116 000. Capital of Kandy district, Sri Lanka, looped by the R Mahaweli, 116 km/72 mi NE of Colombo; royal city until 1815; commercial centre for tea-growing area; focal point of the Buddhist Sinhalese culture; Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), where the eye tooth of Buddha is enshrined; Peradeniya Botanical Gardens; Esala Perahera religious festival (JulAug).
Kandy (මහ නුවර in Sinhala கண்டி in Tamil) is a city in the centre of Sri Lanka. Administrative Status: Capital of the Central Province (which encompasses the districts of Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya) and also of the administrative district of Kandy. One of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka The name Kandy is derived from the Sinhalese 'Kanda Uda Pas Rata', literally 'the five districts on the mountain.
Anuradhapura enjoyed the status of capital city from the 4th century BC until the 8th century AD, when it was replaced by Polonnaruwa, which was capital until the 13th century. From 1592 until the 19th century, Kandy was the capital city and thus the home of the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth. Surviving invasions of coastal regions of Sri Lanka by the Portuguese in the 16th century, by the Dutch in the 17th century and having successfully repelled an attack by the British in 1803, Kandy preserved its independence until it finally submitted to the British in 1815 when its chieftains submitted to British rule, after the last King of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Raja Singha (Raja Wickramasinghe) had been deposed after a reign spanning from 1798 to 1815.
See also: Invasions of Kandy
Urban morphology
The small city of Kandy, located 500 m above sea level, is filled with trees.
Kandy has now grown out to encompass Peradeniya, home to the University of Peradeniya and the Botanical Gardens, Katugastota to the north, and east to Kundasale, Tennekumbura and Gurudeniya.
Demographics
Kandy is a Sinhalese majority city;
| Ethnicity | Population | % Of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 77,560 | 70.48 |
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 9,427 | 8.57 |
| Indian Tamils | 5,245 | 4.77 |
| Sri Lankan Moors | 15,326 | 13.93 |
| Other (including Burgher, Malay) | 2,489 | 2.26 |
| Total | 110,049 | 100 |
Source:
World Heritage Site
(inscription criteria from the World Heritage List 1988)
The monumental ensemble of Kandy is an example of construction that associates the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth.
The Temple of the Tooth, the palace complex and the holy city of Kandy are associated with the history of the dissemination of one of the most important religions of humanity, Buddhism.
Festivals
Kandy is also popular because of the annual festival known as the "Esala Maha Perahera" in which the tooth relic of Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city.
Shopping
For a city with a population of only 110,000 Kandy offers a variety of shopping destinations. From colourful and vibrant markets, to exquisite boutiques, and currently in construction - the Kandy City Centre - Sri Lanka's largest Commercial Shopping Complex, which will offer 6 floors of shopping, cinemas, entertainment zones, food courts, tourist floor and day and night bus and taxi service for visitors.
Culinary
Kandy has a vibrant range of restaurants and fast food outlets. Just like most urban centres in Sri Lanka, food from around the world can be explored in some of Kandy's exciting restaurants, especially Chinese, European,Sri Lankan, Indian and some American fast food outlets.
Nightlife
For its size Kandy offers a reasonable nightlife.
Botanical garden
The Botanical Garden Peradeniya is situated about 4 miles north of Kandy at Peradeniya and is visited by 1.2 million people per annum.
User Comments Add a comment…