Kandy: The Last Royal Capital

Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka, and it remains one of the island's most significant cultural centres. The city is built around a peaceful man-made lake, with the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — believed to house a tooth of the Buddha — sitting on its northern shore.

The temple, known locally as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka. Daily rituals draw crowds of devotees, and the atmosphere during the evening puja is particularly atmospheric, with drums, chanting and flower offerings filling the halls.

The temple complex includes a museum, a golden-roofed shrine, and the moat-surrounded royal palace buildings that once housed the Kandyan kings.

Kandy is also the starting point for most journeys into the hill country's tea plantations. The train ride from Kandy to Ella is widely considered one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world, winding through misty mountains, waterfalls and endless green terraces.

Other nearby highlights include the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, the Bahirawakanda Buddha statue overlooking the city, and the nearby spice gardens and tea estates.

Kandy is best visited during the dry season from January to March, when the hill country is at its clearest. The annual Esala Perahera — a grand procession featuring elephants, dancers and drummers — takes place in July or August and is the city's most spectacular event.

Spend at least one full day here to explore the temple, stroll around the lake, and take the scenic train into the tea country the following morning.