Colombo Trip Overview
Kandy was a royal capital and the last stronghold of the Kandyan kings against foreign power, holding out against them for about 300 years. The two main Buddhist Chapters are based here and formed the last center of independent Buddhist thought during colonial times. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988. A day tour to this sacred city is a must if you come to Sri Lanka. With us you will also enjoy a tea factory tour during this day trip!
‣ Hassle free two way hotel transfers
‣ Hear commentary from an expert guide
‣ Visit the UNESCO Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 13 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Kandy was a royal capital and the last stronghold of the Kandyan kings against foreign power, holding out against them for about 300 years. The two main Buddhist Chapters are based here and formed the last center of independent Buddhist thought during colonial times. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988. A day tour to this sacred city is a must if you come to Sri Lanka. With us you will also enjoy a tea factory tour during this day trip!
‣ Hassle free two way hotel transfers
‣ Hear commentary from an expert guide
‣ Visit the UNESCO Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Geragama Tea Factory, Geragama Estate Rd, Pilimathalawa, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most important tea producers. There are thousands of tea plantations all around the island. Instead of automated tea processing, Sri Lanka still uses the mechanized colonial process. This is because it ensures higher quality than the new brands. Giragama Tea Plantation has opened its factory for in-depth tours on tea processing. The tour provides insight into refining black teas and the complex process conceived back in the British colonial era. The factory is located just outside Kandy.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
The Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya is one of the best botanic gardens in Asia. It is exquisitely maintained and the area spans over 147 acres. Over 10000 flora is found within the garden. It is much appreciated for an extensive collection of orchids. The botanic garden houses the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka as well. The beautiful pathways and green lawns are picture-perfect. Historically, the garden dates back to 1371 when King Wickramabahu built his council chamber in this area. After 1815, the British used it as a commercial crop arboretum. It was formally opened as the Royal botanical garden in 1843. Ever since it has attracted visits from not only the British royalty but also distinguished guests from all over the world. Notably, the botanic garden was the South East Asia Command headquarters, under Lord Louis Mountbatten, during the Second World War. The Peradeniya royal botanic garden is about 5.5 km from Kandy.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is considered one of the holiest places in Sri Lanka and is an important pilgrimage destination. The golden-roofed temple is supposedly home to a tooth of Buddha and during the puja, the time of offering and prayers, tourists as well as religious followers are able to inspect the gold casket in which it is guarded. The temple itself is located in the royal palace complex, which encompasses several temples and museums. It was originally believed that the holder of the tooth relic would also be the rightful governor of Sri Lanka. This a UNESCO World Heritage Site and should definitely by visited if you go to Kandy.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue, Bahirawa Kanda Rd, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
The Bahirawa Kanda Buddha is a 27-meter high statue, which was built on the Bahirawa hill. It is a huge whitewashed structure overlooking the city of Kandy. A stairway runs along the back of the statue, which leads to a viewpoint that offers mesmerizing views of the mountainous landscape. Kandy city and its backdrop is a picturesque sight from this viewpoint. This statue was built in 1972 and is one of the tallest in modern Sri Lanka. The only viewpoint in Kandy to compete with Bahirawa Kanda is Arthur’s seat nearby.
Duration: 1 hour
