Kandy

Kandy is a major city in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city sits in the hills of the Kandy plateau and is the administrative center of the Central Province.

Kandy is often called the cultural capital of Sri Lanka because of its rich history and beautiful buildings. The city is famous for the Temple of the Tooth Relic, known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, which is one of the most important places in the Buddhist world. In 1988, UNESCO declared Kandy a World Heritage Site.

For many years, the leaders in Kandy stood up to foreign rulers from Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain who tried to take control of the area. This history makes Kandy a very special and important place in Sri Lanka.

Etymology

Kandy has had many different names throughout history. Some believe its original name was Katubulu Nuwara, close to the place called Watapuluwa. But the more well-known historical name is Senkadagala or Senkadagalapura, officially called Senkadagala Siriwardhana Maha Nuwara, meaning "great city of Senkadagala of growing resplendence." People often shorten this to "Maha Nuwara."

Stories say the name Senkadagala might have come from a brahmin named Senkanda who lived in a nearby cave. Another story says it was named after a queen of Vikramabahu III also named Senkanda, or after a special colored stone called Senkadagala. There's also a belief that the name comes from Lord Vishnu, who was sometimes called Chenkatan.

During the time of colonial rule, the English named the place Kandy, which comes from the Sinhala words Kanda Uda Rata (meaning "the land on the mountain") or Kanda Uda Pas Rata ("the five counties on the mountain"). The Portuguese called it "Candea." In Sinhala today, Kandy is called Maha Nuwara, meaning "Great City" or "The Capital," but people usually just say Nuwara in everyday speech.

The Kingdom of Kandy has also been known by many names throughout its history.

History

See also: History of Sri Lanka

Kandy has a rich history that goes back many years. It was first established by a king named Parakramabahu III, who named the place Senkadagalapura. A special temple called the Asgiri Maha Viharaya was built there, and it is the oldest building in Kandy.

Kandy became very important when it was made the capital of the Kandyan Kingdom. The first king of this kingdom was Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu. Later kings followed, each ruling for different amounts of time. One important moment was when King Vimaladharmasuriya I brought a very sacred relic, called the tooth relic of the Buddha, to Kandy. This made Kandy a spiritual center.

In 1592, Kandy became the capital of the last independent kingdom on the island when the coastal areas were taken over by the Portuguese. The people of Kandy fought off many attacks from foreign powers, including the Portuguese and the Dutch. In 1815, the British took control of Kandy during what is called the Second Kandyan War. This ended the rule of the kings in Kandy and brought the island under British control.

During the time of British rule, Kandy changed a lot. There were rebellions against the British, such as the Matale Rebellion in 1848, where local leaders tried to take back control from the British. Later, during World War II, an important military command was based in Kandy.

Today, Kandy is the second-largest city in Sri Lanka and is very important for travel. It is located in the Central Province and is a gateway to the beautiful highlands of the island. Many roads and railways pass through Kandy, making it a key point for getting around Sri Lanka.

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Sri Lanka

Topography

Kandy is found in the hilly and forested parts of the island. The city sits between mountain ranges, such as the Knuckles Mountain Range and the Hanthana Mountain Range. This gives Kandy an elevation of about 500 metres above sea level. There is a lake called Kandy Lake right in the middle of the city, close to the busy part of town called the Central Business District. Nearby, there is a forest area named Udawattakele, making Kandy special because it has a forest very close to its main area.

Climate

Kandy has a tropical rainforest climate, which means it is warm and wet most of the year. Because it is high up in the mountains, Kandy is cooler and gets more rain than other parts of the country, especially the coastal areas. Even so, temperatures stay above 18 °C all year. There is a drier time from January to April. From May to July and from October to December, the city gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season. Between March and May, there is usually light rain and the air feels very humid. The humidity level is usually between 70% and 79%.

Cityscape

The city of Kandy sits 465 metres (1,526 feet) above sea level. It grew around two main open spaces: a long square ending with old government buildings and a man-made lake shaped like a four-sided figure. A public garden also helps make the city feel open and spacious.

Kandy has expanded to include areas like Peradeniya, where the University of Peradeniya and Botanical Gardens are located, as well as Katugastota to the north, and east to places such as Kundasale, Tennekumbura, and Gurudeniya.

Neighbourhoods

Some neighbourhoods in Kandy include:

• Akurana
• Ampitiya
• Ampitiya North
• Ampitiya South
• Anniwatta
• Aruppola East
• Asgiriya
• Bahirawakanda
• Bogambara
• Bogodawatta
• Bowala
• Buwelikada
• Dangolla
• Deiyannewela
• Etamoragodawatta Colony
• Gannoruwa West
• Gelioya
• Gampola
• Hinagama
• Katugastota
• Katukele
• Kosgaspitiya
• Kotugodella
• Lewella
• Madawala
• Mahaiyawa
• Malwatta
• Mapanawatura
• Mavilmada
• Menikkumbura
• Mulgampola
• Navayalatenna
• Nittawela
• Nuwara Dodanwala
• Peradeniya
• Polgolla
• Siyabalapitiya
• Siyambalagastenna
• Suduhumpola East
• Suduhumpola West
• Talwatta
• Tennekumbura
• Udamadapola
• Udathalawinna
• Watapuluwa
• Wattarantenna
• Wewelpitiya
• Yatiwawala
• Wattegama

Wards

Kandy has 24 wards:

Government

Kandy is a city with a special type of government called a Mayor Council. The mayor and the council members are chosen by people living there in elections every five years. The main person in charge of everyday work is called the Municipal Commissioner.

The Kandy Municipal Council started in 1865 and has grown over time. After the 2025 election, it has 46 members from different groups. The council meets each month to talk about city projects and make decisions.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Sri Lanka

Kandy is mostly home to the Sinhalese people, but there are also important groups of Moors and Tamils living there. The city is a special place for Buddhists, especially those who follow the Theravada school, and many visit it for important religious trips. The Catholic Church also has an important area called a diocese based in Kandy.

_Source:_statistics.gov.lk

Religion in Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawata Korale DS Division (2012)

1. Buddhist (71.0%)
2. Hindu (10.2%)
3. Muslim (12.0%)
4. Roman Catholic (4.77%)
5. Other Christian (2.10%)
6. Other (0.04%)

Economy

Kandy is the second-largest city on the island and the capital of the Central Province. It is an important place for businesses, with many big companies having offices there. The city has many industries, such as making clothes, gems, furniture, technology products, and jewellery. There are also several research centres focused on agriculture located in Kandy.

Health care

Kandy has many important healthcare centers that help people in the Central Province and nearby areas. The city has both government hospitals and private healthcare services.

The largest government hospital is the National Hospital Kandy, which also trains doctors. Other important public hospitals include the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, the Dental Hospital Peradeniya, and the Sirimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Children's Hospital. These places provide care for people and train future doctors.

In addition to government hospitals, Kandy has private healthcare services like clinics and dental centers. These help people get care that is not available in public hospitals. Some well-known private hospitals in Kandy are Asiri Hospital, Suwasewana Hospital, and Cayo Dental Hospital.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Sri Lanka

Kandy uses buses for most of its public transport, run by both private companies and the government’s Sri Lanka Transport Board. Plans are in place to build a big bus station called the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal, which will connect buses to the railway station. This terminal will help many people travel every day.

There are plans for a small airport near Kandy to make it easier to fly to the area, but this airport is still just an idea.

Several major roads connect Kandy to other places. The A1 highway links Kandy to Colombo. The A9 highway connects Kandy to Jaffna. The A26 highway goes from Padiyathalawa to Kandy. The A10 highway connects Puttalam to Kandy through Kurunegala. The A5 highway links Chenkalady to Kandy through several towns.

Trains also travel to Kandy through the Matale Line, which connects to Colombo and Badulla. Sometimes, heavy rains can cause problems for the trains.

Architecture

Main articles: Architecture of Kandy and Architecture of Sri Lanka

Temple of the Tooth

Main article: Temple of the Tooth

Near a big lake, you can find important places like the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth, also called the Sri Dalada Maligawa. This temple was rebuilt in the 1700s and is made from strong rocks and beautiful woods. It is very special for people who follow Buddhism because it holds a very important holy item.

The temple is part of a group of buildings that used to be the royal palace. Many people visit it because it is a very important place for Buddhists all over the world.

There is also an International Buddhist Museum close by, with gifts from many countries. In front of the museum stands a large statue of Buddha.

Royal Palace

Main article: Royal Palace of Kandy

The Royal Palace of Kandy was the last royal palace built on the island. Only part of it remains today, and it now holds the National Museum Kandy. The museum has many old items from the time when kings ruled Kandy and from when Britain controlled the area.

Lankatilaka Temple

Main article: Lankatilaka Vihara

The Lankatilaka Temple is a great example of old Sri Lankan temple building. You climb many steps to reach it. Inside, there are beautiful paintings and a large statue of Buddha sitting down.

Gadaladeniya Temple

Main article: Gadaladeniya Vihara

The Gadaladeniya Temple looks a bit like temples in South India. It has a special room with a seated Buddha statue and some old paintings.

Other important temples near Kandy include Dodanwala Devalaya, Embekka Devalaya, Galmaduwa Vihara, Handagala Vihara, Medawala Vihara, and Nalanda Gedige.

Parks and gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya is a big garden just west of Kandy. Millions of people visit it every year to see thousands of different plants. The Knuckles Mountain Range and Alagalla Mountain Range are famous for hiking. The Udawatta Kele forest is a protected area right in the city, close to the Temple of the Tooth.

The Royal Palace Park, also called Wales Park, offers great views of Kandy Lake and the city. The park has a old cannon from World War II that was given to Kandy by a British leader.

Education

Main article: Education in Sri Lanka

Primary and secondary education

Main article: List of schools in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Kandy has some of the oldest and most important schools in the country, including:

• Dharmaraja College
• Girls' High School, Kandy
• Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy
• Hillwood College
• Kingswood College
• Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy
• Pushpadana Girls' College, Kandy
• Ranabima Royal College
• St. Anthony's College, Kandy
• St. Sylvester's College
• Seethadevi Girls' College
• Trinity College Kandy
• Vidyartha College
• Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College

Tertiary education

Kandy is home to the country's second-oldest university, the University of Peradeniya, located in Peradeniya. The city also has centres for the Open University of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, and other institutions for higher learning. The Geology Department at the University of Peradeniya is the only earth science department in the country.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Sri Lanka

Kandy is a fun place for people to enjoy different activities. One big event is the Esala Perahera, a grand parade held every year in July or August. During this parade, a special casket is carried through the city streets on an elephant. The parade includes dancers, drummers, flag bearers, people in traditional clothes, and more elephants.

Kandy also has a modern shopping area called Kandy City Centre, opened in 2005. It has many shops, restaurants, and even cinemas. The area mixes modern design with traditional styles from old Sri Lanka.

Leisure and entertainment

Literature, film and television

Much of the 1984 film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was filmed in Kandy.

Sport

Main articles: Sport in Central Province, Sri Lanka and Sport in Sri Lanka

Kandy is good at many sports. People from Kandy play cricket, rugby union, football, swimming, field hockey, and more. Rugby is especially popular here because of the Kandy Sports Club, which has won many championships.

Kandy has two big cricket stadiums: Asgiriya International Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Both have hosted international matches, including games in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Other sports like basketball and table tennis are also popular in schools.

Twin towns and sister cities

The City of Kandy has a sister city relationship with: