This short, one day tour that combines culture and nature in the Central of Sri Lanka. The journey will take you to the most significant attraction and picturesque locations of Kandy. From there, you will travel to the UNESCO world heritage site, Temple of Tooth Relic, Royal Botanical Garden, Hanthana Tea Museum, Udawattakele Forest Reservoir.
Kadugannawa – View Point
Enjoy the mesmerizing view of Batalegala at Kadugannawa on your way to Kandy world heritage city.
Royal Botanical Garden – Peradeniya
Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya is the oldest formal gardens in Sri Lanka. It is located 460 Meters above the mean sea level about 5 km to the west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya attracts approximately 2 million local and foreign visitors annually. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees and is renowned for its collection of orchids and the long, palm framed pathways. It encompasses a total area of 147 acres.
Tea Museum – Hanthana
This multi-functional four-storey museum in a converted tea factory which is nearly 100 years old, is set in immaculate grounds landscaped with different varieties of tea bushes. The museum has a library and an auditorium with facilities for audiovisual presentations and a sales outlet where purchases can be made from a selection of Sri Lanka’s finest teas. At the very top is a classic tea café and a telescope for a peek at panoramic Kandy city surrounded by the Hunnasgiriya and Kunckles mountains. Easily accessible from Kandy city, the museum is at the end of an 8 km drive up the winding Hantana Road.
Kandy View Point
Also called Arthur’s Seat, it is a vantage point at 550 m above sea level to capture the picturesque view of Kandy city. The location overlooks Kandy Lake with the Temple of the Tooth in the background. A popular place for photographs, the best time to visit is during sunrise or sunset for an amazing panoramic view of the city and the mountains that ring enclose it.
Udawattakele Forest Reservoir
A moist monsoon type of forest of about 105 ha, it is of historical importance and also essential to maintain a balanced ecology in the Kandy area. King Senasammatha Wickramabahu, who established the Senkadagalapura kingdom, built his palace in this forest area which later came to be known as Udawatta Kale. The forest is rich in biodiversity with high numbers of endemic flora and fauna. There are approximately 405 plant species and over 100 species of birds, mammals, butterflies, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. The watershed areas in Udawatte Kale, Dangolla, Watapuluwa and Bandiyawatte are important water resources for agriculture. The forest is of immense value to researchers and academics.
Kandy City Tour
During your journey you could also have the opportunity to shop at the famous department stores and malls in Kandy where you would find brands at bargain prices.
Temple of the tooth relic
The Sri Dalada Palace, like the crown of the Buddhist people, is a world heritage site and a Buddhist shrine with cultural value, which receives special respect and worship from local and foreign devotees and tourists on a daily basis. Ninety of its architectural features are unique to Upland. The Sri Dalada Palace was built near the King's Palace near the Udawatta forest to the east of the city. On the right is the Milk Sea or Kandy Lake. The King's Palace is on the north side and the Natha and Pattini temples are on the west side.
- Daily Service (Theva)
The daily rituals performed for the Sacred Tooth Relic is called “Theva” or Services, and there are tree services. Early Morning Service, Mid-Day Service and the Evening Service. It also includes traditional sound offerings. Note that the itinerary includes the Evening service, This starts around 6.30.p.m and goes till 7.15.p.m in the midst of Hewisi sound withered and old flowers are removed and fresh flower are offered. The evening service is to offer Lord Buddha with juices or “Gilan Pasa” and other things. Sugar, Sukiri and the sugary sap of Kithul palm or “Althelijja” is Offred in three small goblets and also Honey, Ginger Juice and Ghee are offered in a combination of gold & silver goblets. There are two “Gilanpasa” offerings, the first and the second.
-End of the Tour-
Additional Information
- Entrance fees to be paid at the attractions – Temple of tooth relic, Udawatta Kele Forest Reserve, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, Pidurangala Temple, Ibbankatuwa Megalithik Burials
- When you enter the religious place make sure to remove your shoes and hats. Please wear appropriate attire to show respect, which covers your body properly.