A Brief Glimpse of Kandy, Kandy, Sri Lanka

"This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site." - UNESCO World Heritage listing

Kandy is Sri Lanka’s second largest city after Colombo and was listed by UNESCO in 1988. It has a long and proud history. It was the last stronghold of Sinhalese independence, resisting both Portuguese and Dutch rule long after the rest of the island had been conquered.

The city was inscribed by UNESCO based on two specific criteria. Firstly, it is considered an outstanding example of traditional Sinhalese palatial and religious architecture, juxtaposing the Royal Palace with the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Secondly, as the final stronghold of the Sinhala kings, the city successfully resisted European colonial rule for over two centuries, allowing indigenous arts, architecture, music, and religious traditions to thrive against the pressures of colonial influence. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).