Culture & History of Kandy

Positioned 1,629 feet above sea level, Kandy is a beautiful city located in the heart of the island.  Surrounded by magnificent mountains, Kandy plays an important role in the culture of Sri Lanka.

Kandy was the last Sinhalese Kingdom until it was captured and ruled by the British in 1815.  Kandy was once named Senkadagala Pura. It was named so after a hermit named Senkada.  Most locals call this enchanting city of theirs ‘Mahanuwara’ which means ‘Great City’. However, the name Kandy came from the term ‘Kanda’ which means Mountain.  
Since this great city is located in the centre of the Island it was a challenging target for the foreign invaders who captured the coastal areas quite comfortably. Therefore Kandy created and enhanced its own independent culture, livelihood, traditions, art and architecture.  Until the British captured the city of Kandy, its kings ensured safety and protected its culture.

King Vikramabahu III built the royal palace in Senkadagala with the advice of a Brahmin. The first king of Senkadagala was Sena Sammata Wickramabahu.

As the final kingdom of the country, Kandy gave shelter to the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.  It was a vital tradition and responsibility in the 4th-century that the ruler of the nation would also be the sole protector of the relic. Therefore the royal palace and the temple of the tooth were positioned close to each other at all times.

Even today, Kandy is the focal point of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It also remains to be one of the most sacred places for Buddhism in the world.

The second largest city in Sri Lanka, Kandy boasts of some important historically acclaimed sites such as Dalada Maligawa – The Sacred Temple of the Tooth, Lankatilaka Temple, Gadaladeniya Temple, the royal palace and a whole lot more.

Even with a rich heritage Kandy is a city that moves on with the changing world. But no matter how much it changes, this splendid city continues to protect and sustain its unique legacy.