Kandy - Sri Lanka

Kandy, also known as Maha Nuwara ("Great City"), is a city in Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, at an elevation of 1,640 feet (500 metres). It is located on the Mahaweli River, on the edge of an artificial lake built by the last Kandyan king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, in 1807. Kanda, from which Kandy is named, is a Sinhalese term that means "hill," and the city was originally known as Kanda Uda Pas Rata ("Palace on Five Hills") when it was built in 1480 CE. It became the capital of the Sinhalese monarchs in 1592, and they maintained their independence throughout the era of European colonial rule—except for brief Portuguese and Dutch occupations—until 1815, when the British removed Sri Wickrama Rajasinha.

Kandy became a center for both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, the religion's two major sects, in the 13th or 14th century. The most notable of the city's numerous Buddhist temples is Dalada Maligava ("Temple of the Tooth"), which has housed a precious relic, said to be the Buddha's left upper canine, since 1590. During the reigns of Kandyan kings (1687–1707 and 1747–82), the temple was built. It's connected to a tower (1803), which used to be a jail but now holds a significant collection of palm-leaf manuscripts. The temple was attacked by Tamil rebels in January 1998, causing damage to the front and roof; repair work began immediately. The Lankatilaka Vihare (Hindu) and the Gadaladeniya Vihare (Buddhist), both established in the 14th century, are important temples southwest of Kandy. Peradeniya Botanic Gardens and Peradeniya University (1942; restructured 1972) are also nearby.

In 1988, the city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Esala Perahera, a 10-day torchlight parade including dancers and drummers, dignitaries, and ornately dressed elephants, honors the sacred tooth. It is now one of Asia's most well-known festivals, and it may be the world's greatest Buddhist event.