Kandy

Kandy is a major city located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

It sits on the Kandy plateau within the mountainous, forested interior of the island. The city is nestled between the Knuckles Mountain Range and the Hanthana Mountain Range. Kandy serves as the administrative capital of the Central Province. It is also widely recognized as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka due to its architectural heritage. In 1988, UNESCO declared the city a World Heritage Site.

The city's identity is deeply tied to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa.

This temple is one of the most significant sites in the Buddhist world. Because the protector of the relic was historically linked to the Sinhalese monarchy, the Royal Palace and the temple were built in close proximity.

The city has also been known by many names throughout history. Scholars suggest the original name may have been Katubulu Nuwara. The popular historical name is Senkadagala, or Senkadagalapura. This was officially called Senkadagala Siriwardhana Maha Nuwara, meaning the 'great city of Senkadagala of growing resplendence.'

Kandy's history as a political center began with the Kingdom of Kandy. Historical records suggest Parakramabahu III established the city as Senkadagalapura. Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu was the first king of the Kandyan Kingdom. He ruled as a semi-independent monarch under the Kingdom of Kotte. Later, Vimaladharmasuriya I consolidated his authority by bringing the Buddha's tooth relic to Kandy from Delgamuwa. From 1469 to 1818, Kandy served as the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy.

For centuries, the Kandyan Kingdom resisted colonial expansion from European powers. The Portuguese attempted several invasions, including the campaign of Danture, but were repelled. Later, the Dutch also struggled to conquer the kingdom. In 1765, the Dutch captured the capital, but it was deserted. The Kandyan forces used attrition warfare to wear down the Dutch troops in the jungle. The Dutch remained in coastal areas until Great Britain took over in 1796. The British eventually invaded Kandy during the First Kandyan War, but they were initially repulsed.

The era of Kandyan independence ended in the early 19th century. During the Second Kandyan War, British forces reached the city on February 10, 1815. This led to the signing of the Kandyan Convention at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

In this treaty, the Kandyan aristocrats, known as Radalas, recognized George III as King. This event ended over 2,500 years of Sinhalese monarchs. The last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, was taken as a prisoner to Vellore Fort in India. This transition marked the first time Sri Lanka fully fell under a foreign power.

Kandy's geography creates a unique tropical rainforest climate.

Because of its high elevation, the city is cooler and wetter than the coastal regions. The mean temperature remains above 18 °C throughout the year. The region experiences a monsoon season from May to July and again from October to December. During these months, the weather can be rough and unstable. There is a drier period from January to April. The humidity levels generally stay between 70% and 79%.

Today, Kandy is the second-largest city on the island and a vital transportation hub. It acts as the gateway to the Central Highlands. Major motorways connect the city to all directions of the island. A railway line runs from the western seaport of Colombo through Kandy to Badulla. The roads leading to the city are famous for their scenery. They wind through rubber, tea, and rice plantations.

The city also features a human-made lake in its center and the Udawattakele forest reserve near the business district.