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The Temple of the Tooth reflected in Kandy Lake

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City guide · මහනුවර Kandy

Kandy

The last capital of the Sinhalese kings: the Temple of the Tooth and Kandy Lake

Photo: Hayas ahamed · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kandy lies in the hills of central Sri Lanka and was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings. The Temple of the Tooth by the lake holds a tooth relic of the Buddha, and the Esala Perahera every July–August is the country's greatest religious festival. Sigiriya is just over two hours' drive to the north.

History

How the city came to be

Kandy's traditional name is Senkadagala. In 1469 Senasammata Vikramabahu founded a semi-independent kingdom here; for more than 300 years the Kingdom of Kandy resisted the Portuguese and the Dutch, and it was the last independent kingdom of the Sinhalese monarchy. Britain took over the coastal areas from the Dutch in 1796, launched the First Kandyan War in 1803 and finally annexed the kingdom through the Kandyan Convention of 1815. The tooth relic kept at the Temple of the Tooth has long been seen as a symbol of royal authority. In 1988 the Sacred City of Kandy became a World Heritage Site.

  1. 1469The Kingdom of Kandy was founded
  2. 1803First Kandyan War
  3. 1815The Kandyan Convention; the kingdom came under British rule
  4. 1988The Sacred City of Kandy became a World Heritage Site

Stories

Stories of the city

History · Sigiriya (Lion Rock)

A parricide's city in the sky

According to Sri Lanka's ancient chronicle, the Cūḷavaṃsa, in 477 Kashyapa, a son of King Dhatusena by a non-royal consort, seized the throne in a coup with the help of the army commander. Fearing revenge from his half-brother Moggallana, he moved the capital from Anuradhapura to the top of this huge rock, building a palace and fortifications there. In 495 Moggallana did return with an army; Kashyapa was abandoned by his troops on the battlefield and took his own life with his sword. Moggallana moved the capital back to Anuradhapura and turned Sigiriya into a Buddhist monastery.

Must see

Places you shouldn’t miss

The Temple of the Tooth from outside

Classic landmarkKandy, Sri Lanka

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy

The sacred home of the tooth relic that guards the nation, the holiest temple of Theravada Buddhism.

Sigiriya from a distance

Classic landmarkCentral Province, Sri Lanka

Sigiriya (Lion Rock)

A sky palace on top of a giant rock, the pinnacle of ancient Sri Lankan engineering and art.

Local life

Food and local daily life

Sri Lankan rice and curry

FoodKandy, Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan rice and curry

A plate of rice with several curries made from fish, meat, vegetables, lentils and fruit.

Before you go

Rules to know in Kandy

All etiquette & taboos →

Red lineTemples & religious sitesSri Lanka

Sri Lanka: don't pose with your back to a Buddha statue

  • Respect Buddha statues and religious objects
  • Standing with your back to a Buddha statue for a photo
  • Making offensive remarks about religion

Disrespecting Buddha images is a serious offence and can lead to arrest; people with visible Buddha tattoos may be refused entry or deported.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Sri Lanka travel advice

TabooDressSri Lanka

Sri Lanka: cover legs and shoulders and remove shoes and hats at Buddhist temples

  • Cover your legs and shoulders, and take off your shoes and hat before entering a shrine
  • Nude or topless sunbathing

At Buddhist temples you must cover your legs and shoulders and remove shoes and hats, or you will offend worshippers; nude or topless sunbathing is not allowed.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Sri Lanka travel advice

Sources