Kandy Lake
Overview
The lake is in the middle of the town, and a leisurely stroll around it with a few stops on a lakeside bench is a pleasant way to spend a few hours, although the traffic and the pollution can be a distraction at one end of the lake. Stephen Spielberg produced some hit movies using locations in the Kandy region and he always stayed at a lakeside hotel, with his room overlooking the lake.
For a panoramic view of the lake and the town, go up the hills surrounding the lake and it will be a view to remember whether it is day or night.
Walk around the Kandy markets and mingle with the locals to get a feel for the town and sample Kandy’s delicious food in the restaurants dotted around the city.
Cricketers’ hometown – The cricket enthusiasts may be interested to know that Kandy is the hometown of Muthiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara, two legendary cricketers.
Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya
The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when the then King kept court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli river.
Noted for its rich and varied collections of tropical woody plants, occupying 147 acres, it has about 4,000 species of plants. The gardens were founded in 1821 primarily to introduce coffee, rubber trees, and various other tropical plants of economic importance to the colonisers as cash crops.
Even after it took on a more botanical emphasis in the 1840s, the garden remained a centre for horticultural activities. A Cannonball Tree was planted here by King George V and Queen Mary in 1910. The garden is situated just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Kandy and is well worth a visit.
