A Sri Lankan native describes why the ancient hill capital of Kandy is her favorite city
iReporter Shari Atukorala loves her hometown so much that she wants to tell the world about it.
Here she explains why Kandy, an ancient capital located in the hills of central Sri Lanka, is her favorite city.
1. Royal Botanical Gardens
In the Orchid House at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya.
The Royal Botanical Gardens, situated in Peradeniya near the city of Kandy, is one of the country’s storied attractions. The history of the gardens dates back to 1371, when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court in the region.
The grounds were later converted into a botanical garden in the 18th century.
The gardens are vast, and cover 60 hectares, with beautiful fauna and flora. There are about 300 varieties of orchid.
The beauty of ...
Theva is situated on the top of a mountain overlooking Kandy. The view alone is worth the twisty bumpy road up. We were unable to upgrade to the higher category room, but we were still very satisfied with our "deluxe" room. It had a wall of floor to ceiling windows, a comfortable bed, and all the amenities of a "western" hotel. We did have a problem with the shower on our first night, but that was immediately repaired. The food is EXCELLENT at Theva. Best breakfast I had on the whole trip (and we stayed a a 5 star Hilton right afterwards). Definitely try their 17-dish Sri Lankan curry dinner.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Superb and personal customer service the entire stay. The hotel does not offer driver accommodation (which I imagine is common in the area) so our driver had to stay elsewhere, but that was not a big deal. The decor i ...
Kandy Lake is a lake in the heart of the hill city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Built in 1807 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Sri Lanka next to the Temple of the Tooth. Over the years it was reduced in size. Its is a protected lake, with fishing banned. There are many legends and folklore regarding the lake. One such is that the small island at its center was used by the Kings helm for bathing and was connected to the palace by secret tunnel.
The Theva Residency promises serenity, romance and rejuvenation. With awe-inspiring views, edgy design and sublime dining options. Theva is ideally located along the slopes of the Hantana range. It offers commanding views over the surrounding mountains and the bustle of the Kandy town located only two kilometres away. There is no better place from which to understand the wonders and view the grandeur of the ancient majestic city of Kandy and to appreciate its importance, as the last Sri Lankan Kingdom to fall to invading colonisers.
