Enjoy the spectacular Kandy Perahera and visit these 5 best places in Kandy

During the months of July and August, thousands of people travel to Kandy to witness the great Kandy Perahera, held in honor of the city’s possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. This 10 day long festival is a procession of over 100 elephants and about a thousand different performers including dancers and drummers. The scale in which the procession is carried out grows grander with every night, the last night being the grandest of them all. Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims bring their talents together in drumming, whipping, fire-balling, dancing and more at this grand festival where a replica of the casket is paraded around the city. Locals and foreigners in and around the city at this time of the year are always craving to catch a glimpse of this colorful Kandy Perahera.

Did you know that Kandy Perahera 2017 is schedules to begin on 29th of July to 07th of August 2017. Find out more about Kandy Perahera 2017.

During your Esala Perahera exploration period, you probably have day times free to stroll about in Kandy. Therefore, apart from a night or two set aside for partaking in this beautiful parade, there are many other best places to visit in Kandy in July/August; which is usually the period when the Perahera takes place too.

Best places to visit in Kandy during Kandy Perahera season.

1. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

   At the eastern end of Kandy town center, benched on the lakeside you will see picturesque while buildings known as the Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Tooth. This temple houses the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is one of Buddhism’s most precious objects. For this reason, the Dalada Maligawa is on the list of best places to visit in Kandy for many pilgrims around the island and also from around the world. Tourists like to visit the Temple because there is a lot to learn about Lankan history, tradition and culture in and around this Temple.

2. Royal Botanical Gardens

   This is Sri Lanka’s largest gardens, covering an area of about 147 acres. Set aside an entire day to explore this place when deciding which best places to visit in Kandy in July/August while on your holiday in Sri Lanka. The Avenue of Royal Palms has about 4000 different types of plants that you can explore, along with 10,000 types of different trees. Palm and timber trees are the common ones, along with other mature giants such as Bamboo, Javan fig, Cannonball and Double Coconut Palm. Dignitaries who have visited the Royal Botanical Gardens include Queen Elizabeth II, Yuri Gugarin and Marshal Tito, who have all planted trees here to mark their visits. The fantastic collection of Orchids is another must see at these Gardens. Basically, whether you are a nature lover or not, these massive gardens should be on your list of best places to visit in Kandy.

3. Kandy City Centre

   Kandy City Centre is a modern shopping complex located in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. The design of this ten story building includes up-to-date modernized features, yet preserves the authentic Kandyan architecture. The entrance of the mall looks like a cottage like building and when you walk in, three elephant statues will greet you along with the metal detector. The glass pyramid ceiling of this mall is its highlight, which is an elegant sight in itself. Within this complex you will find branches of most of the leading banks, popular retail brands, a well equipped supermarket, a wide variety of restaurants at a state-of-the-art food court as well as an entertainment zone to keep your children occupied while you shop. So if you are looking for a one-stop-shop for a variety of shopping items, Kandy city centre is the best place to visit in Kandy.

4. Tea Factory Visit

   Whether you are in Kandy for a cricket match, on a shopping spree, to visit the Esala Perahera or just covering a tour in Sri Lanka, a visit to the Ceylon Tea Museum should be on your list of places to visit in Kandy in July/August as well as during any other month of the year. This is one of the tea factories that was once used by the British for tea production. Many exhibits on tea pioneers such as Thomas Lipton and James Taylor are displayed here along with vintage tea processing equipment and knowledgeable guides on the manufacturing process. You can grab a cup of authentic Lankan tea after your tour in the tea room located on the top floor of the museum.

5. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

   Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a popular location for places to visit in Kandy in July/August because it is an ideal season to observe the natural habitat of the elephants that reside there. The orphanage houses over 100 elephants, both young and old, many of whom are either injured in the wild or are left alone as orphans. It is best to visit the orphanage during the morning or mid-day meals because after meal time, elephants are guided to the river for a bath. Observe the one-of-a-kind spectacular view of so many elephants splashing around water on each other and having a ball while they bathe. In addition to this, you get the chance to mingle with elephants and give them a few plants to munch on. And of course, don’t forget to capture these impressive memories with your cameras!

How we could help?

When planning your holiday in Sri Lanka, our travel consultants at Sri Lanka Holiday Ideas will gladly help arrange a preferable itinerary for you. Our typical clients are from the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Africa and many part from Asia such as Singapore, India etc. If the Kandy Perahera is on your top list of places to visit in Sri Lanka, it is best to time your visit during the months of July or August, depending on when the Perahera for the coming year will be taking place. During your stay in Kandy, we can arrange seats for you to observe the Perahera for a few nights and we can also arrange tours to other places to visit in Kandy. Along with that, we will add to your itinerary a few more popular tourist attractions and give you a complete tour package to explore Sri Lanka.

SEE Also : 5 Interesting facts about Kandy Perahera

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