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Kandy, Sri Lanka (December 2010)

The “Sacred City of Kandy”, Sri Lanka’s former hill capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was first established in the 14th century and became the nation’s capital in the 16th century. Kandy is well known for its rich culture and scenic beauty, but it is best known for the “Dalada Maligawa” (the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha), which is sacred to all Buddhists. The temple is believed to hold the left upper canine tooth of Buddha. Legend is that it was taken as he lay on his funeral pyre. It is thought that whoever holds the Temple of tooth relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to do all in their power to protect the Temple of tooth. The best time to visit Kandy is during the month of August during the famous Esala Perahera, a pageant venerating the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha. It is a spectacular parade lasting for ten nights in the month featuring up to a hundred colorfully adorned elephants, highly skilled acrobatic dancers and traditional drummers.
Kandy, Sri Lanka cover page.
Kandy, Sri Lanka cover page.		 Map of Sri Lanka with the star indicating Kandy.
Map of Sri Lanka with the star indicating Kandy.		 View of Kandy Lake, which is an artificial lake built next to the Temple of the Tooth in 1807 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.
View of Kandy Lake, which is an artificial lake built next to the Temple of the Tooth in 1807 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.		 View of the lake with the city of Kandy in the background.
View of the lake with the city of Kandy in the background.
Over the years Kandy Lake was reduced in size. It is a protected lake, with fishing banned.
Over the years Kandy Lake was reduced in size. It is a protected lake, with fishing banned.		 There are many legends and folklore regarding the lake.
There are many legends and folklore regarding the lake.		 One legend is that the island at its center was used by the kings for bathing and was connected to the palace by secret tunnel.
One legend is that the island at its center was used by the kings for bathing and was connected to the palace by secret tunnel.		 Night view of the stunning 17th century Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
Night view of the stunning 17th century Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
The temple is believed to hold the left upper canine tooth of Buddha. Legend is that it was taken as he lay on his funeral pyre.
The temple is believed to hold the left upper canine tooth of Buddha. Legend is that it was taken as he lay on his funeral pyre.		 It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging India.
It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging India.		 Interesting ceiling in the entrance of the Temple of the Tooth.
Interesting ceiling in the entrance of the Temple of the Tooth.		 Men beating drums. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evening.
Men beating drums. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evening.
Architectural details inside the temple.
Architectural details inside the temple.		 A smaller chapel within the temple where people were praying.
A smaller chapel within the temple where people were praying.		 Painting depicting how the tooth relic was taken as Buddha lay on his funeral pyre.
Painting depicting how the tooth relic was taken as Buddha lay on his funeral pyre.		 Chamber in the temple with an elaborate ceiling, many paintings depicting the life of Buddha and elephant ornamentation.
Chamber in the temple with an elaborate ceiling, many paintings depicting the life of Buddha and elephant ornamentation.
These golden elephants are part of the temple's architecture.
These golden elephants are part of the temple's architecture.		 Close-up of one of the elephants.
Close-up of one of the elephants.		 More details of the interior of the Temple of the Tooth.
More details of the interior of the Temple of the Tooth.		 Intricate ceiling design with gold.
Intricate ceiling design with gold.
A golden vessel or container on display at the temple.
A golden vessel or container on display at the temple.		 A small stupa, which is shaped like a bell.
A small stupa, which is shaped like a bell.		 A bas-relief ornament on the temple wall
A bas-relief ornament on the temple wall		 Worshippers congregating inside the interior of the Temple of the Tooth.
Worshippers congregating inside the interior of the Temple of the Tooth.
Man preparing an offering of flower petals to Buddha.
Man preparing an offering of flower petals to Buddha.		 Close-up of the petals.
Close-up of the petals.		 The flowers were very fragrant.
The flowers were very fragrant.		 Other types of flowers that were offered to Buddha.
Other types of flowers that were offered to Buddha.
The highlight of the ceremony was the appearance inside this chamber of a golden Buddha.
The highlight of the ceremony was the appearance inside this chamber of a golden Buddha.		 Worshippers thronged to witness this elaborate ceremony.
Worshippers thronged to witness this elaborate ceremony.		 An exquisitely decorated door inside the Temple of the Tooth.
An exquisitely decorated door inside the Temple of the Tooth.		 A monk was guarding this statue of Buddha.
A monk was guarding this statue of Buddha.
Many worshippers were showing their devotion at this shrine to Buddha.
Many worshippers were showing their devotion at this shrine to Buddha.		 The sign forbids devotees of Buddha from smelling the flower offerings.
The sign forbids devotees of Buddha from smelling the flower offerings.		 A dazzling golden necklace on display at the temple.
A dazzling golden necklace on display at the temple.		 Golden vessel containing the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
Golden vessel containing the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
Walls as I exited from the temple. You can barely make out my tour guide, Kumara, standing on the right.
Walls as I exited from the temple. You can barely make out my tour guide, Kumara, standing on the right.		 Me posing in front of the Temple of the Tooth.
Me posing in front of the Temple of the Tooth.		 In Kandy, I stayed at the Amaya Hills Hotel, located in a beautiful location on top of hill. The road to it was very bumpy.
In Kandy, I stayed at the Amaya Hills Hotel, located in a beautiful location on top of hill. The road to it was very bumpy.		 The Amaya Hills Hotel had a lovely pool with excellent views of the Kandy countryside.
The Amaya Hills Hotel had a lovely pool with excellent views of the Kandy countryside.
You can see mountains in the background.
You can see mountains in the background.		 I especially admired this wooden statue at the front desk of the Amaya Hills Hotel.
I especially admired this wooden statue at the front desk of the Amaya Hills Hotel.		 My final stop in Kandy was to the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya.
My final stop in Kandy was to the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya.		 The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo.
The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo.
It was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844.
It was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844.		 A bucolic pathway along side a pond.
A bucolic pathway along side a pond.		 This couple was dwarfed by the huge bamboo trees behind them.
This couple was dwarfed by the huge bamboo trees behind them.		 Beautiful fuchsia pink water lilies in the pond.
Beautiful fuchsia pink water lilies in the pond.
Close-up of the water lilies.
Close-up of the water lilies.		 The pond was serene and peaceful.
The pond was serene and peaceful.		 View of a shelter and benches next to the pond.
View of a shelter and benches next to the pond.		 A path with palm trees at the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya.
A path with palm trees at the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya.
Two lovers with an umbrella to block the hot sun.
Two lovers with an umbrella to block the hot sun.		 Mischievous monkeys at the botanical garden.
Mischievous monkeys at the botanical garden.		 This monkey had a very determined look as he climbed a tree.
This monkey had a very determined look as he climbed a tree.		 He looks like he has an old man's face.
He looks like he has an old man's face.
I was taking in the beauty of the gardens.
I was taking in the beauty of the gardens.		 I also slathered myself with sun screen earlier that day.
I also slathered myself with sun screen earlier that day.		 An interesting and gnarly shade tree.
An interesting and gnarly shade tree.		 The classical Avenue of Palms at the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya.
The classical Avenue of Palms at the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya.
Nice bougainvillea in front of the palm trees.
Nice bougainvillea in front of the palm trees.		 More gorgeous bougainvilleas.
More gorgeous bougainvilleas.		 Beautiful shrubbery and landscaping at the gardens.
Beautiful shrubbery and landscaping at the gardens.		 The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya is renowned for its collection of orchids, including more than 300 varieties.
The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya is renowned for its collection of orchids, including more than 300 varieties.
An exquisite fuchsia pink orchid.
An exquisite fuchsia pink orchid.		 Some pink beauties.
Some pink beauties.		 An orchid with orange leopard spots.
An orchid with orange leopard spots.		 Flawless orchids to behold, before I wrapped up my day at the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya.
Flawless orchids to behold, before I wrapped up my day at the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya.

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