Kandy

The last royal capital of the Sinhalese kings sits in a highland valley around an artificial lake, and its centrepiece – the Sri Dalada Maligawa, or Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – has been the most important Buddhist site in the world for over 1,500 years. The daily temple ceremonies, the evening Kandyan dance performance, and the city’s highland atmosphere make it a natural overnight stop that most travellers end up extending.