Sri Lanka’s cultural capital has been the country’s most important city for longer than most countries have existed. The temple that holds the Buddha’s tooth relic has been the most significant Buddhist site in the world for over 1,500 years. The Kandyan cultural tradition – its dance, its ceremony, its architecture – was specifically maintained to resist colonial erasure. This is the day to understand what that means.
Tour 02 – Kandy Cultural Day Tour
Highlights
+ Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
One of the most significant Buddhist sites in the world – a moated, golden-roofed temple complex whose architecture, daily puja ceremonies, and sheer atmospheric weight make it the kind of cultural stop that stays with you. Visit during a morning offering ceremony when the drummers are performing and the jasmine fragrance is at its strongest.
+ Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
147 acres of botanical collections including a famous orchid house, a bamboo grove that takes up an entire section of the gardens, and the most impressive avenue of royal palms in South Asia. Free-roaming macaques and giant fruit bats add wildlife drama that the manicured setting doesn’t prepare you for.
+ Kandyan Cultural Dance Performance
A full evening performance of Kandyan dance – fire-walking, acrobatic Ves dancing, ceremonial drumming, and costume that represents centuries of highland artistic tradition. More entertaining and more culturally significant than most travellers expect going in.
Inclusions
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking driver-guide
- Bottled water
- Hotel pick-up
- Evening cultural performance ticket
Exclusions
- Meals and drinks
- Entrance fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Temple of the Tooth entrance
- Peradeniya Gardens entrance