Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy is the second largest city after Colombo. It is also a UNESCO heritage city because of the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) which houses the tooth of Buddha.

We preferred to travel by train. The journey by road we heard is picturesque but takes 3 hours and we had to return the same day so the trian seemed the best option.

(the train to Kandy- I merged two photos to depict the full length of the train, inlcuding the EXPO car)

The train chugged off. My husband and I roared with laughter when the train soon started swaying and jumping on the tracks, it was a disney world ride :)

Paddy fields along the route

Going uphill the Kandy hills

The train passed through thick growth of trees, betal leaves entwined tree trunks, jackfruit and the ubiquitous coconut and areca nut palms.

Decorated Kandy railway station

Welcome to the city sign outside railway station

Mahanuvara means a "great city" which is the name synonymous with Kandy. This place had been the capital in earlier days.

Huge Buddha image outside the railway station

Clock tower, important landmark in Kandy

Plaque giving the details 

Temple under a Peepal tree

Queens Hotel

This British time hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Sri Lanka and over looks the beautiful Kandy lake.

Kandy lake

Temple of Tooth Relic

inside the temple

lighting lamps

It is customary to wear white clothes when visiting a temple. Also, lotus flowers are usually offered at temple along with incense sticks. Wearing white clothes signifies a purity of mind, body and soul.
Lighting a lamp signifies elimination of darkness from life and presence of light of joy and happiness around one.

entrance to Vishnu temple

Bo tree inside the temple 

There are 4 places in four corners where people pray and offer water to the tree.

Beautifully arranged flowers on the roadside 

It was time to return to the railway station.  On the way, I stopped at Cargill's, one of biggest supermarket chains in Sri Lanka. I bought buffalo milk curd set in an earthern pot. It was very refreshing to beat the blazing sun.

decorated market place

Vesak lanterns 

railway station on our way back

view from top of Kandy hills

The journey soon came to end. We were very tired by the time we reached our hotel.  I would have wished to see more around Kandy but given the constraints of time, I feel it was a good one day trip.