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Encircled by emerald forested mountains and built around a tranquil central lake, Kandy was the last independent royal stronghold of Sri Lanka until 1815. Today, it stands as the island’s beating cultural and religious heart, preserving ancient Kandyan drumming, classical dance forms, traditional arts, and the most sacred relic in the Buddhist world.
Best Time to Visit: December to April; July/August for the world-famous Esala Perahera festival.