Exploring Kandy

Today we well and truly explored Kandy.  Kandy is the second biggest city in Sri Lanka after Columbo and is buzzing with people, cars, buses, tuk tuks, markets etc.  Amongst all of this are a number of old Colonial buildings that surround the lake in particular and could now be described as faded Colonial buildings as in many cases the upkeep of these once grand buildings has not taken place.

Kandy Lake

 

Cannon Ball Tree

We started our day away from the town in the Botanical Gardens which are located just outside Kandy.  The gardens could in fact be in England with the manicured lawns, flower gardens, greenhouses and range of trees.   However the monkeys running across our path reminded us that we were in Sri Lanka.  Other wildlife included enormous bats, dogs sleeping in the hot sun, stunning butterflies and a range of birds whose names I wish I knew.  In fact given the non existence of any labelling, it is on these occasions that I wish I knew the names of flora and fauna.  The most remarkable and unusual tree we saw was covered in beautiful cream coloured blossom and  had enormous round brown fruits, a bit like coconuts.  We found out that this is the aptly named "Cannon Ball tree'.

Botanical Gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tooth temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most important sight in Kandy is The Temple of the Tooth.  In fact it is Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine as it houses what is believed to be Buddha's tooth , although it is not possible to actually see the tooth as it is hidden away in a casket.  The day before we saw coach loads of families and barefoot children arrive with floral offerings at the temple.  Today was less busy but even so most people arrive bearing offerings of lotus floweres that can be bought from stalls surrounding the temple.   The sweet smell from the mass of these flowers is lovely.  We took off our shoes to enter the temple then followed the crowd through the walkways of the temple.   We entered a huge room which included a centrepiece surrounded by heavy red curtains and protected by 2 large ivory tusks.  We assumed that this is where the tooth must be hidden but it wasn't clear.  Outside in the courtyard we could see and hear the Buddhist monks undertaking their daily chanting which along with the strong smell of incense gave a spiritual feel to the temple.  Following the crowd once more,  we were soon back ouside the temple and back walking around Kandy Lake.

 

 

In the evening we went to see a traditional Kandyan Dancing and Drumming Cultural show which I am sure is on the itinerary of most tourists and visitors to Kandy.  As night time entertainment is in low supply, we thought this was worth a go.  The show  took place in what looked like an old fashioned village hall with wooden floors and a stage with a heavy faded curtain.   The performance was bright and colourful with a range of acts including acrobats,  jugglers,  plate spinners,  dancers and drummers.  It was a bit like watching a Sri Lankan version of a circus.  It was good fun. After the show we were all ushered outside to watch a fire walking display as the sun set over Kandy.

Fire walking