Enthralling beauty of Kandy

by Umangi de Mel

Mesmerisingly quiet at night, the city sleeps early, promising a busy tomorrow. Bird's eye view from the top of Hanthana range is enchanting.

Enthraled by its abundant monumental wonders as well as the great many natural surprises that await to satisfy the beholder, most travellers make it a point to go up country to its soft and soothing climate.

Passing numerous towns along the vegetation on either side of the carpeted Colombo-Kandy road, people would drink in the view even before they reached Kandy. The manors and mansions of aristocrats still look as good as new.

The pride of Kandy is the renowned 'Dalada Maligawa' also known as the temple of the tooth where millions of people have left their foot prints. As you enter the sacred land through a thorough security check, you are suddenly hit by an overwhelming revelation; that there's still room for peace and tranquillity on the face of the earth.

Solitude's written all over the place with its sole sound being the cool breeze from the nearby lake, rushing past the leaves of the 'Bo' trees, making them dance gleefully. It's the ideal place to forget all the hurt and evil that prevails in one's life.

A couple of feet away, the temple stands tall and strong waiting to embrace the pious travellers with its countless memories of many antiquities.

The whitewashed walls leading to the king-size entrance has seen many Kings and Queens walk in and out of the temple which was the King's Palace then.

The complexities of the ever so changing times haven't affected the stillness of the place that shelters the tooth relic that had many royalties plot against each other, as it was the pride and success of a King in the Kandyan Kingdom.

Travellers never miss a chance to visit it and residents cherish it; the authentic splendour of the interior decor of the temple of the tooth is truly amazing. In short it's the heart of this compact city.

Kandy has always been considered a hide - away from any kind of danger. It's encompassed by high hills hidden from the outside calamities and turbulence. The city of hills is by all means a retreat, a breather most people pine to take.

The hills are alive twenty-four seven as bright and sunny mornings pave the way for even brighter afternoons which gradually make preparations for a breath-taking marriage between the fading sun and the budding moon.

Small in size, the Kandy town is doubtlessly a happening place. Hundreds of pavement hawkers who prefer to stay away from the cops, thousands of shops of all sizes and shapes and shoppers who shop for no particular occasion.

Thus taking a walk during the day in the city would be close to impossible unless one doesn't mind physically bumping into perfect strangers. It's the hub that never runs short of business and as for those who'd rather stay away from all the drama could actually make a bee-line towards the Kandy lake.

The serenity of the still waters is absolutely impervious. The kind of experience can only be felt and not written or explicated.

All the excitement and the rush come to an end when twilight drops her curtain and start pinning it with stars, promising some quiet and quality time. Even the hills are illuminated..and the view is spectacular! For someone who lives in the highest hill which is surrounded by the rest, it's an out of the world experience, watching the city of hills being transformed into a city of lights.

Unlike in Colombo, when the clock strikes nine, the city of many marvels, slumbers. Another main attractions in Kandy is the world famous Perahera (Procession) during the second week of August. Millions of people from all over the world witness the event.

The tooth relic of Lord Buddha is carried in a casket around the city on a specially trained tusker, who is greatly respected. For years the flamboyance of the pageantry has been able to attract tourists to come down to Sri Lanka solely during the Perahera season.

It's said to be one of Asia's most prominent pageants. Its glamour and grandeur take one back in time to taste the richness of a great past.

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