Arriving to Kandy - Sri Lanka
..we continued our travel towards second biggest city in Sri Lanka - Kandy. Todays town was the ancient hill capital and domain of the king of Sri Lanka. The city of Kandy lies in the midlle of Sri Lanka island about 150 km far away from Colombo, on the foothill of the hilly country at about 500 metres above sea level.
Our target and base for trips arround Kandy was Amaya hills hotel wich is really situated on the hill. The hotel is actual about 7 km far away from the city. The view from the hill to the town of Kandy an surrounded country was splendid. The Amaya Hills Hotel is surrounded by the verdant greenery and carfully cultivated park with flowers, bushes and trees. This hotel offers 100 guest rooms that have been elegantly in english style furnished with an array of in-room amenities to ensure you a comfortable and pleasant stay. There is also a swiming pool .
Hiking through the streets of Kandy
The city of Kandy is easily explored by foot. The climate is a little cooler and less humid than in the capital, Colombo. The altitude about 500 metres above sea level gives the area a cooler climate than on the coast. The area and hilly surrounding of Kandy gets two monsoons a year.
Kandy is also known for its precious and half precious stones. Our first visit in the city of Kandy was famous goldsmith. We saw different working methods for precious and half precious stones. Goldsmith was very neat and tidy, we have seen so many stones, which they dig out from mines and later they make out a wonderful jewelry.
The collection of their crystals and minerals is really rich. In the next room we watched how workers were making jewelry and how they grind precious stones. After short look of those mostly hand skills, we admired the jewelry shop. A true paradise for women (and hell for men's wallet), there were precious and half precious stones all shapes and colours. Prices were pretty solid, but far from what we expected. We haven't bought a lot in this shop, so our tourist guide was a little bit shortened for his commission.
Kandy's history in short
Historical name of Kandy was Senkadagala Pura - by a hermit named Senkada. Todays name came from the word kanda which means Mountain - the town lies in the middle of the hilly region.
The Sri Lanka Kandy “Kandyan” kingdom withstood European invasion for more than two centuries. It was the last part of Sri Lanka which in year 1815 fall to the Britain.
Portuguese was first newcomers who arrived in the early 16th century and signifying the arrival of the Europeans. Between years 1604-1635 Senarth had established the kingdom of Kandy. The relationship between Portuguese and kngdom of Kandy cancled in the begining of 17th cebtury with formation of alliance with the Dutch but Kandy maintained their independents.
However in 1796 Dutch rule gave way to British. Britain annexed Colombo, Jaffna and Dutch rule was extinguished. The British were keen to conquer Kandy. They gained their opportunity in 1815, and the last of the Sri Lankan Kings was sent to be imprisoned in Wellor, India.