Kandy (Mahanuwara or the 'great city' ) - the hill capital of Sri Lanka, had been the last bastion of  an indigeneous monarchy, before it fell into the hands of the British in 1815, through an international agreement referred to as the Kandyan Convention. As history records it, the city of Kandy was a veritable  natural fortress surrounded by the river Mahaweli and a mountainous wilderness impregnable to many an invader. It provided a safe haven for not only to the majority Sinhalese in the interior, but also to people of diverse origins including the Mohameddans, Hindus and Christians from the coastal areas who suffered much persecution at the hands of invading Europeans.

As the Asgiri Upatha - a historical chronicle of the 18th Century records,  the present city of Kandy had its origins in the village of Senkadagala, possibly dating back to the first century of the christian era. It assumed much political signficance since the fourteenth century as a primate city which later became the capital of Sri Lanka. Kandy, thus evolved itself into a seat of power and a centre of indigeneous culture by the begining of the nineteenth century. It continues to this day as the centre of theravada buddhism - the pristine form of budhdhist doctrine, as represented by the Malwatu and Asgiri chapters.

Today, Kandy is a city of many attractions. It's natural beauty with misty mountains, verdant slopes, riverine landscapes and urban rain forests consorted  by a congenial climate with temperatures ranging from 20-25C around the year, attracted  many a visitor who desired to make it a permanent home. The Kandy Perahera held in the month of Esala (August) in honour of the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha - a colourful pagaent  with hundreds of exquisitely caparisoned domesticated  elephants is a major tourist attraction bringing visitors from all over the world. Kandy  was recently declared a world heritage city  due to its immense historical and cultural significance. The royal botanical gardens, the centres of learning and the well developed hotel industry adds more to its value as a city in the tropics. There is much more Kandy as a city can offer. You are invited to  browse through our  website, and  get a glimpse of   our little paradise in the hills.

Harindranath Dunuwille,

Mayor of Kandy