Kandy

Cradled between misty hills around a serene lake, Kandy is the island's cultural capital and the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings. Its heart is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, where drummers and golden-robed monks perform evening rituals that have run unbroken for centuries.

Beyond the temple, wander the royal botanical gardens at Peradeniya, catch a traditional Kandyan dance show, and time your visit for July/August to witness the spectacular Esala Perahera procession of drummers, dancers and lavishly dressed elephants.