Kandy: The Cultural Heart of Sri Lanka

• Helloආයුබෝවන්
  [Ayubowan]
• Goodbyeසල්ලි
  [Salli]
• Yesඔව්
  [Owa]
• Noනෑ
  [Nae]
• Please/You're welcomeකරන්න/ස්වභාවික
  [Karanna/Suwabawik]
• Thank youස්තූතියි
  [Sthuthiyi]
• Excuse me/Sorryකියන්න/සමාවෙන්න
  [Kiyanna/Samawenna]
• How are you?ඔයා කොහෙද?
  [Oya koheda?]
• Fine. And you?හොඳේ. ඔයා?
  [Hode. Oya?]
• Do you speak English?ඔයා ඉංග්‍රීසි කතා කරයිද?
  [Oya ingreesi katha karayi da?]
• I don't understandමට දත්ත නොදෙනුනේ
  [Mata data nodenu]

• I'd like to see the menu, pleaseමම මෙනු බලන්නන්, කරුණාකළ
  [Mama menu balannanna, karunakala]
• I don't eat meatමම මස් කන්නේ නෑ
  [Mama mas kannae nae]
• Cheers!සුමන්
  [Suman]
• I would like to pay, pleaseමම ගෙවිලා ගත්තේ, කරුණාකළ
  [Mama gevila gatthe, karunakala]

• Help!උකුලට
  [Ukulta]
• Go away!යලියෙන්න
  [Yaliyenna]
• Call the Police!පොලිස් කළද?
  [Police kalada?]
• Call a doctor!වෛර කලද?
  [Vaidya kalada?]
• I'm lostමම අතේදාගෙනා
  [Mama athedagenaa]
• I'm illමම අස්වැල්ලුවා
  [Mama aswelluwa]

• I'd like to buy...මම ... මෙනු වෙනවා
  [Mama ... menu wenawa]
• I'm just lookingමම කරත්තන්ට පෙනෙනවා
  [Mama karattant penenawa]
• How much is it?එයාලා කොචලා?
  [Eyala kothala?]
• That's too expensiveඑයාලා කට්ටියේ ප්‍රමාණයයි
  [Eyala katteye pramanayi]
• Can you lower the price?මිනිස්සු කට්ටි අඩු කරනවාද?
  [Minissu katti adu karanavada?]

• What time is it?නොකියාම කාලය කුගුලයි?
  [Nokiyaama kalaya kugulayi?]
• It's one o'clockඑකට
  [Ekata]
• Half past (10)සමිප්වල
  [Sampawala]
• Morningපානම්
  [Panam]
• Afternoonපසළ
  [Pasala]
• Eveningසවස
  [Savasa]
• Yesterdayඊයේ
  [Iye]
• Todayඅද
  [Ada]
• Tomorrowහෙට
  [Heta]
• 1එක
  [Eka]
• 2දෙක
  [Deka]
• 3තුන
  [Thuna]
• 4හතලි
  [Hathali]
• 5පහ
  [Paha]
• 6හය
  [Haya]
• 7හත
  [Hatha]
• 8අට
  [Ata]
• 9නත්
  [Natha]
• 10දහය
  [Dahaya]

• Where's a/the...?... ඉවුල්කොට?
  [... Ivulkota?]
• What's the address?ලිපිනය කුලයි?
  [Lipinaya kuli?]
• Can you show me (on the map)?මට (කිසිවක්) පෙනෙනවාද?
  [Mata (Kisiwak) penenavada?]
• When's the next (bus)?ඊතලට (බස්) කුලයි?
  [Italata (Bas) kuli?]
• A ticket (to ....)ප්‍රාන්තය (.... වෙත)
  [Prantaya (.... wetha)]

Kandy was the last independent kingdom of Sri Lanka before it fell to the British in 1815. Established in the 14th century, it became a significant center of political power, culture, and Buddhism in the country. The kingdom's strategic location amidst the central highlands made it a formidable fortress against invaders.

The Temple of the Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world. It houses the tooth relic of the Buddha, which is believed to have been brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. The temple complex, built within the royal palace grounds, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and plays a central role in Kandy's religious and cultural life.

The Kandyan Wars were a series of conflicts fought between the Kingdom of Kandy and colonial powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, from the late 16th century to the early 19th century. These wars were marked by fierce resistance from the Kandyan forces and complex alliances. The final Kandyan War in 1815 led to the kingdom's annexation by the British.

The Esala Perahera is one of the oldest and grandest Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka, held annually in Kandy. This spectacular event, held in July or August, features a procession of beautifully decorated elephants, traditional dancers, drummers, and other performers. The highlight of the festival is the sacred casket bearing the Buddha's tooth relic, paraded through the streets in a grand ceremony.

British colonial rule brought significant changes to Kandy, including the construction of new infrastructure, schools, and administrative buildings. Despite colonial influence, Kandy retained its cultural and religious significance. Sri Lanka gained independence from British rule in 1948, and Kandy has since continued to be a vital cultural and historical center in the country.

Kandy is renowned for its distinctive art and architecture, which reflect a blend of indigenous styles and foreign influences. The city's architectural heritage includes the royal palace, temples, and colonial-era buildings. Traditional Kandyan art is characterized by intricate wood carvings, vibrant murals, and elaborate jewelry, all of which showcase the region's rich cultural heritage.

Kandy is located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The nearest international airport is Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, approximately 115 kilometers away. From Colombo, you can take a train, which offers a scenic route through Sri Lanka's lush landscapes and typically takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus or hire a private taxi, with the journey by road taking around 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic.

Once in Kandy, getting around is relatively straightforward. Tuk-tuks are a popular and convenient mode of transport for short distances. Local buses are available and provide an affordable way to travel within the city and to nearby towns. Taxis can be found easily, and ride-hailing apps like PickMe are also operational in Kandy. For a more relaxed pace, walking is a great way to explore the city's central areas.

The official currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and major shops in Kandy, but it's advisable to carry some cash for smaller establishments and local markets. ATMs are plentiful in the city, and currency exchange services are available at banks and exchange bureaus.

Kandy is generally a safe destination for tourists, but it's important to stay vigilant. Avoid walking alone at night in less populated areas. Petty crimes like pickpocketing can occur, particularly in crowded places such as markets and public transportation hubs. Areas to be cautious in include the bus station and the railway station, especially during late hours.

In case of an emergency, dial 119 for police assistance and 110 for medical emergencies. Kandy General Hospital is the main medical facility in the area. It's advisable to have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies. For minor health issues, there are numerous pharmacies throughout the city where you can purchase over-the-counter medications.

Fashion: Do dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. Avoid wearing revealing clothing. Religion: Do respect local customs and traditions. Remove your shoes and hat when entering temples, and avoid turning your back to Buddha statues. Public Transport: Do be respectful and offer your seat to elderly passengers. Don't eat or drink on public transport. Greetings: Do greet people with a friendly 'Ayubowan' or a handshake. Avoid touching people on the head as it is considered disrespectful. Eating & Drinking: Do try local delicacies and accept food offerings graciously. Don't waste food, as it is considered impolite.

To experience Kandy like a local, visit the Kandy Market Hall where you can purchase fresh produce and local goods. Engage with locals to learn about their culture and traditions. Don't miss the Esala Perahera festival if you visit in July or August; it's one of the most spectacular cultural events in Sri Lanka. For a serene experience, take a stroll around the Kandy Lake or visit the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya.