Difference between revisions of "Kandy" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox Settlement
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| name                    = Kandy
 +
| native_name            = මහ නුවර<br/>கண்டி
 +
| native_name_lang        = si
 +
| settlement_type        = City
 +
| image_skyline          = Kandy lake.jpg
 +
| image_alt              =
 +
| image_caption          = Kandy lake and the City centre
 +
| image_flag              =
 +
| flag_alt                =
 +
| image_seal              =
 +
| seal_alt                =
 +
| image_shield            =
 +
| shield_alt              =
 +
| nickname                = Nuwara, Kanda Uda Rata, Senkadagala, Senkadagala Pura
 +
| motto                  = Loyal and Free
 +
| image_map              =
 +
| map_alt                =
 +
| map_caption            =
 +
| pushpin_map            = Sri Lanka
 +
| pushpin_label_position  = Location of Kandy in Sri Lanka
 +
| pushpin_map_alt        =
 +
| pushpin_map_caption    =
 +
| latd  = 7 |latm  = 17 |lats  = 47 |latNS  = N
 +
| longd = 80 |longm = 38 |longs = 6 |longEW = E
 +
| coor_pinpoint          =
 +
| coordinates_type        =
 +
| coordinates_display    = inline,title
 +
| coordinates_footnotes  =
 +
| subdivision_type        = Country
 +
| subdivision_name        = [[Sri Lanka]]
 +
| subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|Province]]
 +
| subdivision_name1      = [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central Province]]
 +
| subdivision_type2      = [[Districts of Sri Lanka|District]]
 +
| subdivision_name2      = [[Kandy District]]
 +
| subdivision_type3      = [[Divisional Secretariats of Central Province, Sri Lanka|Divisional Secretariat]]
 +
| subdivision_name3      = [[Kandy Divisional Secretariat]]
 +
| established_title      = Senkadagalapura
 +
| established_date        = 14th century
 +
| established_title2      = [[Kandy Municipal Council]]
 +
| established_date2      = 1865
 +
| established_title3      =
 +
| established_date3      =
 +
| founder                = [[Vikramabahu III of Gampola|Vikramabahu III]]
 +
| government_type        = Municipal Council
 +
| governing_body          = [[Kandy Municipal Council]]
 +
| government_footnotes    =
 +
| leader_party            =
 +
| leader_title            = [[Mayor of Kandy|Mayor]]
 +
| leader_name            = [[Mahen Ratwatte]]
 +
| unit_pref              = Metric
 +
| area_footnotes          =
 +
| area_total_km2          = 1940
 +
| area_land_km2          = 1917
 +
| area_water_km2          = 23
 +
| area_water_percent      =
 +
| area_note              =
 +
| elevation_footnotes    =
 +
| elevation_m            = 500
 +
| population_footnotes    =
 +
| population_total        = 110049
 +
| population_as_of        = 2001
 +
| population_density_km2  = auto
 +
| population_demonym      = Kandyan
 +
| population_note        =
 +
| timezone1              = [[Sri Lanka Time]]
 +
| utc_offset1            = +05:30
 +
| timezone1_DST          =
 +
| utc_offset1_DST        =
 +
| postal_code_type        =
 +
| postal_code            =
 +
| area_code_type          =
 +
| area_code              =
 +
| iso_code                =
 +
| website                = [http://www.kandycity.org Kandy City]
 +
| footnotes              =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
'''Kandy''' (''maha nuvara,'' {{pronounced|mahaˈnuərə}}, in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]], கண்டி ''kaṇṭi,'' {{pronounced|ˈkaɳɖi}}, in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]), constitutes the English rendering for ''Maha Nuvara'' (Senkadagalapura), a city in the center of [[Sri Lanka]]. The name Kandy derives from the Sinhalese ''kaⁿda uḍa pas raṭa,'' literally "the five districts on the mountain." The Portuguese shortened that to "Candea," using the name for both the kingdom and its capital Senkadagalapura. In Sinhala, Kandy goes by the name ''Maha Nuvara''  ({{pronounced|maha nuʋərə}}), meaning "Great City" or "Capital," although most often shortened to ''Nuvara''. The capital of the [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central Province]] and [[Kandy District]], it lies in the midst of hills in the [[Kandy Valley]] which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Founded in the fourteenth century C.E., Kandy historically has served as the administrative and religious capital of the Central Province, which encompasses the districts of Kandy, [[Matale]], and [[Nuwara Eliya]]. The city, one of the most scenic in Sri Lanka, had a population of 110,049 in the 2001 [[census]].
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{{toc}}
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In spite of its loss of independence from 1815 to 1947, Kandy remained an important administrative and religious center. The two functions fused in the tradition of the [[Sacred Tooth of Buddha]]. The Royal Palace and the [[Sri Dalada Maligawa|Temple of the Sacred Tooth]], the temple housing the relic tooth of Buddha, have been declared by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]]. Since the fourth century C.E., the tooth of Buddha had been a symbol of royal power. Possessing the Tooth of Buddha sealed a king's authority to rule. Without it, the royal authority did not exist. The [[Sinhalese people]] have preserved that tradition, the annual public display of the tooth of Buddha marking the proclamation of royal power. [[Buddhist pilgrimage]] to Kandy for the annual event, especially members of the [[Theravada]] school, crowding the city for the ten day procession. The event highlights the crucial role Kandy played in spreading [[Buddhism]] throughout [[Sri Lanka]]. The [[Sinhala kings]] supported the spread of Buddhism, nurturing a golden age in the [[Dinahala]] culture that survived for over 2,500 years.
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
[[Image:srilanka kandy lake.jpg|thumb|200px|left|View of the lake from Rajapihilla Mawatha, on the right the golden roof of the Temple of the Tooth, top left a [[Toque Macaque]]]]
 +
Historical records suggest that King Wickramabahu (1357-1374 C.E.) founded Kandy near the Watapuluwa area, north of the present city. He named the city ''Senkadagalapura'' at the time, although some scholars suggest he may have used the name ''Katubulu Nuwara''. The origin of the popular name for the city, Senkadagala, could have had several origins. The city may have been naming after a [[brahmin]] named ''Senkanda'' who lived in a cave near the city, after a queen of King Wickramabahu named ''Senkanda'' or, after a colored stone named ''Senkadagala''.
  
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{{coord|7|17|49.06|N|80|38|18.43|E|display=title|region:LK_type:city}}
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In 1592, Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in Sri Lanka after the coastal regions had been conquered by the [[Portugal|Portuguese]]. Kandy repelled invasions by the Portuguese and the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, as well as the [[Great Britain|British]] (most notably in 1803). The [[Nayaks of Kandy]] had been the last ruling dynasty of Kandy, preserving its independence until falling to the British in 1815. The British deposed the king, [[Sri Vikrama Rajasinha]], and all claimants to the throne, thus ending the last traditional monarchy of Sri Lanka, and replaced it with British rule.
  
 +
As the capital, Kandy had become home to the [[relic of the tooth of the Buddha]] which symbolizes a fourth century tradition linked to royalty. The protector of the relic won the right to rule the land. Thus, the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth associated with the administrative and religious functions of the capital city. Even after its conquest by the British, Kandy has preserved its function as the religious capital of the [[Sinhala people|Sinhalese]] and a place of [[pilgrimage]] for [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], namely those belonging to the [[Theravada]] school.
 +
 +
Portuguese invasions in the sixteenth century and seventeenth century failed utterly. The kingdom tolerated a Dutch presence on the coast until 1761, when [[Kirti Sri]] attacked and overran most of the coast. He left only the heavily fortified [[Negombo]] intact. When a Dutch retaliatory force returned to the island in 1763, Sri abandoned the coastline and withdrew into the interior. When the Dutch continued the conquest into the jungles the following year, they suffered constantly from disease, heat, lack of provisions, and Kandyan sharpshooters, who hid in the jungle and inflicted heavy losses on the Dutch. Learning from their experience, the Dutch fielded a force prepared for the hardships in January of 1765, replacing their troops' bayonets with machetes and using more practical uniforms and tactics suited to rapid movement. They initially met with success, capturing the capital that had been deserted by the Kandyans who withdrew to the jungles, refusing to engage in open battle. The Dutch, worn down by constant attrition, came to terms in 1766.
 +
 +
== World Heritage Site ==
 +
[[Image:SL51tooth.jpg|150px|left|thumb|The tooth sanctuary.]]
 
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
 
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
 
|Name        = Sacred City of Kandy
 
|Name        = Sacred City of Kandy
−
|Image      = [[Image:Zahntempel Kandy.jpg|220px|The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy]]
+
|Image      = [[Image:Zahntempel Kandy.jpg|200px|The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy]]
 
|State Party = {{SRI}}
 
|State Party = {{SRI}}
 
|Type        = Cultural
 
|Type        = Cultural
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|Link        = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/450 Retrieved July 5, 2008
 
|Link        = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/450 Retrieved July 5, 2008
 
}}
 
}}
−
'''Kandy''' (''maha nuvara'', {{pronounced|mahaˈnuərə}}, in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]], கண்டி ''kaṇṭi'', {{pronounced|ˈkaɳɖi}}, in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]), constitutes the English rendering for ''Maha Nuvara'' (Senkadagalapura), a city in the center of [[Sri Lanka]]. The name Kandy derives from the Sinhalese ''kaⁿda uḍa pas raṭa'', literally "the five districts on the mountain." The Portuguese shortened that to "Candea," using the name for both the kingdom and its capital Senkadagalapura. In Sinhala, Kandy is called ''Maha Nuvara''  ({{pronounced|maha nuʋərə}}), meaning "Great City" or "Capital," although most often shortened to ''Nuvara''.
+
[[Image:SL52tooth.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Inside the Temple of the Tooth]]
 +
UNESCO designated the Sacred City of Kandy a World Heritage site in 1988. Citing Senkadagalapura, the name Kandy popularly went by, as a sacred Buddhist site serving as the last capital of the Sinhala kings. Their support fostered a golden age in which the Dinahala culture flourished for over 2,500 years. UNESCO noted the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the sacred tooth of the Buddha, as a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in their decision to designate Kandy a World Historical Site. The Palace of the Tooth relic, the palace complex, and the holy city of Kandy directly connect to the spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.  
  
−
The capital of the [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central Province]] and [[Kandy District]], it lies in the midst of hills in the [[Kandy Valley]] which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Founded in the 14th century C.E., Kandy historically has served as the administrative and religious capital of the Central Province, which encompasses the districts of Kandy, [[Matale]] and [[Nuwara Eliya]]) and also of the administrative district of Kandy. The city, one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka, had a population of 110,049 in the 2001 [[census]].  
+
UNESCO highlighted the Procession of the Buddha's Tooth in its designation of Kandy as a World Heritage Site. During the annual festival known as the ''[[Esala Perahera]]'' ''(ˈɶsələ ˌperəˌhɶrə)'', the ritual of bringing out the relic of Buddha began in the eighteenth century. A gold casket containing the tooth rides on a royal male elephant. During the procession, eighty elephants join in. Dancers colorfully swirl torches to fend of curses, the total number of dancers reaching 3,500. The procession goes on for ten days.<ref>UNESCO, [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/450/video Sacred City of Kandy video.] Retrieved July 5, 2008.</ref>
  
−
== History ==
+
== City description ==
−
[[Image:Kandy Sky.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The Kandy Sky Line]]
+
The city of Kandy sits at an altitude of about 500 m above [[sea level]]. Its plan developed around two open spaces: an elongated square with the administration buildings of the old capital at the end, and an artificial lake quadrangular in form. A public garden adds to the openness of the city's spatial organization.
−
Historical records suggest that King Wickramabahu (1357-1374 C.E.) founded Kandy near the Watapuluwa area, north of the present city. He named the city ''Senkadagalapura'' at the time, although some scholars suggest he may have used the name ''Katubulu Nuwara''. The origin of the popular name for the city, Senkadagala, could have had several origins. First, the city may have been naming after a [[brahmin]] named ''Senkanda'' who lived in a cave near the city. Second, after a queen of King Wickramabahu named ''Senkanda'' or, third, after a colored stone named ''Senkadagala''.
 
  
−
In 1592, Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in Sri Lanka after the coastal regions had been conquered by the [[Portugal|Portuguese]]. Kandy repelled invasions by the Portuguese and the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries), as well as the [[Great Britain|British]] (most notably in 1803). The [[Nayaks of Kandy]] had been the last ruling dynasty of Kandy, preserving its independence until falling to the British in 1815. The British deposed the king, [[Sri Vikrama Rajasinha]], and all claimants to the throne, thus ending the last traditional monarchy of Sri Lanka, and replaced it with British rule.
+
On the north shore of the lake, enclosed by a parapet of white stone dating to the beginning of the nineteenth century, the city's official religious monuments, including the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth, known as the Dalada Maligawa (daḷadā māligāva), stand. Inspired by the [[temple]]s of Sri Lanka's former capital city, [[Anuradhapura]], the Dalanda Maligawa had been reconstructed in the eighteenth century on a base of [[granite]]. An array of materials ([[limestone]], [[marble]], sculpted [[wood]], and [[ivory]]) contribute to the richness of this temple. A number of recently built Buddhist [[monastery|monasteries]] dot the city.
  
−
[[Image:srilanka kandy lake.jpg|thumb|220px|View of the lake from Rajapihilla Mawatha, on the right the golden roof of the Temple of the Tooth, top left a [[Toque Macaque]]]]
+
Kandy has expanded, encompassing [[Peradeniya]], home to the University of Peradeniya and the Botanical Gardens, Katugastota to the north, and east to Kundasale, Tennekumbura and Gurudeniya.
−
As the capital, Kandy had become home to the [[relic of the tooth of the Buddha]] which symbolises a 4th-century tradition that used to be linked to royalty since the protector of the relic was seen fit to rule the land. Thus, the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth were associated with the administrative and religious functions of the capital city. Even after its conquest by the British, Kandy has preserved its function as the religious capital of the [[Sinhala people|Sinhalese]] and a place of [[pilgrimage]] for [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], namely those belonging to the [[Theravada]] school.
 
  
−
Portuguese invasions in the [[16th century]] and [[17th century]] were entirely unsuccessful. The kingdom tolerated a Dutch presence on the coast until 1761, when [[Kirti Sri]] attacked and overran most of the coast, leaving only the heavily fortified [[Negombo]] intact. When a Dutch retaliatory force returned to the island in 1763, Sri abandoned the coastline and withdrew into the interior. When the Dutch continued to the jungles the next year, they were constantly harassed by disease, heat, lack of provisions, and Kandyan sharpshooters, who hid in the jungle and inflicted heavy losses on the Dutch.
+
== Culture ==
−
The Dutch launched a better adapted force in January of 1765, replacing their troops' bayonets with machetes and using more practical uniforms and tactics suited to speedy movement. They were initially successful, capturing the capital, but they took a deserted city, and the Kandyans withdrew to the jungles once more, refusing to engage in open battle. The Dutch, worn down by constant attrition, came to terms in 1766.
+
[[Image:Pera Bot.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Peradeniya Botanical garden]]
−
 
+
'''Botanical garden.'''
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== World Heritage Site ==
+
The [[Botanical Garden of Peradeniya]], about five kilometers to the west of the city center at [[Peradeniya]], attracts 1.2 million visitors per year.
−
<!--[[Image:KandyPerahara.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Elephants at the Esala Perahera]]—>
 
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The monumental ensemble of Kandy is an example of construction that associates the Royal Palace and the [[Temple of the Tooth]] (palace of the tooth relic). It was one of a series of temples built in the places where the relic, the actual palladium of the Sinhalese monarchy, was brought following the various relocations of the capital city.
 
−
 
 
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The Palace of the Tooth relic, the palace complex and the holy city of Kandy are associated with the history of the dissemination of Buddhism. The temple is the product of the last peregrination of the [[relic of the tooth of Buddha]] and the testimony of a cult which continues to be practiced today.
 
−
 
 
−
== Description ==
 
−
[[Image:SL51tooth.jpg|150px|thumb|The tooth sanctuary]]
 
−
The city of Kandy lies at an altitude of about 500 m above [[sea level]]. Its plan developed around two open spaces: an elongated square at the end of which are the administration buildings of the old capital, and an artificial lake that is quadrangular in form. A public garden adds to the openness of the city's spatial organisation.
 
−
 
 
−
On the north shore of the lake, which is enclosed by a parapet of white stone dating to the beginning of the [[19th century]], are the city's official religious monuments, including the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth, known as the Dalada Maligawa (daḷadā māligāva). Reconstructed in the [[18th century]], the Dalanda Maligawa is built on a base of [[granite]] that was inspired by the [[temple]]s of Sri Lanka's former capital city, [[Anuradhapura]]. An array of materials ([[limestone]], [[marble]], sculpted [[wood]], [[ivory]], etc.) contribute to the richness of this temple. Throughout this small ''holy city'', a number of recent Buddhist [[monastery|monasteries]] can be found.
 
  
−
Kandy has now grown out to encompass [[Peradeniya]], home to the University of Peradeniya and the Botanical Gardens, Katugastota to the north, and east to Kundasale, Tennekumbura and Gurudeniya.
+
'''Culinary.'''
 +
Kandy has a modest range of restaurants, as well as an abundance of confectioneries. The range of cuisines available including Chinese, European, Sri Lankan, and Indian.
  
−
== Culture ==
+
'''Sport.'''  
−
[[Image:SL52tooth.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Inside the Temple of the Tooth]]
+
[[Volleyball]] ranks as the National Sport of Sri Lanka but [[Cricket]] stands the most popular sport. The Sri Lanka cricket team plays international Test matches at the [[Asgiriya Stadium|Asgiriya International Stadium]]. The [[Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby 7's]] tournament, an annual international sporting highlight, takes place at the [[Bogambara]] Stadium in Kandy. Kandyans love [[rugby union]]. [[Kandy SC]], the local rugby union club, has been champions of the rugby league for many years. Kandy schools have produced many national rugby players.
−
'''Festivals'''. Kandy is also popular because of the annual festival known as the ''[[Esala Perahera]]'' ''(ˈɶsələ ˌperəˌhɶrə)'' in which one of the inner caskets used for covering the tooth relic of Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city. This casket is taken on a tusker of royal caste. The procession includes traditional dancers and drummers, flag bearers of the provinces of the old Kandyan kingdom, the Nilames ([[Laity|lay]] custodians of temples ) wearing their traditional dresses, torch bearers and also the grandly attired elephant. This ceremony which is annually held in the months of July or August, attracts large crowds from all parts of the country and also many foreign tourists.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Sport'''. [[Volleyball]] ranks as the National Sport of Sri Lanka but [[Cricket]] stands the most popular sport. The Sri Lanka [[cricket]] team plays international Test matches at the [[Asgiriya Stadium|Asgiriya International Stadium]]. The [[Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby 7's]] tournament, an annual international sporting highlight, takes place at the [[Bogambara]] Stadium in Kandy. Kandyans love [[rugby union]]. [[Kandy SC]], the local rugby union club, has been champions of the rugby league for many years. Kandy schools have produced many national rugby players.
 
 
<!--[[Image:Kandy city centre.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Kotugodella Mawatha in downtown Kandy]]—>
 
<!--[[Image:Kandy city centre.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Kotugodella Mawatha in downtown Kandy]]—>
−
 
−
'''Culinary'''. Kandy has a modest range of restaurants, as well as an abundance of confectioneries. A range of cuisines is available including Chinese, European, Sri Lankan, Indian and some multinational fast food outlets.
 
−
 
−
'''Botanical garden'''. The [[Botanical Garden of Peradeniya]] is situated about 5 km to the west of the city center at [[Peradeniya]] and is visited by 1.2 million people per year.
 
  
 
== Demographics ==
 
== Demographics ==
−
[[Image:Pera Bot.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Peradeniya Botanical garden]]
+
Kandy has a majority of [[Sinhalese people]]; sizeable communities belonging to other ethnic groups, such as [[Sri Lankan Moors|Moors]] and [[Tamils]], also live in the city.<ref>Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka.</ref>
−
Kandy has a majority of [[Sinhalese people]]; sizeable communities belonging to other ethnic groups, such as [[Sri Lankan Moors|Moors]] and [[Tamils]], also live in the city.
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
''Source:'' [http://www.statistics.gov.lk/census2001/population/district/t002c.htm]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
  
−
== See also ==
+
 
−
[[Sri Lanka]]
+
==Notes==
−
<br/>[[World Heritage Sites]]
+
<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
* De Silva, T. K. N. P. 1988. Kandy. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs. OCLC 21674722.
+
* De Silva, T.K.N.P. 1988. ''Kandy.'' Colombo, Sri Lanka: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs.  
−
* McConnell, D. J. 1992. The forest-garden farms of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Farm systems management series, 3. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251028988.
+
* McConnell, D.J. 1992. ''The Forest-Garden Farms of Kandy, Sri Lanka.'' Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251028988.
−
* Mills, Lennox Algernon. 1965. Ceylon under British rule, 1795-1932; with an account of the East India Company's embassies to Kandy 1762-1795. New York: Barnes & Noble. OCLC 409156.
+
* Mills, Lennox Algernon. 1965. ''Ceylon Under British Rule, 1795-1932; With an Account of the East India Company's Embassies to Kandy 1762-1795.'' New York: Barnes & Noble.
−
* Perera, C. Gaston. 2007. Kandy fights the Portuguese: a military history of Kandyan resistance. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications. ISBN 9789551266776.
+
* Perera, C. Gaston. 2007. ''Kandy Fights the Portuguese: A Military History of Kandyan Resistance.'' Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications. ISBN 9789551266776.
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
*[http://www.kandycity.org Kandy city website.]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
+
All links retrieved October 4, 2022.
−
*[http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=73&Itemid=76.html/ Discover Sri Lanka - More information & images about Sri Dalada Maligawa]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
+
*[http://www.kandycity.org Kandy city website.]
−
*[http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Itemid=76.html Discover Sri Lanka - More information on Kandy district]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
+
*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/310947/Kandy Kandy] Encyclopædia Britannica.  
−
*[http://www.tourslanka.com/Kandy.htm Kandy The hill capital of Sri Lanka]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
+
*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/450 Sacred City of Kandy] Official UNESCO website entry.
−
*[http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/sasia/mbw/sri_lanka/Sri%20Lanka%20Lecture%20Pages/perahera.htm The Mary B. Wheeler Collection, University of Pennsylvania Library]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
+
 
−
*[http://www.srilankatourism.org/ Official website of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
−
*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-24254/Sri-Lanka Kandyan Kingdom At Encyclopædia Britannica]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
−
*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/450 Official UNESCO website entry]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
−
*[http://www.liccavi-earth.com/Liccavi/Search.aspx?lat=7.29324&lon=80.63913&zoom=14 Detailed map of Kandy and Sri Lanka]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
 
  
  
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[[Category:Cities]]
 
[[Category:Cities]]
 
[[Category:Buddhism]]
 
[[Category:Buddhism]]
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[[Category:World Heritage Sites]]
  
 
{{credits|222233054}}
 
{{credits|222233054}}

Latest revision as of 07:07, 28 February 2023

Kandy
මහ නුවර
கண்டி
—  City  —
Kandy lake and the City centre
Kandy lake and the City centre
Nickname: Nuwara, Kanda Uda Rata, Senkadagala, Senkadagala Pura
Motto: Loyal and Free
Kandy (Sri Lanka )
Kandy
Kandy
Coordinates: {{#invoke:Coordinates|coord}}{{#coordinates:7|17|47|N|80|38|6|E|
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Country Sri Lanka
Province Central Province
District Kandy District
Divisional Secretariat Kandy Divisional Secretariat
Senkadagalapura 14th century
Kandy Municipal Council 1865
Founder Vikramabahu III
Government
 - Type Municipal Council
 - Mayor Mahen Ratwatte
Area
 - Total 1,940 km² (749 sq mi)
 - Land 1,917 km² (740.2 sq mi)
 - Water 23 km² (8.9 sq mi)
Elevation 500 m (1,640 ft)
Population (2001)
 - Total 110,049
 - Density 56.7/km² (146.9/sq mi)
Website: Kandy City

Kandy (maha nuvara, pronounced [mahaˈnuərə], in Sinhala, கண்டி kaṇṭi, pronounced [ˈkaɳɖi], in Tamil), constitutes the English rendering for Maha Nuvara (Senkadagalapura), a city in the center of Sri Lanka. The name Kandy derives from the Sinhalese kaⁿda uḍa pas raṭa, literally "the five districts on the mountain." The Portuguese shortened that to "Candea," using the name for both the kingdom and its capital Senkadagalapura. In Sinhala, Kandy goes by the name Maha Nuvara (pronounced [maha nuʋərə]), meaning "Great City" or "Capital," although most often shortened to Nuvara. The capital of the Central Province and Kandy District, it lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy Valley which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Founded in the fourteenth century C.E., Kandy historically has served as the administrative and religious capital of the Central Province, which encompasses the districts of Kandy, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya. The city, one of the most scenic in Sri Lanka, had a population of 110,049 in the 2001 census.

In spite of its loss of independence from 1815 to 1947, Kandy remained an important administrative and religious center. The two functions fused in the tradition of the Sacred Tooth of Buddha. The Royal Palace and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, the temple housing the relic tooth of Buddha, have been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Since the fourth century C.E., the tooth of Buddha had been a symbol of royal power. Possessing the Tooth of Buddha sealed a king's authority to rule. Without it, the royal authority did not exist. The Sinhalese people have preserved that tradition, the annual public display of the tooth of Buddha marking the proclamation of royal power. Buddhist pilgrimage to Kandy for the annual event, especially members of the Theravada school, crowding the city for the ten day procession. The event highlights the crucial role Kandy played in spreading Buddhism throughout Sri Lanka. The Sinhala kings supported the spread of Buddhism, nurturing a golden age in the Dinahala culture that survived for over 2,500 years.

History

View of the lake from Rajapihilla Mawatha, on the right the golden roof of the Temple of the Tooth, top left a Toque Macaque

Historical records suggest that King Wickramabahu (1357-1374 C.E.) founded Kandy near the Watapuluwa area, north of the present city. He named the city Senkadagalapura at the time, although some scholars suggest he may have used the name Katubulu Nuwara. The origin of the popular name for the city, Senkadagala, could have had several origins. The city may have been naming after a brahmin named Senkanda who lived in a cave near the city, after a queen of King Wickramabahu named Senkanda or, after a colored stone named Senkadagala.

In 1592, Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in Sri Lanka after the coastal regions had been conquered by the Portuguese. Kandy repelled invasions by the Portuguese and the Dutch in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, as well as the British (most notably in 1803). The Nayaks of Kandy had been the last ruling dynasty of Kandy, preserving its independence until falling to the British in 1815. The British deposed the king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, and all claimants to the throne, thus ending the last traditional monarchy of Sri Lanka, and replaced it with British rule.

As the capital, Kandy had become home to the relic of the tooth of the Buddha which symbolizes a fourth century tradition linked to royalty. The protector of the relic won the right to rule the land. Thus, the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth associated with the administrative and religious functions of the capital city. Even after its conquest by the British, Kandy has preserved its function as the religious capital of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, namely those belonging to the Theravada school.

Portuguese invasions in the sixteenth century and seventeenth century failed utterly. The kingdom tolerated a Dutch presence on the coast until 1761, when Kirti Sri attacked and overran most of the coast. He left only the heavily fortified Negombo intact. When a Dutch retaliatory force returned to the island in 1763, Sri abandoned the coastline and withdrew into the interior. When the Dutch continued the conquest into the jungles the following year, they suffered constantly from disease, heat, lack of provisions, and Kandyan sharpshooters, who hid in the jungle and inflicted heavy losses on the Dutch. Learning from their experience, the Dutch fielded a force prepared for the hardships in January of 1765, replacing their troops' bayonets with machetes and using more practical uniforms and tactics suited to rapid movement. They initially met with success, capturing the capital that had been deserted by the Kandyans who withdrew to the jungles, refusing to engage in open battle. The Dutch, worn down by constant attrition, came to terms in 1766.

World Heritage Site

The tooth sanctuary.
Sacred City of Kandy*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy
State Party Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Type Cultural
Criteria iv, vi
Reference Retrieved July 5, 2008 450
Region** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1988  (10th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.
Inside the Temple of the Tooth

UNESCO designated the Sacred City of Kandy a World Heritage site in 1988. Citing Senkadagalapura, the name Kandy popularly went by, as a sacred Buddhist site serving as the last capital of the Sinhala kings. Their support fostered a golden age in which the Dinahala culture flourished for over 2,500 years. UNESCO noted the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the sacred tooth of the Buddha, as a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in their decision to designate Kandy a World Historical Site. The Palace of the Tooth relic, the palace complex, and the holy city of Kandy directly connect to the spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

UNESCO highlighted the Procession of the Buddha's Tooth in its designation of Kandy as a World Heritage Site. During the annual festival known as the Esala Perahera (ˈɶsələ ˌperəˌhɶrə), the ritual of bringing out the relic of Buddha began in the eighteenth century. A gold casket containing the tooth rides on a royal male elephant. During the procession, eighty elephants join in. Dancers colorfully swirl torches to fend of curses, the total number of dancers reaching 3,500. The procession goes on for ten days.[1]

City description

The city of Kandy sits at an altitude of about 500 m above sea level. Its plan developed around two open spaces: an elongated square with the administration buildings of the old capital at the end, and an artificial lake quadrangular in form. A public garden adds to the openness of the city's spatial organization.

On the north shore of the lake, enclosed by a parapet of white stone dating to the beginning of the nineteenth century, the city's official religious monuments, including the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth, known as the Dalada Maligawa (daḷadā māligāva), stand. Inspired by the temples of Sri Lanka's former capital city, Anuradhapura, the Dalanda Maligawa had been reconstructed in the eighteenth century on a base of granite. An array of materials (limestone, marble, sculpted wood, and ivory) contribute to the richness of this temple. A number of recently built Buddhist monasteries dot the city.

Kandy has expanded, encompassing Peradeniya, home to the University of Peradeniya and the Botanical Gardens, Katugastota to the north, and east to Kundasale, Tennekumbura and Gurudeniya.

Culture

Peradeniya Botanical garden

Botanical garden. The Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, about five kilometers to the west of the city center at Peradeniya, attracts 1.2 million visitors per year.

Culinary. Kandy has a modest range of restaurants, as well as an abundance of confectioneries. The range of cuisines available including Chinese, European, Sri Lankan, and Indian.

Sport. Volleyball ranks as the National Sport of Sri Lanka but Cricket stands the most popular sport. The Sri Lanka cricket team plays international Test matches at the Asgiriya International Stadium. The Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby 7's tournament, an annual international sporting highlight, takes place at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy. Kandyans love rugby union. Kandy SC, the local rugby union club, has been champions of the rugby league for many years. Kandy schools have produced many national rugby players.

Demographics

Kandy has a majority of Sinhalese people; sizeable communities belonging to other ethnic groups, such as Moors and Tamils, also live in the city.[2]

Ethnicity Population % Of Total
Sinhala 77,560 70.48
Sri Lankan Moors 15,326 13.93
Sri Lankan Tamils 9,427 8.57
Indian Tamils 5,245 4.77
Other (including Burgher, Malay) 2,489 2.26
Total 110,049 100


Notes

  1. ↑ UNESCO, Sacred City of Kandy video. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  2. ↑ Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • De Silva, T.K.N.P. 1988. Kandy. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
  • McConnell, D.J. 1992. The Forest-Garden Farms of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251028988.
  • Mills, Lennox Algernon. 1965. Ceylon Under British Rule, 1795-1932; With an Account of the East India Company's Embassies to Kandy 1762-1795. New York: Barnes & Noble.
  • Perera, C. Gaston. 2007. Kandy Fights the Portuguese: A Military History of Kandyan Resistance. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications. ISBN 9789551266776.

External links

All links retrieved October 4, 2022.



Sri Lankan cities
CapitalsFlag of Sri Lanka
Other cities
Anuradhapura · Trincomalee · Jaffna · Kandy · Polonnaruwa · Galle · Batticaloa · Boralesgamuwa · Nuwara Eliya · Negombo · Kurunegala · Badulla · Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia · Moratuwa · Matara · Maharagama · Ratnapura
Provincial capitals of Sri Lanka

Colombo · Kandy · Galle · Jaffna · Trincomalee · Gampaha · Kurunegala · Anuradhapura · Badulla · Ratnapura

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World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura · Galle and its Fortifications · Golden Temple of Dambulla · Kandy · Polonnaruwa · Sigiriya · Sinharaja Forest Reserve

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