Flower, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy (Nuwara), Sri Lanka
©2008 Duleepa Wijayawardhana
Album Notes
Kandy (Nuwara -- pronounced Noo-were-re) was the capital of the mountainous Sinhalese kingdom that lasted until the British conquered all the peoples of Sri Lanka in the mid-19th century. The medieval Sri Lankan kings had moved away from the flatter lands of the north (Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa) and the south to settle into a much more defendable mountain valley. This didn't mean they left the Buddhist or Hindu roots behind.
In the centre of the city lies the famous Temple of the Tooth alongside the man-made lake which served as the King's personal pleasure lake. The Temple of the Tooth houses one of the other sacred symbols of Buddhism -- the tooth of the Buddha taken from his funeral pyre 2500 years ago. The spirit of the tooth is venerated by Buddhists and as such the lines are long and deep and security is tight.
The city itself is Sri Lanka's second largest city, and as such the narrow streets of the mountain valley are often clogged with human and vehicular traffic. Having a buddy system like in pre-school helps when navigating with a group of people.
The British who came here also loved this highland capital and much of the architecture is endowed with their influence. There was one other place that they created which has lasted and is preserved to this day: The Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya. Let's face it, as Rebecca noted, the rich soil and the incredibly accommodating climate would have made many an English gardener giddy with glee.
