The Gadaladeniya Viharaya is a medieval Buddhist temple in Pilimathalawa in Kandy District. Due to their location to the west of Kandy city, the three Gampola-period temples of Gadaladeniya and nearby Lankatilaka and Embekke are known as Western Temples. According to historical inscriptions, the Gadaladeniya Viharaya was built under the patronage of King Bhuvanaikabahu IV, who reigned in the mid 14th century. The architect was of South Indian origin. That’s why the style of the main image house of Gadaladeniya Viharaya is inspired by Dravidian architecture. The stupika dome on the pyramidal stone roof callled Shikara resembles the Chola style of Tamil Nadi. The entrance is designed in the contemporary Vijayanagara style of the last Southindian empire. However, the stupa of the Gadaladeniya Viharaya shows Southeastasian influences. The late Middle Age was a period of cultural exchange between Sri Lanka and Myanmar in particular. The Gadaladeniya Viharaya is famous for its door decorations in particular, which are the best-preserved paintings from the Gampola period. The so-called flower maiden and the trumpeting Kinnara have become a sujet often imitated.

There is a simple reason to visit Kandy: It’s in the very centre of the island. Almost all travelers visiting both Sigiriya Lion Rock in the lowlands and the tea growing area of the central higlands will have to cross Kandy anyway. Kandy is a major attraction in itself, of course, as the cultural capital of the Sinhalese is definitely the city number one worth seeing in Sri Lanka, much more lovely than Colombo. Surrounded by green hills and grouped on either side of the picturesque Kandy Lake, the city is a cozy place for relaxing days, although the town centre is quite busy. The colonial ambiente contributes to the much to the charming cityscape, too.

Kandy’s main attraction is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is of utmost significance for the Sinhalese Buddhist culture of the island nation. The ceremonies called pujas can be joined by foreigners three times a day. Another important centre of Buddhist culture is the Malwatta monastery on the opposite side of the Kandy Lake. It’s the headquarter of the most significant branch of the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka. The ceremonial hall and a museum in traditional monk accommodations and some other buildings are open to the public. Hindu temples also frequented by Buddhists are part of the garden-like World Heritage Site area around Kandy's Tooth Temple, too. Tamil Kovils and Muslim mosques shape the market area within walking distance from the Buddhist sacred sites. Furthermore, Kandy is a perfect place for shopping and even nature activities such as hiking or birdwatching. The world-Famous Peradenia Botanical Gardens are in situated in Kandy’s university suburb.

Ambuluwawe, also transliterated Ambuluwawa, is the local mountain towering the city of Gampola in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. The peak of Ambuluwawe, in an altititude of 1087 m above sea level, can be reached by car, as it has been developed into a multi-religious modern temple complex with a lansdcape garden. It attracts Sri Lankan day trippers in particular.

The Potgul Maliga Rajamaha Viharaya in Hanguranketa was constructed during the British colonial period, it was built on the spot of an earlier Buddhist temple from the Kandyan period. The sacred site could even date back to the Polonnaruwa period. Kandyan Kings used Hanguranketa as a second residence, particularly during periods of foreign attacks on Kandy. The royal palace, known as Hanguranketa Maligawa, was destroyed by British forces during a period of unrest. The Potgul Maliga Rajamaha Viharaya is said to have been built with parts of that former royal palace. „Potgul“ means book. Actually, this temple has a a massive library of historic palm-leaf manuscripts with ancient Buddhist writings. This collection of ola-leaf books can be seen attached to the small museum in the first floor of the large entrance building. The temple proper just behind it is only on ground level, but it several sanctuaries under one common roof. The rooms are decorated with murals in the typical style of Kandyan paintings.

Kandalama is one of Sri Lanka’s thousands of reservoirs that were constructed by the ancient Sinhalese civilization. Within the irrigation system of the core area of that culture, it was a medium-sized tank. It was reestablished in the mid 20th century shortly after independence of Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, from British rule. Kandalama is famous for its first-class hotels, at least one of them being a cultural attraction in itself, as it represents the local modern style of the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. Though situated in a calm surrounding, adjacent to a nature sanctuary, Kandalama is situated close to Sigiriya and Dambulla, this means: right in the centre of the heritage-tourism are known as Cultural Triangle. It’s a perfect starting point for half-day and one-day excursions to all major destinations in the districts of Matale, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

Dodanwala, also spelt Dodamwala or Dodanwela or Dodanvela and pronounced „dodang-vaele“, is located near Danthura to the west of Kandy. Similar to the Sacred City of Kandy, Dodanwala has a group of several sanctuaries for Hindu deities venerated by Sinhalese Buddhists, too. Such Sinhalese shrines are called Devalayas or Devales, in contrast to mainly Tamil places of worship, which are known as Kovils. In the case of the Dodanwala Devala, the temple was originally known as Nahimige Kovil. It is dedicated to a local god who has been identified with Vishnu since the Kandy period. The inner sanctum of this temple represents a very ancient form of worship, as similar to Wedda temples id contains no idol, no image of a god. But there are painted depictions of two Kandy kings.

Devon Falls, situated in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, can be seen from observation car parks when driving main road A7 from Hatton to Nuwara Eliya. The car parks are close to a Mlesna Tea Castle 6 km west of Talawakele. Devon Falls, named after the nearby tea plantation, is a 97 m tall horsetail waterfall in 3 casvades.

Seetha Amman Kovil near Hakgala Botanical Garden was originally a temple built by Tamil plantation workers to honour the popular Hindu semi-deity Hanuman. He was Lord Rama’s helper to liberate his wife Seetha (Sita), who was held in captivity by the Emperor of Lanka, the demon king Ravana. After ancient idols were excavated here, indicating this was a much older place of worship, the temple was also dedicated to Seetha. Although Seetha is much venerated by Hindus, temples dedicated to her are very rare. The Seetha Amma Kovil has developed into a major pilgrimage site for pilgrims from India, as it is believed to be the place of the Ashoka Vatika, the garden-like grove where Seetha spent her time during her captivity on the island and where she prayed daily for Rama to rescue her and was found by Hanuman and finally was reunited with her husband again. On the rock face across the stream below the temple are circular depressions of various diameters. They are said to be the footprints left by Hanuman, who according to the Ramayana epic was able to change his size.

The Aluvihare Temple near Matale is said to have been the location of the 4th Theravada Buddhist Council, which for the first time layed down the Pali Canon of the Holy Scriptures in written form to preserve it for future generations. A museum for palm leaf writings is attached to the ancient temple. The caves have typical Kandyan paintings. A newly decorated cave has gaudy illustrations of hell punishments like a chamber of horrors. Another cave is believed to have been the abode of Buddhaghosa, Church Father of Theravada Buddhism, who lived in the 5th century AD. He is the most famous commentator of the Tipitaka, the Buddhist Holy Scriptures. A stairway along his cave lead to the top of a rock, which is crowned by a small stupa. This is an excellent vantage point overlooking the rocks of the Aluvihare Temple and the surroundings of Matale. The name of the temple, which is situated close to the Kandy-Dambulla-Jaffna road A9, is also spelt Aluviharaya or Aluvihara.

Sri Lanka is the land of waterfalls due to their high number or density. However, most of the waterfalls are formed by streams and are horsetail falls. The widest waterfalls formed by a large river were Victoria Falls to the east of Kandy, but they disappeared after the constrution of the Victoria Dam. The widest falls now occuring in Sri Lanka are St. Clair’s Falls in the Dimbula tea region. They can be seen from the highland railroad as well as from the road when travelling from Hatton to Nuwara Eliya. They have less water than in previous years, because the river was dammed further upstream, but they are still impressive and deserve their nickname „Little Niagara of Sri Lanka“. Devon Falls are not far away from St.Clair’s Falls.