Spices of Kandy
The hill capital of Sri Lanka's last kings and a base for the central highland spice country.
Traded and grown here
Best time: January to April, with the Perahera usually in July or August.
Kandy lies around a lake in the central hills and is home to the Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddhism's most important sites in Sri Lanka. The surrounding hills grow tea and spices, and the town's market sells both.
Spices and trade
The Kandy market sells cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove and curry powders. Spice gardens in the nearby hills grow most of the main Sri Lankan spices.
The place and its people
Kandy is the centre of the Kandyan culture and its Esala Perahera festival, held each year, features drummers and decorated elephants.
Visiting
The Temple of the Tooth, the lake and the market are the main sights. Spice gardens lie on the roads north to Matale.
A trail idea for Kandy
- Kandy Central Market See spices, fruit and vegetables.
- Temple of the Tooth Join an evening puja.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Visit the gardens at Peradeniya, which hold spice plants.
- A kiribath breakfast Eat milk rice with a spicy sambol.
Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kandy" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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