Kandy is a city of historical richness, natural beauty and living tradition that occupies a special place in the island. Surrounded by forested hills, with the Kandy Lake at its centre, the city is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – as well as a collection of colonial-era institutions, traditional craft workshops and the cultural life of a city that has maintained its royal heritage for over five centuries. This cultural immersion begins with a visit to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens – before moving on to the Temple of the Tooth Relic for an unforgettable afternoon puja ceremony accompanied by traditional drumming. The afternoon includes a stroll around Kandy Lake, a visit to a traditional Kandyan arts and crafts centre, and an evening cultural performance of the island’s most celebrated traditional dance forms.