Kandy

The city of Kandy is located 116 kilometers from Colombo.  It is 465 meters above  sea-level  and  nestled  in  the  mountainous  central  region  of  the island.    First  established  in  the  mid-14th  century,  the  city  resisted  many invasions by the Portuguese and Dutch, who occupied most of the island from the 16th century onwards.  Kandy remained the last independent capital of Sri Lanka until the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, when it came under British rule in 1815.  The seats of power then shifted to the coastal areas of Kotte and Colombo.  However, it is still considered the religious and cultural center of the country, with numerous temples  and  monasteries,  Buddhist  colleges  and  beautiful parks and gardens.  The Lankatilaka Temple is known for its traditional Sinhalese architecture and  was  built  in  1344  atop  a  rocky  and  uneven  hilltop.    The  Embekke Devale, constructed in the 14th century, is famous for its wooden structure and beautifully intricate woodcarvings.   Another popular temple in Kandy is the Gadaladeniya Temple which was built in a South Indian style.