Kandy
Kandy ( Sinhala Maha මහ නුවර nuvara, pronunciation: [ mahanuʋərə ]; Tamil கண்டி pronunciation: [ kaɳɖi ] ) is a city in the central mountains of Sri Lanka, the 2001 had about 110,000 inhabitants.
- 6.1 Sons and daughters of the town
Geography
Kandy is surrounded by hills in the Kandy Valley during Mahaweli river at a height of almost 500 m. The climate is much cooler than in the lowlands with an average of 24 ° C. For fresh air and the relatively good air quality shall pay the amount of the artificial lake at the center, which was created in 1812 by the last Sinhala king.
History
Kandy was the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, which held its own against numerous conquest attempts by the colonial powers until it was conquered in 1815 by the British.
Throughout its history, the city had more than one name, it was first called Senkadagalapura, later Sri Wardhanapura and is still used today by the Sinhalese not Kandy, but Maha Nuwara called ( German " big city "). The English name Kandy is derived from the Sinhalese " Kanda Uda Rata " from " Kingdom on the Mountain ", which was shortened by the Portuguese to Candea and was used for both the state and for its capital.
Population
The Sinhalese are the majority of the population. Sri Lankan Moors and Tamils constitute the largest minority
Source:
Religious significance
Buddhism
See also: Buddhism in Sri Lanka
In the so-called Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa, sinhala dala da ː ˌ ma ː ː və league ) is an upper left canine tooth of the Buddha are kept. This relic was an important source of legitimacy of the Sinhalese monarchy and therefore was always kept in the respective residence. It makes the city one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, which is a major reason for the prosperity of the city. At the annual processions ( Esala Perahera, sinhala æsələ ˌ perəhærə ) in mid-August Kandy is visited by pilgrims since then, the relic is borne on an elephant through the city.
1988, the temple area of the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Christianity
Kandy is the seat of the diocese of Kandy.
Attractions
The main attraction of the city is the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa ). The Buddhist temple houses a Buddha tooth relic from the 4th century and is still used as a place of pilgrimage and monastery. Few people get the tooth relic itself to face. Only a gilt reliquary is seen.
The Lake ( Kandy Lake ) is a further attraction dar. At its city center facing the banks go in the evening, walk especially on Sundays and holidays, locals, and secure the boat rental and the numerous air balloon, ice cream and souvenir sellers maintenance.
On the main road, the Dalada Vidiya, some typical building found from the colonial period; Also worth mentioning are the winding streets between the Clock Tower and Temple of the Tooth, the red- white mosque in the Kotugodelle Vidiya and St.Paul ' s Church near the temple area.
Since the 1990s, is located on the mountain Bahirawakanda a colossal golden Buddha statue, which can be seen from many places in the city. However, it is widely agreed that their artistic value is considered low.
In the middle of Kandy is the Udawattakele ( " upper garden forest ", sinhala uɖəvat ː ˌ le ː əkæ ), a nature reserve around a small mountain. In this lies the " Forest Hermitage ", a meditation center of advanced monks ( bhikkhus ). There, the German -born Mahathera Nyanaponika lived until his death and headed from here, also based in Kandy Buddhist Publication Society.
Outside the city limits, about five kilometers to the west, there is the Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, which receives 1.2 million visitors each year. He has already been created in 1371 and covers an area of 60 hectares, the largest in the country. Here lives a large number of bats. In this park there is also perhaps the largest of the area covered banyan tree which covers an area of over 2000 m².
Personalities
Sons and daughters of the town
- Christopher Ondaatje ( born 1933), writer
- Muttiah Muralitharan (born 1972 ), cricketer