Located in central Sri Lanka, Kandy is the former capital city of the Sri Lankan royal dynasty, the country’s main capital before the colonial period. The high point of what’s called the “Kandian Era” was between the 15<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> centuries, when the area remained independent while most of the coastal regions were colonized by European powers.
Be sure to visit the city’s National Museum of Kandy, as it illustrates the story of the region and its people via exhibits and artifacts. Nearby, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a very holy Buddhist shrine, part of the royal palace complex
