World Heritage Identification Number: 450
World Heritage since: 1988
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Religious Sites & Sacred Architecture
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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The Sacred City of Kandy: A Cultural and Religious Hub in Sri Lanka
The Sacred City of Kandy, officially known as the city of Senkadagalapura, is a significant cultural and religious center in Sri Lanka. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, this city has been a crucial part of the island nation's history for over two millennia.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site.
Encyclopedia Record: Kandy
Kandy is a major city located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Historically the local Buddhist rulers resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial expansion and occupation.Additional Site Details
Area: Not available
Number of Components: 1
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 7.293611111 , 80.64027778
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Sacred City of Kandy from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Sustainable City Geometries: Sacred Geometry of Ritual Space, Architecture and City Landscape in Kandy, Sri Lanka
A groundbreaking analysis of Kandy's Esala Perahera rituals reveals that the sacred city's geometry and architecture embody sustainable urban principles through intricate spatial relationships. The study demonstrates how 15-day ritual performances establish deeper dimensions of sacred geometries, linking people, temples, rivers, valleys, and mountains in a spiritually resonant landscape. By employing multidimensional geometrical analysis—spanning two, three, and higher dimensions—the research uncovers the spiritual and physical layers of Kandy's cityscape, contrasting traditional sacred geographies with modern developments. This approach strengthens phenomenological, anthropological, and ethnographical insights, offering new perspectives on how ritual spaces can inform sustainable urban design.
DE SILVA, W., & AMARAKOON, N. (2020). SUSTAINABLE CITY GEOMETRIES: SACRED GEOMETRY OF RITUAL SPACE, ARCHITECTURE AND CITY LANDSCAPE IN KANDY, SRI LANKA. The Sustainable City XIV, 1, 153–165. https://doi.org/10.2495/sc200131
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Preservation of Archeological Sites Using 3D-Scanning Documentation Case Study: Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka
A comprehensive 3D-scanning documentation of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and pivotal Buddhist pilgrimage center, reveals critical vulnerabilities to environmental threats such as earthquakes and monsoon rains, as well as human-induced risks like terrorist attacks. The study employed Terrestrial-Laser-Scanning (TLS) and Structured-Light-Scanning (SLS) to create high-resolution CAD plans, point cloud visualizations, orthoimages, and virtual walkthroughs, addressing the lack of accurate documentation for this culturally significant temple. This approach not only preserves architectural details but also enables detailed analysis for conservation strategies, leveraging noninvasive digital technologies to safeguard cultural heritage against degradation.
Ratnayake, A., Ine, M. R., & Drewello, R. (2018). Preservation of Archeological Sites Using 3D-Scanning Documentation Case Study: Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka. 2018 National Information Technology Conference (NITC), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/nitc.2018.8550086
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Sri Dalada Maligawa – 3D-Scanning and Documentation of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy, Sri Lanka
A comprehensive 3D documentation of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and pivotal Buddhist pilgrimage destination, has been successfully achieved through advanced scanning techniques. This research utilized Terrestrial-Laser-Scanning (TLS) and Structured-Light-Scanning (SLS) to capture detailed architectural data, including high-resolution details of the temple's rich decorations. The digital archive created from this project not only serves as a vital resource for preserving cultural heritage but also facilitates site monitoring, particularly for detecting structural issues such as cracks. Additionally, the study emphasizes knowledge transfer, aiming to empower local specialists with the skills needed for future analysis of scan data.
Rahrig, M., & Luib, A. (2017). Sri Dalada Maligawa – 3D-Scanning and Documentation of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy, Sri Lanka. ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, IV-2/W2, 229–236. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-iv-2-w2-229-2017
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