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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A novel CRITIC-driven framework for fine-scale urban sprawl typology classification: evidence from Colombo, Kandy, and Hong Kong
A novel framework for classifying urban sprawl types, combining high-resolution spatial analysis and machine learning, reveals that transport infrastructure—particularly road density and proximity to main roads—is the dominant driver of urban expansion patterns. The study identifies five distinct sprawl typologies (infill, extension, linear, clustered, and leapfrog) across Colombo, Kandy (Sri Lanka), and Hong Kong using a CRITIC-driven approach that prioritizes metrics based on discriminative power and independence. Validated against morphological elements and building density, this method offers precise, locally adaptive classification with robust predictive performance, supporting evidence-based urban planning for sustainable development.
Hasan, F., & Liu, X. (2025). A novel CRITIC-driven framework for fine-scale urban sprawl typology classification: evidence from Colombo, Kandy, and Hong Kong. Computational Urban Science, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43762-025-00227-4
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Sustainability practices in the Hospitality Industry: Evidence from Chain Hotels in Kandy
Hotels in Kandy, Sri Lanka, have significantly adopted sustainability practices, particularly focusing on environmental and socio-cultural aspects. However, there is a notable gap in understanding how economic indicators relate to these sustainability commitments. Larger hotel chains demonstrate a more consistent implementation of sustainable practices compared to smaller ones. This research provides valuable insights for both future researchers and local hospitality practitioners by offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of sustainability practice adoption in Kandy.
Iddawala, J., Welengoda, B. M., & Rathnayaka, B. T. (2024). Sustainability practices in the Hospitality Industry: Evidence from Chain Hotels in Kandy. International Conference on Tourism Research, 7(1), 130–139. https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2038
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PM2.5 air pollution trends and patterns in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Air pollution levels in Kandy, Sri Lanka, exhibit distinct temporal patterns, with PM2.5 concentrations peaking during early mornings and evenings while dipping to their lowest in afternoons. The study, conducted from January to December 2019 using low-cost sensors, identified Wednesdays and Thursdays as the worst days for air quality, whereas Sundays showed the least pollution. Monthly analysis revealed December as the month with the lowest PM2.5 levels, influenced significantly by wind speed, direction, and rainfall patterns. This research underscores the need for consistent long-term monitoring and management of air pollution to mitigate its adverse health effects in low- and middle-income countries.
Senarathna, M., Jayaratne, R., Abeysundara, S., Weerasooriya, R., Welikannage, K., Morawska, L., & Bowatte, G. (2024). PM2.5 air pollution trends and patterns in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science, 53(2). https://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v53i2.8403
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Investigating ground deformation due to a series of collapse earthquakes by means of the PS-InSAR technique and Sentinel 1 data in Kandy, Sri Lanka
A series of collapse earthquakes in Kandy, Sri Lanka, has been linked to significant ground deformation, with uplift rates reaching +20 mm/year over urban areas and subsidence of up to -40 mm/year near Victoria Dam. This finding emerges from a study employing PS-InSAR (Permanent Scatterer Interferometry) and D-InSAR (Differential InSAR) techniques using Sentinel 1A satellite data from 2019 to 2021. The research also identified subsidence along the Mahaweli river lineament, ranging from -29 to -36 mm/year, and correlated deformation areas with landslide risk. Additionally, irregularities in terrestrial and groundwater levels were detected using GRACE-Follow-On data, suggesting dynamic geological activity. This study serves as a prototype for investigating low-magnitude incomplete collapse earthquakes in diverse geotechnical settings.
Welikanna, D. R., & Jin, S. (2023). Investigating ground deformation due to a series of collapse earthquakes by means of the PS-InSAR technique and Sentinel 1 data in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 17(01), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.jrs.17.014507
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Chemical composition of rainwater at three sites in Kandy/Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and its effect on air pollution
A study analyzing rainwater composition at three sites in Kandy, Sri Lanka, revealed that the city center exhibited the highest levels of air pollution, with chloride (Cl−) and sulfate (SO4²⁻) being dominant anions. No acid rain was detected during the 11-month sampling period from February to December 2019. Trace metals followed a consistent sequence across sites: zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). Significant correlations were observed between conductivity, salinity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) in all sites, while specific metal correlations varied by location. The research highlights the need for continuous rainwater monitoring to assess air pollution in Sri Lanka.
Madhushani, L. S., Dharmapriya, T. N., Dharaka, B. D. P., Deeyamulla, M. P., & Priyantha, N. (2023). Chemical composition of rainwater at three sites in Kandy/Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and its effect on air pollution. Energy Nexus, 12, 100243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexus.2023.100243
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Exploring home-to-school trip mode choices in Kandy, Sri Lanka
School trip modes in Kandy, Sri Lanka, are significantly influenced by gender, age, household income, school type, and distance. Male students tend to prefer public buses, walking, or private vehicles over three-wheelers or motorcycles, while older students favor walking, school buses, and public buses compared to younger ones. Distance to school impacts all transport modes, with national or provincial school students more likely to use school buses and less likely to opt for private vehicles. These findings offer critical insights for congestion management in urban centers during peak hours and suggest potential regulations for safer, reliable private transport services like school vans.
Dias, C., Abdullah, M., Lovreglio, R., Sachchithanantham, S., Rekatheeban, M., & Sathyaprasad, I. M. S. (2022). Exploring home-to-school trip mode choices in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Journal of Transport Geography, 99, 103279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2022.103279
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The correlation between three teleconnections and leptospirosis incidence in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka, 2004–2019
A significant correlation between three major teleconnections—El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), ENSO Modoki, and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)—and leptospirosis incidence (LI) in the Kandy District of Sri Lanka has been identified. The study, spanning 2004 to 2019, found that these teleconnections modulate LI with lag periods ranging from 1.9 to 11.5 months, likely through their influence on local rainfall and other weather parameters. Using wavelet time series analysis and time-lagged detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA), researchers confirmed strong correlations between ENSO, IOD indices, and LI, with lag periods of 2-5 months. The findings suggest that monitoring extreme teleconnection events could help mitigate leptospirosis outbreaks by implementing preventive measures during critical lag periods.
Ehelepola, N. D. B., Ariyaratne, K., Aththanayake, A. M. S. M. C. M., Samarakoon, K., & Thilakarathna, H. M. A. (2021). The correlation between three teleconnections and leptospirosis incidence in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka, 2004–2019. Tropical Medicine and Health, 49(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00325-z
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