This tea grows at 2000-3000 feet (610-925 metres) and, in the style of Shiraz, is renowned as a mid grown strong, pungent, full-bodied tea. 488 metres above sea level is the lovely city of Kandy, Sri Lanka's hill capital, stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, and one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful towns. Next to Colombo, it is Sri Lanka's most visited place.
Kandy retains an aura of grandeur which time has not effaced. The focal point of the town is, without doubt, the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa where the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined. The highlight of the year is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and about 80 to 100 elephants during ten glittering nights in July/August. Visit Kalapuraya in the beautiful Dumbara valley 8 km. from Kandy, where descendants of the ancient craftsmen still create items of rare elegance in metal and wood.
There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings. The Peradeniya Gardens begun as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala King, with its amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. Kandy is an exciting place for shopping with souvenirs in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and rush and reed-ware can also be purchased.