Making Each Day Count

After a hearty breakfast at our hotel following our morning hike to the Sigirya Rock, we said our goodbyes to Sigiriya. Thilanka, our warm and knowledgeable tour guide, picked us up, and we drove onward toward Kandy, our last major stop before returning to Colombo.

Thilanka explained that Kandy is a city that retains much of its culture, surrounded by hills and anchored by the sacred legacy of Buddhism. As we approached Kandy, the air became cooler compared to the lowlands.

One of the first things we did upon arriving was take a walk alongside Kandy Lake (Kiri Muhuda). The lake is at the heart of the city, just beside the old royal palace complex. As I walked, I admired the way the lake seems to anchor Kandy itself. Everywhere I turn, there’s a harmony of the city and the temple, the lake’s water, and the hills at a distance.

From the lakeside we made our way to probably the most sacred place in all of Sri Lanka. Sri Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is visited by thousands of pilgrims and tourists daily.

Before entering, I was lent a sarong as modest dress is required, and we removed our shoes. We happened to arrive during the Kandy Esala Perahera season, which typically takes place in July and August, so many people came to pay homage to the Tooth Relic. Thilanka handed me a small basket of lotus and jasmine flower petals and explained that pilgrims bring these to offer at the altar as a gesture of reverence. We then joined the slow-moving line of worshippers entering deeper into the sanctum. The devotion in their faces and the gentle patience of the crowds filing forward touched me deeply. When my turn came, I stepped forward, bowed my head and offered the basket of flowers at the altar.

After the offering, Thilanka guided us through the temple gardens and pointed out the Kandyan architectural features.

I believe visiting Sri Dalada Maligawa is one of the most spiritually resonant experiences in the world. It’s not just a historic treasure, but a living sanctuary where faith, art, heritage, and daily worship converge.

We stayed in Kandy for another hour wandering the local streets and having lunch before setting off back toward Colombo. As we arrived at our hotel that evening, Thilanka surprised us with a beautiful picture book about Sri Lanka, and an assortment of cashew nuts as a small parting gift. I was genuinely touched by his thoughtfulness. The book now rests proudly at my coffee table at home. As for the cashews, D and I enjoyed them while sipping cold beer that night at Colombo. It was the perfect ending to a deeply fulfilling final day on tour.