Kandy was the last capital of the old Sinhalese kings. They chose it because it sits in the middle of steep, hard-to-cross hills - a natural castle. Today it is the second-biggest city in Sri Lanka, and you can climb up onto the hills to look down on it and the lake.
The Temple of the Tooth was built about 400 years ago. Its outer walls are bright white, decorated with carved patterns. The inner pavilion has a gleaming golden roof that shines in the sun. Around it are courtyards, small drum towers, and a moat full of fish.
Every summer, the temple is the centre of an enormous parade called the Esala Perahera. Dancers, drummers, fire-twirlers and dozens of decorated elephants walk through the streets at night. Some of the elephants wear costumes covered in thousands of small lights - they look like glowing castles walking down the road.
Kandy is also famous for its traditional dance, called 'Kandyan dance'. Dancers wear elaborate headdresses, big silver chest plates, and patterned skirts. They jump, spin and drum with their feet so hard that the whole stage seems to bounce.
