River Grove – A Tropical Paradise with a Homestay experience

River Grove – A Tropical Paradise with a Homestay experience

Nestled amidst lush tropical plantations at an altitude of 488m, the city’s mild climate and the nip in the air give a welcoming note to the River Grove. Steeped in magnificent history, Kandy is the most celebrated cultural city in Sri Lanka. As the last kingdom of Sri Lankan Kings, the city has a rich history derived and influenced by both Sinhalese Kings and colonial rulers.

River View

River Grove, set on a hillock in tropical gardens, is a homestay experience that provides an insight into Sri Lankan living and traditional cuisine. Owners, Raja and Shirani are very hospitable and will ensure guests have a relaxing holiday. River Grove is only occupied by the two of them and their staff. Shirani is an excellent cook and is happy to share her recipes with guests. Go bird watching along the Mahaweli River; visit Kandy’s ancient cultural sites or just relax in the garden with a cup of Ceylon tea. River Grove can accommodate four guests.

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The Temple of The Tooth - Kandy Sri Lanka

The Temple of The Tooth - Kandy Sri Lanka

To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and to the people generally, Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth. The octagonal-shaped Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), is a national palladium for it houses the Tooth Relic of the Buddha, an object of veneration to Buddhists all over the world. According to tradition the tooth was rescued from the flames at the cremation of Gautama Buddha at Kusinara in India in 543 BC. It was brought to the Island in the fourth century A.D.

 Every morning drummers at the temple beat a tattoo to signify a stage in a ritual that has been followed from time immemorial. As the drums reverberates streams of pilgrims, mostly clad in white, flow into the temple. Even to those un-acquainted with the rituals the scene that presents itself is one of colour and fragrance. The devotees bring pink lotus blossoms and white frangipanni while the perfume of joss sticks fills the air. The tooth relic reposes in a container or casket known as a Karanduwa which is placed on a silver table. The relic is not on view except on special occasions. 

The casket is borne on an elephent during the annual pageant known as the Kandy Esala Perehera conducted in the lunar month of Esala, according to the Buddhist calendar (usually late July or early August).
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Traversing The A1 Route of Sri Lanka – Visiting Kelaniya Temple

The Buddha is believed to have graced Kelaniya (at Kelaniya Temple) on his 3rd visit (between 589 BC and 544 BC) to the island and it is said bathed in the Kelani River which flows close to the temple on a Wesak poya day (full moon in May).
He hallowed this ground by his visit accompanied by 500 Arahaths (monks). Chronicles depict the visit was at the invitation of King Maniakkhika a Naga King (King of the Naga tribe), to partake in a meal following the preaching of the Dhamma. To commemorate the King had built a vehera wherein the Buddha’s hair and the utensils used together with the seat on which the Buddha sat were concealed.
Kelaniya Temple however, received its hallowed status and became a place of Buddhist worship after arahat Mahinda brought the Dhamma to this country between 307 and 267 BC. According to the Mahawansa (a chronicle depicting Sri Lanka) King Devanampiyatissa’s brother Uttiya renovated the vihara (Buddhist Monastery) for the first time. He is also said to have built the first residence of the Monks (Sanghawasa) here. Historical evidence shows that the Kelaniya Temple was at its highest glory during the Kotte Era (1412-1597). During this period a considerable portion of land had been donated by the kings to the Kelaniya Temple, and when in 1510 the Portuguese entered and destroyed the sacred temple, they confiscated this land preventing Buddhists from worshiping at the temple. Restrictions placed on the development of Kelaniya were reduced with the advent of the Dutch. In 1767 perhaps in order to gain goodwill with the King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha he was permitted to develop Kelaniya Vihara. Thus the reconstruction of the Vihara was undertaken by the then Chief incumbent Venerable Mapitigama Buddharakkhita. He was provided with funds from the treasury. The King was so overjoyed at the way the work was handled that further grants of lands had been given to the vihara.
Kelani Temple is situated about 10 kilometres from Colombo, and is set within a sacred area of around ten acres.
An Annual perehera, though on a smaller scale than that in Kandy, is held during the lunar month of Duruthu (January). This very colourful perehera is well worth seeing, particularly as it is so convenient for those living in and around Colombo.
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