Royal Palace of Kandy
Encyclopedia
The Royal Palace of Kandy in Kandy
, is a the last royal residence of the Kingdom of Kandy
and in Sri Lanka
. The last King to reside in it was King
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
until he was overthrown by the British in 1815 with the aid of Kandian chieftains. Once part of a large palace complex that included the royal court
the Magul Maduwa and the Temple of the Tooth
that held the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
. By ancient tradition the one who was in possession of the Tooth Relic had claim to the throne. Adjacent to the Royal Palace is the Victorian era
building that until recently housed Kandy High Court.
run by the Department of Archeology.
, where the his Royal Court convened. It was here on March 5, 1815 the Kandyan Convention
was signed between the British and the Kandyian Chieftains (Radala
s) ending the Kingdom of Kandy, the last native kingdom of the island.
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, is a the last royal residence of the Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century...
and in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The last King to reside in it was King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was the last king of Ceylon and the last of four kings from the Telugu origin of Nayakar dynasty...
until he was overthrown by the British in 1815 with the aid of Kandian chieftains. Once part of a large palace complex that included the royal court
Royal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
the Magul Maduwa and the Temple of the Tooth
Temple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is...
that held the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
The Sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha is venerated in Sri Lanka as a relic of the founder of Buddhism.-The relic in India:...
. By ancient tradition the one who was in possession of the Tooth Relic had claim to the throne. Adjacent to the Royal Palace is the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
building that until recently housed Kandy High Court.
National Museum of Kandy
The palace complex has changed over the last century, with only a few buildings remaining. Those that are apart from the Temple of the Tooth Relic, has been turned in to the National Museum of KandyNational Museum of Kandy
The National Museum of Kandy in Kandy, Sri Lanka is located next to the Temple of the Tooth in part of the former Royal Palace of Kandy. The primary exhibits are housed in the Palle Vahala building which was house to the King's harem. A secondary exhibit location is found in the main palace building...
run by the Department of Archeology.
Magul Maduwa
Found between the main palace building and the Temple of the Tooth Relic is the Magul Maduwa, a the Royal audience hall with wooden pillars built in 1784 by King Sri Vikrama RajasinhaSri Vikrama Rajasinha
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was the last king of Ceylon and the last of four kings from the Telugu origin of Nayakar dynasty...
, where the his Royal Court convened. It was here on March 5, 1815 the Kandyan Convention
Kandyan Convention
The Kandyan Convention was an agreement in 1815 between the British and the Chiefs of the Kandyan Kingdom, in Sri Lanka for the deposition of rule King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The king who was of Telugu ancestry faced powerful opposition from the Sinhalese chieftains who sought to reduce his power...
was signed between the British and the Kandyian Chieftains (Radala
Radala
The Radala refer to an extremely small minority caste in the Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka. They were the aristocracy of the Kandyan Kingdom. After capturing the Kandyan provinces in 1815 with the aid of locals from both maritime and Kandyan provinces, the British created an extensive class of loyal...
s) ending the Kingdom of Kandy, the last native kingdom of the island.