What does Kandy mean?

Kandy as a name for girls is a Latin and English name, and the name Kandy means "clarity, whiteness; sweet". Kandy is an alternate spelling of Candace (Latin).

What is Kandy called in Sinhala?

The Portuguese shortened this to "Candea", using the name for both the kingdom and its capital. In Sinhala, Kandy is called Maha Nuwara, meaning "Great City" or "The Capital", although this is most often shortened to Nuwara.

Who founded Kandy?

Founding. Historical records suggest that Kandy was first established by the Vikramabahu III (1357–1374 AD), who was the monarch of the Kingdom of Gampola, north of the present city, and named Senkadagalapura at the time.

Why is Kandy the capital of Sri Lanka?

In 1944, during World War II, the South East Asia Command of the allies was moved to Kandy, where it remained until the end of the war. It is the second-largest city of the island and the capital of the Central Province of modern Sri Lanka.