Kandy is home to the world famous Temple of the Tooth Relic. Travelers in search of a better understanding of the Buddhist faith will find themselves immersed in centuries of tradition and heritage here. Do not pass up a visit to the spectacular Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, which dates back to 1821 and during World War II was used by Lord Mountbatten, the Commander of the Allied Forces in the South Asia, as the headquarters of the South East Asia Command. Late afternoons and evenings are great for a stroll around the leafy and breezy Kandy Lake, complete with the floating Royal Garden at its center. Once a year, in July or August, the entire city comes alive as the grand Esala Perahera takes to the streets. The city resounds with the sights and sounds this pageant which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.