Well-developed and centrally located as a landing point between Colombo and the tea cultivating hinterland of the island, Kandy became synonymous with tea production in Sri Lanka during the height of the British rule. The second biggest city on the island, Kandy was an obvious choice for an administrative capital for the tea region, with the British-built railway network further facilitating this. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the city of Kandy was so popular with tea planters and their visiting families that two grand hotels were built here – the Hotel Suisse and the Queen’s Hotel. Tea production brought tourism into Kandy and it has continued to do so for the past two centuries. It is therefore impossible to visit Kandy without giving some recognition to the tea industry and its effect on the global market, on the little island of Sri Lanka and especially on the bustling city of Kandy. Take some time to visit the Kadugannawa tea factory just a short drive from Kandy to learn about tea cultivation, production and distribution.