Experiences 01

In a small workshop outside Kandy, spectacles are still made by hand using the traditional craft of Diyatharippu, step by step, by craftsmen who learnt the trade from those before them. This is a chance to see living heritage at work and meet the people who keep it going.

You leave Cinnamon Citadel Kandy at 8.30am by private air conditioned car, with a Cinnamon nature trails naturalist who explains the craft and its place in the area’s heritage. At the workshop, the artisans welcome you and take you through the whole process from start to finish, with time to ask questions as they work. There is time for photographs, and you can try the polishing step yourself under the artisans’ supervision. You are back at the hotel before 11am.

For a longer morning, the experience extends to include three of the Kandy region’s best known heritage sites: Gadaladeniya, Embekka and Lankathilaka.

• This is a Cinnamon Signature Experience, available only through Cinnamon Citadel Kandy.
• It welcomes guests of every age Hosted in English Starts: 8.30am Duration: 3.5 hours, or up to 6 hours with the heritage sites Group size: 1 to 8 guests