Major city
Kandyමහනුවර
Give Kandy one to two nights for the Temple of the Tooth and the hill country gateway; travel there by train if you can.
Rules in force · 3
- Sri Lanka ↗Apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation only on the official government ETA site; lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules and fees change.
- Sri Lanka ↗At temples cover shoulders and knees, take off shoes and hats, and never pose with your back to a Buddha statue; Buddha images on clothes or tattoos cause offence.
- Sri Lanka ↗Carry Sri Lankan rupees in small notes; tuk-tuks, buses and small shops are cash-only, and ATMs are fewer outside the cities.
Kandy is the hill capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage city. It sits around a lake in the central highlands, with the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at its centre. Tea country and scenic railways start here.
At a glance
- Known for
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic · Kandy Lake · Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya · Cultural dance shows · Hill-country rail line
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (inter-monsoon rain)
- Nights
- 1–2
- Airports
- none nearby: arrive by land or via another city
Where to sleep
Around Kandy Lake
Walkable to the temple.
Hillside above the town
Quieter, with views, but a taxi ride to the centre.
Getting around
Walk the centre; three-wheelers and buses reach other sights. Trains from Colombo and onward to the hill country are popular but sell out: check booking rules.
Watch out
- Dress modestly and remove shoes and hats at temples.
- Train seats on scenic routes sell out early.
- Roads are winding and traffic slow.
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kandy. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
Sources
Sources
- Sri Lanka Tourism (official)
- Wikivoyage — Kandy (secondary)