Kandy
Kandy is the cultural capital in the central hills, built around a lake and the Temple of the Tooth, the most important Buddhist site in the country. It is the junction for the hill country train and the cultural triangle to the north. Evening puja at the temple is the thing to time your visit around.
How long to stay
January to April; the Esala Perahera festival falls in July or August.
Typical daily budget
No budget published for this place yet
Best time to go
No seasonal guidance published for Kandy yet
Is Kandy right for your trip?
Based on what this guide covers, not a score. This is what Kandy is known for.
Great for
- History & culture
- Food
Less of a focus
- Nightlife
- Nature
- Family
- Couples
- Solo
Build your Kandy trip
Top things to do
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Entrance £7.50 · VerifiedKandy
Sixty hectares of tropical collections including an avenue of royal palms and a giant Javan fig.
Temple of the Tooth
Entrance LKR 2,000 · VerifiedKandy
The golden-roofed temple housing a relic of the Buddha, with three daily puja ceremonies and a strict dress code.
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Popular activities
Hill country train to Ella
Seven-hour rail journey through tea estates and cloud forest.
Kandyan dance performance
Evening show of drumming, dance and fire walking.