tooth relic temple, PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

WHAT ARE THE 20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY AND THINGS TO DO IN KANDY?

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Kandy is the capital of the central province of Sri Lanka. Kandy is popular due to its historical value, colonial heritage, forest cover, tea plantations, botanical garden and tooth relic temple. By far tooth relic temple is the most popular tourist attraction in Kandy, it is a major attraction among the 2 dozen places to visit in Kandy. The tooth relic temple is a part of every Kandy city tour. Along with the tooth relic temple, Kandy harbours a large number of tourist places and they come under historical places, religious sites, natural tourist attractions and Man-made tourist attractions.

Table of Contents

Sri Lanka Itinerary 6 Days, trip of Kandy, places to visit in Kandy
Tooth Relic Temple is one of the most popular places to visit in Kandy. Devotees line up to venerate the tooth relic during the pooja hours at the temple, They carry flowers, food, incense sticks and many other insignia as offerings. The devotees should also be properly dressed while visiting the tooth relic temple.

ABOUT KANDY

Nestled in the lush hills of central Sri Lanka, Kandy is a city that captivates visitors with its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and vibrant culture. As the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka, Kandy holds a special place in the country’s heritage and is a must-visit destination for any traveler to the island. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best places to visit in Kandy, along with insider tips to make your trip unforgettable.

Why Visit Kandy?


Kandy isn’t just another stop on your Sri Lankan itinerary; it’s a journey into the heart of Sri Lankan culture and history. Here’s why Kandy should be at the top of your travel list:


  1. Cultural Significance: As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kandy preserves centuries of Sri Lankan history and traditions.

  2. Natural Beauty: Kandy offers breathtaking landscapes surrounded by misty hills and tea plantations.

  3. Religious Importance: Home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide.

  4. Pleasant Climate: Situated at an elevation of 500 meters, Kandy enjoys cooler temperatures compared to coastal areas.

WHAT ARE THE 22 BEST TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY?

  1. The Temple of the Tooth relic or Dalada Maligawa. …
  2. The Natha Devala. …
  3. Kandyan cultural show. …
  4. Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. …
  5. Commonwealth War Cemetery. …
  6. Viewpoint Kandy. …
  7. Temple of the tooth relic museum. …
  8. Gadaladeniya temple
  9. Hantana mountain range
  10. Church of Wahakotte
  11. Buddhist temple Devanagala
  12. Ambuluwawa tower
  13. Udawattekele sanctuary
  14. Lankatilaka Temple
  15. Embekke temple
  16. Bogambara Cultural Park
  17. Visiting Tea factory
  18. Bahirawakande Buddha statue
  19. Pillaiyar Kovil in Kandy
  20. Sri Rama Viharaya in Kandy
  21. Headman’s Lodge (Muladeni Mandapaya)
  22. Central Market
  23. Knuckles mountian range

KANDY AND SRI LANKA HILL COUNTRY

Kandy is the capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Most hill country tours start from Kandy and most local as well as foreign travellers in Sri Lanka opt to stay in Kandy during their trip to Sri Lanka’s hill country. Sri Lanka’s hill country (also known as tea country) comes in such contrast to the picturesque coconut tree-lined beaches, and the bustling cities such as Colombo and Negombo. The hill country of Sri Lanka harbours a large number of interesting attractions, most of them natural attractions.

Unlike most other places like the cultural triangle and coastal areas, the hill country has a totally different set of attractions such as Green-capped mountains, rainforests, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, caves, wildlife parks, and gardens are the dominating attractions around Kandy.

The availability of a wide range of tourist attractions is a good enough reason for most travellers to plan a trip to explore this heritage city and seek out what else it could offer. Kandy has strategically located only a three-hour drive away from Colombo and the journey is pleasant for your eyes as it meets green-capped mountains, coconut plantations and patches of forests throughout the journey. That aside the journey was a pleasant one as the surrounding landscape was lush and verdant interspersed with montages of rural village life.

The world-renowned Sri Lanka hill country train trip (from Kandy to Ella), one of the most scenic train trips in the world is starting in Kandy. This captivating rail journey attracts a large number of travellers every year. And travel by train in Sri Lanka’s hill country is easy and is one of the best ways to see Sri Lanka’s unexpected charm in the variety of landscapes and culture.

WHAT ARE THE 7 MOST IMPORTANT TOURIST PLACES ON KANDY CITY TOUR?

The below-mentioned tourist attractions are located within the city limit of Kandy and it is part of most Kandy city tours. The majority of them are included in most Kandy tours. The tooth relic temple, Kandy Lake, Kandy Arts and craft centre, Royal Palace Kandy, National Museum, and Royal audience hall are part of every Kandy tour. Even if you venture on a Kandy one-day tour, these tourist attractions are included in the trip.

  1. Temple of the Tooth Relic: The crown jewel of Kandy, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic—a tooth of the Buddha. This magnificent temple complex is a testament to Sri Lankan architecture and craftsmanship.
  2. Kandy Lake – King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, who was the last king of Sri Lanka, constructed Kandy Lake in 1807. Kandy Lake is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions and enhances the attraction of the city. The lake is surrounded by trees and plants and harbours a large number of animal species like tortoises, monitors, monkeys and birds. It is and undoubtedly enhances the city’s beauty with the unique wall ‘Diyarali Bamma’ depicting ripples of water, surrounding it.
  3. Kandy arts and crafts centre – Kandy is the most popular for Sri Lankan traditional arts and crafts. Which is an integral part of Sri Lanka’s ancient cultural heritage. Kandy with many dozens of shops and stalls is one of the best places to buy traditional arts and crafts in Sri Lanka.
  4. Royal Palace Kandy – The last king of Sri Lanka’s monarchy, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinhe, ruled the country from Kandy. The king lived in the palace until he was overthrown by the British in 1815.
  5. National Museum Kandy – The Kandy National Museum of Kandy opened in 1942. The museum is housed in an old building, which is located next to the sacred Temple of the Tooth. This museum showcases more than 5000 objects. The most important exhibit on display is King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s golden crown and a copy of the 1815 treaty known as the ‘Kandyan Convention’ by which on March 2, 1815, Ceylon was ceded to the British ending 2,357 years of monarchy.
  6. Royal audience hall – The wooden structure built in traditional Sri Lankan style is also called ‘Magul Maduwa’. This structure is decorated with various intricate wooden carvings. The king used the place to meet his minister and to carry out his daily administrative tasks.
  7. Garrison Cemetery – British Garrison Cemetery was established in 1817 just after the British captured Kandy and was closed in 1873 due to a ban on burials within the municipal limits. There are 195 graves of men, women and children and the majority of them are British nationals. The most common causes of death were tropical diseases such as malaria and cholera.

WHAT ARE THE 14 BEST THINGS TO DO IN KANDY, SRI LANKA?

  1. Visiting historical Buddhist temples
  2. Visiting a royal botanical garden
  3. The train journey from Kandy to Ella/Nuwara Eliya
  4. Trekking through the Udawattakele sanctuary
  5. Trekking in Hantana
  6. Washing elephants
  7. Witness Kandyan cultural show
  8. Visiting museums
  9. Trekking, hiking, mountain climbing and walking
  10. Visiting the tea factory and tea tasting
  11. visiting waterfalls
  12. Visiting elephant sanctuary
  13. Shopping in Kandy
  14. Kandy City tours

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO KANDY?

If you are wondering when is the best time to travel to Kandy, I would say that Kandy is a year-round holiday destination in Sri Lanka. The temperature in Kandy remains the same throughout the year. However, early rainfall can be more frequent from May through October. while during the rest of the year, the rainfall remains daily low.

Festival in Kandy

The annual ceremony of Esala ceremony or better known as Esala procession takes place in Kandy every year. The Esala ceremony is one of the most beautiful pageants in the world and attracts a large crown during the 10 days of the ceremony. The Esala procession can be many kilometres and it is very colourful. This traditional event is participated by many dozens of colourfully dressed elephants, dancers, drummers and many other musicians.

KANDY AS A DESTINATION FOR SRI LANKA TOURS

Kandy is the capital of the central province of Sri Lanka. Kandy is popular due to its historical value, colonial heritage, forest cover and tooth relic temple. By far tooth relic temple is the most popular tourist attraction in Kandy, which is a part of every Kandy city tour. Along with the tooth relic temple, Kandy harbours a large number of tourist places and they come under historical places, religious sites, natural tourist attractions and Man-made tourist attractions.

In this lengthy article, we discuss the 17 best places to visit in Kandy. I intend to give you a clear idea about the tourist attraction in Kandy, the activities available for travellers in this beautiful city and how to plan a trip to Kandy.

KANDY TOUR AND PLACES TO VOSIT IN KANDY

Venturing on a Kandy city tour is the best way to visit important places in Kandy. Kandy tour is available in many variations. It can be booked as a stand-alone trip e.g. Kandy one-day tour from Colombo and Kandy 2 days tour from Colombo. On those trips, the main tourist attraction in Kandy and travellers visit many places around Kandy during the trip. On the Kandy 2 days trip, the travellers spend one night in Kandy. Kandy tour can be booked with Sri Lanka tour packages and most multi-day Sri Lanka trips such as 7 days Sri Lanka tour, 5 days Sri Lanka tour includes Kandy as a city to explore.

Kandy is one of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka and attracts a large number of travellers every day. Due to the high demand for Kandy tours, local tour operators such as Seerendipity Tours offer Kandy tours from most cities around the country. The Kandy trip can be booked from Colombo, the airport, Negombo Bentota and dozens of other cities on the island.

WEATHER IN KANDY

In the Köppen-Geiger environment characterization framework, its environment is tropical rainforest (Af). With Kandy situated in the focal point of the island and in a high rise, the city has somewhat wetter and cooler temperatures than that of the heat and humidity of the remainder of the country, particularly the waterfront locales. Nuwara Eliya is south of it and has a cooler environment because of its higher height. All things considered, Kandy’s environment is as yet tropical as mean temperatures all year are over 18 °C by and large. The city encounters a drier period from January to April. From May through to July and October to December the locale encounters its rainstorm season, during this time the weather conditions are unpleasant and unsteady. From Spring through the centre of May is the inter-monsoonal period, during this time there is a light downpour and solid humidity.

VISITING IMPORTANT PLACES IN KANDY

Local tour operators such as Seerendipity Tours organize daily Kandy tours from Colombo. The Kandy tour from Colombo includes many interesting tourist attractions Such as the tooth relic temple, Natha devala, and Kataragama Temple. Apart from teh tourist places of Kandy, the Kandy city tour also includes many other important tourist attractions such as the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, spice/herbal garden, Tea factory and garden as well as Peradeniya botanical garden.

If you start your Kandy city tour from Colombo and have private transport, Your Kandy tour may last around 10 hours, but the average time mentioned here varied depending on the traffic, the distance between Colombo and Kandy is 120 km.

Kandy one day tour

PLACES WITH HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE IN KANDY

Kandy is one of the popular historical cities in Sri Lanka and it is steeped in history and culture – from the popular temple of the tooth relic, one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world, to the 18th-century Degaldoruwa, Lankarama and Embekke devala, which are masterpieces of ancient Buddhist architecture. Monuments steeped in religion, nature, culture and heritage can be found across the Kandyan kingdom, giving visitors the chance to uncover the stories that have made this fascinating city what it is today.

Kandy is a major city with high cultural diversity, which was founded in the early 13s by the Kandyan Kings. Later it was invaded by the British army which controlled the ancient capital for nearly 150 years. Over the last many centuries, the population is increased largely and it had become a cultural melting pot, due to the migration of people of many ethnicities to the city. Most of the migrants are set on the banks of Kandy Lake.

WHAT TO SEE IN KANDY?

The travellers have plenty of places to see and keep them busy in Kandy like strolling past temples, churches, and mosques, exploring colonial buildings and visiting the oriental market. A large number of shops dotted along the main road are some of the best places in all of Sri Lanka to buy traditional handicrafts, and tea spices made by traditional craftsmen. You can pick up wooden statues, hand-woven clothing, gems and jewellery as well as products like spices, and tea.

PLACES IN KANDY TO SAMPLE LOCAL FOOD

Kandy is the capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country and claims its place as the fourth largest city in Sri Lanka. Kandy is home to many ethnic groups and religions. From Sinhalese and Tamils to Muslims and Catholics, they all live in relatively peaceful harmony. This fusion of cultures has helped Kandy to create an array of delectable dishes which will tantalize and titillate any palate. This hill country resort is also popular as a destination for foodie travellers in Sri Lanka. This was further supported when Lonely Planet ranked Sri Lanka as one of the best places on their list of must-visit places recently by encouraging a visit to Sri Lanka saying “food is reason enough to visit”.

There are plenty of places to taste local food in Kandy. Some of the food outlets such as “Gami Kade” or village boutique in the Gannoruwa agriculture research centre, has a wide range of traditional food items. This is a project patronised by the agricultural department of Sri Lanka to popularize healthy local food items among travellers.

The restaurant is located just outside of Kandy near the Gannoruwa bridge. Food items such as Paniwalalu, Helapa, Wade, Koswade, Hoppers, fruit juice, string hoppers, Thosai, samosa and many local food varieties are available here at an affordable rate. A large number of restaurants are scattered in the central city and provide delicious local as well as foreign food. In the central market, there are many tarp-covered stalls selling clothing, electronic equipment and food like samosa, egg rolls, fish rolls, and the fish bun that are listed under less healthy fast food.  

WHAT ARE THE 6 BEST REASONS TO TRAVEL TO KANDY?

Due to the beautiful scenery, mild climate, colonial heritage, diverse culture, delicious cuisine, friendly and open-minded people and a lot more, hundreds of thousands of travellers drive to Kandy every day. Here are the 6-best reasons why you should never miss this fascinating mountain resort.

  1. A Family-Friendly Travel Destination
  2. Find Stunning Cascading Waterfalls And Mountains
  3. Don’t Fear The Sunny Weather
  4. Taste World-Renowned Ceylon Tea
  5. Satisfy Your Cravings With Delicious Food
  6. Opportunities For Taking Awesome Photos

WHY IS THIS ARTICLE REVOLVE AROUND THE 20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY?

Kandy is one of the most visited cities in Sri Lanka and a large number of travellers are heading to this charming city every day. This article is about the top 16 places to visit in Kandy.

A large number of our readers ask us questions like “Which is the most popular tourist attraction in Kandy?”, “What are the things to do in Kandy Sri Lanka?”, “What are the beautiful places in Kandy to visit?”, “What are the places to see on a trip to Kandy?”, all these queries are related to the Kandy city tour. Invariably they are asking for places to visit in Kandy in a Kandy city tour.

Many places listed in this blog post are included in the Kandy city tour from Colombo and beach resorts. I thought of making this descriptive note on several important places to visit in Kandy, in order to help the travellers to plan their trip to Kandy. You may not be able to cover all places in a Kandy day trip from Colombo, but you can visit at least 7 of the 16 best places mentioned in this blog post.

KANDY CITY, SRI LANKA

Kandy Is a beautiful city in Sri Lanka’s upcountry and it lures most travellers who visit the island, due to its natural beauty and historical importance. Most travellers who visit the island rarely miss this vibrant city and thus it is referred to as a tourist hotspot on the island.  

Probably there is no other city on the island with a calm and serene atmosphere like Kandy. Kandy is the cultural hub of the island, where Sri Lanka’s culture and tradition can still be seen alive more than anywhere else on the island. If you are a foreign traveller you must consider making a trip to Kandy because a trip to Sri Lanka is not uncompleted if you miss Kandy.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF KANDY?

Kandy is the most sacred city on the island as it hosts the Tooth Relic temple. Kandy has beautiful, calm surrounding settings. Kandy is regarded as the cultural hub of Sri Lanka where the traditional custom and traditions are still well maintained. Kandy is most popular for its many well-preserved historic buildings, most of which are Buddhist religious sites. The ideal place to relax, eat, drink and experience the cultural and religious side of Sri Lankan life. You will not regret drop-into this beautiful city because it offers many interesting places to visit and things to do.

KANDY CLIMATE

Kandy has a mild temperature compared to the scorching heat that dominates in most other parts of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a country in the tropics, therefore, most parts of the island such as northern Sri Lanka, western Sri Lanka, and southern and eastern parts of the country record high-temperature 30-35 °C with high humidity. But the climate of Kandy (central highland) is somewhat different, here you can feel the tropical rainforest climate.

KANDY SITS ON A PLATEAU SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS

Kandy is surrounded by two mountain ranges Knuckles mountain range and the Hanthana mountain range, which function as a natural shield and protect the city from the outside world.

It is a well-known fact that the Kandy kingdom maintained its independence during the Portuguese and Dutch administrations in Sri Lanka. While the Portuguese and Dutch were able to bring the entire low country under their control, they failed to control Kandy.

The rocky outcrop that surrounds Kandy had been the main obstacle to these colonial armies taking control of Kandy. Densely foliage hilly outcrop made it difficult for foreign forces to penetrate the Kandy border. This was a direct outcome of the inaccessibility to Kandy from the low country of Sri Lanka.

King’s army was well versed with the jungle outcrop and launched guerilla-type attacks making it difficult for foreign forces to survive. At last, the Portuguese and Dutch administration had given up their intention of taking control of Kandy and maintained a cordial relationship with the Kandy king.

KANDY IS THE LOGISTIC HUB IN THE SRI LANKA HILLCOUNTRY

Kandy is well-connected with the rest of the country and it is a transit point for most travellers since it is centrally located on the island. The city can be accessed by all means of transport, buses, trains, helicopter, seaplanes, taxis etc.

WHAT ARE THE 5 BEST SRI LANKA TRIPS WITH KANDY CITY TOUR?

  • One-day Kandy city tour from Colombo
  • 2 Days upcountry trip with Kandy city tour
  • 2-day cultural triangle trip with Kandy city tour
  • 3 Days cultural heritage tour with Kandy city tour
  • Sri Lanka splendour tour with Kandy city tour

HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DRIVE FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY?

It takes 4 hours to reach Kandy from Colombo in a private vehicle.

If you start the journey to Kandy from Colombo, you can easily find many options to drive to Kandy, taxis, public buses, trains, helicopters and the plains. However, taxi is the most popular mode of transport, trains and buses come behind them.

Buses and trains are as effective as any other transport method, especially on this route, and it saves tons of money over other transport modes such as hiring a helicopter. But you have to allocate a lot of time when travelling by public transport. That’s the biggest disadvantage of using public transport.

If you are on a tight schedule public transport is not an option for you. Even if you have plenty of time to travel it is highly recommended to hire a private vehicle (taxi) in order to explore each tourist attraction in Kandy leisurely.

TRAVELLING TO KANDY BY TRAINS

There are many Kandy-bound trains starting from the main railway station of Colombo as shown below. Travelling by Intercity or express trains saves you a lot of time. The 1st class compartment is the most comfortable with well-cushioned seats and air-conditioning.

TRAVELLING TO KANDY BY PUBLIC BUS

Public buses are available with air-conditioning but the rates of air-conditioned buses are double the rates of buses without air-conditioning. The time taken to travel from Colombo to Kandy by public bus is around 4 hours because they make frequent stops when passengers are getting off and getting on. Buses are available 24 hours a day and leave the destination of Colombo and vice-versa at a predefined schedule. There is a large number of buses plying between Colombo city tour and Kandy each day and at least one bus leaves each destination every 30 minutes.

USING A TAXI TO VISIT IMPORTANT PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

A private vehicle with a local driver/guide is the best way of travelling not only in the Kandy city tour but also in any other tour package in Sri Lanka. It is economical compared to transport modes such as helicopter or inland flights. It is a bit expensive compared to public transport such as buses and trains but a private vehicle allows you to have comfort, privacy most importantly it saves time. Another important advantage of the private vehicle (car or van) is the convenience of reaching the important tourist attractions that you like to visit.

Pinnawala elephant orphanage is one of the important tourist attractions in Kandy that you miss if you resort to public transport. Spice Garden is another such tourist attraction in Kandy that you will not be able to see if you choose public transport. You are also going to miss the tea factory as well because all these 3 places are not located in cities. It is necessary to have a short detour to visit these places too.

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT TOURIST PLACES TO INCLUDE IN THE KANDY CITY TOUR?

  • Visiting Pinnawala elephant orphanage on Kandy city tour-very popular tourist attraction in Kandy and included in every trip to Kandy from Colombo. Pinnawala elephant orphanage is located halfway down the track from Colombo to Kandy, near the city of Kegalle.
  • Visiting Tooth Relic temple on the Kandy city tour– by far this is the most visited tourist attraction in Kandy, which is also the most popular Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The tooth relic temple is a religious tourist attraction in Kandy and it is also a UNESCO world heritage site.
  • Visiting the Royal botanical garden in Kandy City tour-popular tourist attraction in Kandy. A large number of tourists are heading to the botanical garden every day. A trip to Kandy from Colombo is not complete if you fail to visit this tourist attraction in Kandy.
  • Visiting the Tea factory on a Kandy trip-Tea factory is considered an optional tourist attraction in Kandy, however, most travellers visit a tea factory in order to witness the tea manufacturing process and sip a pure cup of Ceylon tea.
  • Visiting the spice garden-Spice garden is another optional tourist attraction in Kandy, where you can witness hundreds of trees and plants that produce various types of spices and herbal medicine.

IF YOU ARE WONDERING HOW TO VISIT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KANDY: KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA 2 DAYS TRIP IS A GOOD OPTION FOR YOU

If you wish to explore this fascinating city by taking part in a private tour you can book our Kandy and Nuwara Eliya 2 days tour. This program includes many interesting places such as elephant orphanages, tea plantations, waterfalls, Sita Amman temple and many other places located in the upcountry.

2 days kandy kitulgala tour
Venture on a Southern Sri Lanka tour to see the important tourist attraction on Sri Lanka’s south coast such as Wildlife parks, beaches, forts, museums, parks, and town

TRAIN TIMETABLE TO KANDY FROM COLOMBO

Time 05:55:00      PODI MENIKE  EXPRESS TRAIN

Time 07:00:00     A.C.INTERCITY

Time 07:00:00      INTERCITY TRAIN  INTERCITY

Time 08:30:00     UDARATA MENIK  EXPRESS TRAIN

Time  10:35:00      COLOMBO COMMUTER

Time  12:40:00      EXPRESS

Time 14:20:00       INTERCITY – A.CINTERCITY

Time 14:20:00       INTERCITY – A.CINTERCITY

Time 14:20:00       COLOMBO COMMUTER

Time 15:35:00        INTERCITY – INTERCITY

Time 16:35:00        EXPRESS TRAIN

Time 17:45:00         EXPRESS TRAIN

NEW TRAIN FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY

The Sri Lanka Department launched a new luxury train from Colombo to Kandy during the weekend starting 1st October 2022. This is mainly due to the high demand among travellers for luxury train journeys between Colombo and Kandy. A large number of travellers go to Kandy every weekend. Most of these travellers are heading to the Tooth relic temple of Kandy in order to observe religious activities. The special train offers 3 categories of compartments; 3rd class compartments, 2nd class compartments and 1st class luxury compartments with Air conditioning. The train will be available every weekend. The luxury train will leave Colombo Fort at 6.30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and arrive at Kandy at 9.18 a.m. The train will leave Kandy at 4.50 p.m. and is scheduled to arrive at Colombo Fort at 7.40 p.m. on both days.

TICKET PRICE FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY

1st Class LKR 340.00

2nd Class LKR 190.00

3rd Class LKR 105.00

HOW TO RESERVE TRAIN SEATS FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY?

Train tickets can be reserved in advance, but this facility is available only for selected trains. Some mobile telecom services such as Mobitel allow you to book train tickets using their mobile network. Or one can show up at the main railway station and make the necessary arrangements for the upcoming train ride.

Reservation of train seats can be done by Dialling 365 from Mobitel/Etisalat Phone Lines and 1365 by SLT phones. The reservation should be done 30 days ahead of the planned journey for Intercity/AC Intercity Trains, due to high demand.

Travellers can make advance reservations by visiting the below-mentioned railway stations, 30 days prior to the journey and you need to contact the station master.  More information can be obtained over the phone.

Colombo Fort Railway Station (Reservation Office) – 011-2432908

Kandy Railway Station           – 081-2222271

Badulla Railway Station          – 055-2222271

Anuradhapura Railway Station – 025-2222271

Vavuniya Railway Station         – 024-2222271

Jaffna Railway Station           – 021-2222271

Website of Sri Lanka railway department – http://www.railway.gov.lk

WHAT ARE THE 6 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN KANDY?

  1. Oakray Senani restaurant-Oakray restaurants serve all Asian, Western and Eastern cuisines.
  2. Royal Mall Restaurant– Another popular tourist board-approved restaurant in Kandy. This restaurant attracts a large number of foreign customers. It offers a wide range of Asian, Eastern and Western food varieties as well as local food.
  3. Silk garden restaurant – Another popular restaurant in Kandy, which is a bit outside of Kandy city. The restaurant is fully developed to cater to a wide range of audiences, however, it serves mainly foreign customers.
  4. Kandyan Arts and crafts restaurant- Conveniently located on the main road of Kandy-Colombo is a cosy restaurant located on the 3rd floor of the Kandyan Arts and Crafts building. This is another popular restaurant among travellers and it is also a tourist board-registered restaurant. The restaurant serves delicious Sri Lanka, Asia, and European food varieties.
  5. Peradeniya garden restaurant- The restaurant is located within the Peradeniya botanical garden and is a perfect place to sip a cup of tea, coffee and other beverages during your hour-long walk in the garden. The restaurant is surrounded by lush green vegetation and commands a breathtaking view over the nearby flat grassland. It also serves a wide range of food such as rice and curry, spaghetti, burgers, sandwiches etc. The restaurant is open only for visitors to the garden. The restaurant is small and can accommodate only about 2 dozen people at a time. It means that there can be short of space during busy times.
  6. Hela Bojun Hala Gannoruwa- This is the perfect spot to taste Sri Lanka food varieties. The Restaurants attract a large number of Sri Lankan travellers. The restaurant is under the purview of the agriculture department. The traditional Sri Lankan foods are prepared by women in open kitchens. A dozen of open kitchens are in operation and female cooks are preparing delicious fresh food varieties. Only vegetarian foods are prepared at Hela Bojun Hala and most of them are not to be found in Sri Lankan restaurants. Even though it provides rare authentic Sri Lanka food specialities, prices are unbelievably affordable.

ACCOMMODATION IN KANDY

You might be required to spend a night or two during your Kandy city tour. As Kandy offers a large number of tourist places to visit, it is recommended to spend at least 1 night in the city and have plenty of time exploring the tourist places in Kandy. It is easy to find any type of accommodation facility in Kandy. Luxurious accommodation, mid-range accommodation or cheap accommodation types such as guest houses, you get all of them here.

There is a large number of economic accommodation providers near the temple of the tooth relic, behind the lake near Mallwatte Vihara. Having accommodation near the tooth relic temple and lake makes life easy and allows you to explore the city without travelling much because all major tourist places are located near the Tooth Relic temple.

TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE: IMPORTANT TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KANDY

The tooth relic temple is one of the most visited historical places in Sri Lanka. Its importance is not only restricted to its antiquity but also to religious importance. The tooth relic temple is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The temple attracts a large number of local as well as foreign devotees. Temple of the Tooth is the most visited tourist attraction in Kandy, failing to make a visit to this tourist attraction in Kandy makes your trip to Kandy incomplete.

The Temple of the tooth relic can be compared to Mecca in the sense of religious importance for Buddhists on the island. For tourists, it is a beautiful temple complex that showcases typical Sinhalese architecture.

The present temple dates back to the 18th century AD and it is a classic example of the Typical Kandyan architectural construction. It is worth having a close look at the wooden columns, reapers, doors, windows and other wooden parts with highly intricate designs and carvings.

NATHA DEVALA: AMONG THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

Natha Devala is a much smaller construction than Dalada Maligawa but it has historical importance comparable to Dalada Maligawa, therefore Natha Devala is also an important tourist attraction in Kandy.

It is believed this tourist attraction in Kandy originated during the reign of King Vikramabahu III (14th century). It is located on the same premises as Dalada Maligawa, opposite the octagon.

Natha Devala is dedicated to the Hindu god Natha and lesser important than Dalada Maligawa. Some travellers miss this important tourist attraction in Kandy, however, it is well worth exploring this charming, un-crowded temple. In fact, there are no entrance fees to visit this site. The temple is just a few-minute walk from the tooth relic temple.

Natha Devala comes to the fore every year with the beginning of the Esala ceremony in the month of July/August. Natha Devala is given an important share of the annual procession of Dalada Maligawa signifying the coexistence of different religions together. The temple consists of a huge open hall and a small shrine room.

HISTORICAL MUSEUM: AMONG THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

The tooth relic temple museum is located just behind the main building of the Temple of the Tooth. It had been the living quarters of the queen and her retinue. Today it is used as a museum and a large number of artefacts including pottery wear, jewellery, statues, and Ola manuscripts are housed in the museum. Recently the Dalada Maligawa Museum was modernized and many new features were added to the site. The entrance is free for visitors to the tooth relic temple.

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This 3-day Sri Lanka tour includes important cultural and historical monuments such as Sigiriya rock, Dambulla golden temple, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. The tour also includes wildlife tours, a spice/herbal garden, Peradeniya botanical garden, and many other places.

INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST MUSEUM: THE LATEST TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KANDY

The recently added international Buddhist Museum of Kandy is located in the building next to the tooth relic temple. This is the first Internation Buddhist museum in the world. It has a fascinating collection of artefacts, paintings, Buddha statues and various other specimens related to Buddhism.

The exhibits are collected from 17 countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Japan, China, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Bhutan, and Afghanistan, which have Buddhist heritage.

The official residence of King Wimaladharmasuriya, which was converted into a Victorian-Era building by the British administrators of Sri Lanka, is the venue of the museum. Entrance fees are free of charge for visitors to the tooth relic temple.

KANDYAN CULTURAL SHOW: ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT KANDY

A visit to a cultural show is the best way of experiencing the typical Kandyan-styled acrobatic dances, music, and colourful dancing costumes. The School of Kandyan Dancing was born here, in Kandy. It was under the influence of low country and Sabaragamuwa dancing and shows characters of other leading dancing too.

There are several places where cultural shows can be witnessed. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see the typical Kandyan dancing performance. YMBA building, Red Cross society-building and Awanhala are three leading places to witness the performance of Kandyan dancing with highly trained dancers.

Most places, where the cultural show is organized are located near the temple of the tooth relic. If you are based within the borders of the city and not far away from the temple of the tooth relic, you are only walking distance away from the places, where these cultural shows are organized. Most trips to Kandy include Kandyan cultural show and you will be visiting it before entering the tooth relic temple.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY: ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDEN

Peradeniya botanical garden is the biggest and most famous botanical garden on the island, and undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Kandy. It is just 10 km from Kandy city centre. This beautiful garden is spread over 147 acres and is picturesquely located bordering the Mahaweli River the park lies about 500 meters above sea level.

Today the garden is comprised of 4,000 species of trees, herbal plants, flowering plants, palms, orchids, and spices. The root of the botanical garden goes back to the Kandyan period. It was initially used as the pleasure garden of the Kandyan king; later British administrators established the garden by collecting plants and trees not only from Sri Lanka but also from many other countries in the region.

The distance from Kandy city centre to the royal botanical garden of Peradeniya is about 10km and it takes around 30 minutes to reach the botanical garden by public bus. It takes around 15 minutes to reach the garden by taxi or tuk tuk. If you are on a trip to Kandy from western and southern Sri Lanka you can easily visit the garden before entering Kandy city.

PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY: COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY

The Commonwealth war cemetery of Kandy is one of the least visited places on the island, however, it is not coming among the best places to visit in Kandy. The cemetery is located near the centre of Kandy means that can be reached with ease. Earlier it was known as Pitakanda war cemetery.

The cemetery comprised 1 Commonwealth burial of the First World War (1914-1918) and 196 burials of the Second World War (1939-1945). Another two non-world war burials and four foreign nationals are also buried here.

Reaching the commonwealth war cemetery is difficult with public transport. Because the narrow road that leads to the cemetery does not cover by public buses. It would be a good idea to hire a Tuk Tuk from the city of Kandy to the cemetery and it would cost around 500 Rs, even the journey by taxi would not cost more than 1000 Rs.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY: VIEWPOINT KANDY

Viewpoint Kandy is one of the highest points of Kandy City and one of the best places to visit in Kandy. Perched high above the old city on a rocky promontory, it is recognized as one of the places to visit in Kandy because it gives you a breathtaking birds-eye view of the city. It allows you to have a clear bird’s eye view of the entire city. The viewpoint is located some 500 meters above the city towards the western corner of Kandy.

There is no better place to enjoy a beautiful view over the temple of the tooth relic, Udawattakele sanctuary, Kandy Lake and the modern bustling shopping area of the city. The viewpoint of Kandy commands a 180-degree view over the low-elevated area. This view allows you to take the entire city into one frame.

The viewpoint of Kandy gives you the opportunity to take the entire city in one snap even with a most ordinary camera. A winding road begins at YMBA is the route that leads to the viewpoint and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the destination from the city centre.

Getting to the Kandy viewpoint is very simple and you just need to drive on a road with sharp bends. Even though it is not a busy road, there may be a lot of tourist vehicles on this route and therefore, best to be very attentive on the road as you drive. It may not take more than 10 minutes to drive to the viewpoint. If you stay in Kandy without any transport arrangements, you can even make a walk. It’s a great place to visit simply to take in the views or to get a bit of outdoor exercise in.

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PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY-HANTANA MOUNTAIN RANGE

Hantana is an important place for adventure seekers. Travellers, who like to have a memorable trek do not need to go far from Kandy to find a very different landscape and some very different trekking conditions. The Hantana mountain range sits towards the west of Kandy city and runs down towards west coast beaches.

PLACES TO VISIT IN AKNDY: GALADALADENIYA TEMPLE

Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple with the largest stone structure in Sri Lanka. This masterpiece of stone carving and stone masonry is located in Pilimatalawe in the district of Kandy. It is about 10 km from Kandy. The temple is picturesquely nestled among mountains. It is surrounded by patches of forest, paddy fields and charming villages. Gadaladeniya temple is built on a rock about 100 meters above the surrounding area. A flight of steps carved onto the rock leads to the temple, on the summit of the rock.

IMPORTANCE OF GADALADENIYA AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KANDY

The temple houses some of the most intricate stone carvings in Sri Lanka. The artisans have been able to produce a large number of stone sculptures of Buddha, animal figures and floral designs. The temple is completely built with granite stones. The gigantic stone pillars of the temple are decorated with beautiful floral designs. The temple shows some Hindu influence and there are some similarities to Hindu temples. This opinion can be well maintained by the installation of a Hindu temple next to Gadaladeniya. At the entrance of the temple is a dagoba built on a slab of rock which is about 5 meters above the ground. The dagoba is sheltered with a roof, which is supported by four pillars. The image house is built under the Dagoba.

IMPORTNAT IMAGE HOUSE IN KANDY, GADALADENIYA

The main image house of the temple accommodates several Buddha statues in meditation and standing postures. A spacious open verandah can be seen before entering the image house and it is built with large beautifully carved stone pillars. A partially gold-coloured meditating Buddha statue is placed in the middle of the house. On either side of the meditation Buddha statue are several other statues in standing posture. The main dagoba and image house are accompanied by four other image houses and dagobas.

HISTORY OF GADALADENIYA

The history of Gadaladeniya is dating back to the 1300s. According to the inscription at the site, the temple was built by a minister called Senadilankara under the patronage of Dammakeerti Thera with the instructions of King Buwanekabahu 4th.

Gadaladeniya is not merely a Buddhist temple but also a masterpiece of stone carvings and masonry of ancient artisans. This archaeological site is considered a must-visited place on the island. The temple structure is in very good condition but the paintings and plaster of the inner walls are in very dilapidated condition.

The Bo-tree of Gadaladeniya is residing in the temple since the beginning of the temple. The tree is also sharing the same granite rock as the image houses. A protective wall is built encircling the dagoba and the material used for the construction is granite.  This Bo-tree is a sapling of Bo-tree at Dewram Vehera in India.

Even though Gadaladeniya is a small Buddhist temple, is comprised of all major parts of the Buddhist temple namely Dagoba, Bo-tree, image house and living quarters of monks.  At present, the temple is under the purview of the archaeological department and some renovations are being carried out by the archaeological department.

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PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY: WHAKOTTE CHURCH

Wahakotte church is one of the important attractions in Kandy but is not included in most Kandyu city tours, because it is a little bit off the town. However, it is well worth inversion time to explore this beautiful historic church.

IMPORTANCE OF WAHAKOTTE AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KANDY

Wahakotte is a well-known pilgrim centre, enshrining a miraculous statue of St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), which is among the important places to visit in Kandy. St Anthony is a Catholic Saint, born in 1195 in Lisbon (Portugal). At the age of 15, he entered the Augustinian Order and lived like a monk. But desiring to be a missionary he later joined the Franciscan Order and went to Morocco. Due to ill health, he was forced to return to Italy, where he became a famous preacher and wonder worker.

MIRACLE OF ST.ANTHONY

There are thousands of recorded miracles attributed to St. Anthony during his lifetime and also after his death. He died in Padua, on the 13th of June 1231 and Catholics celebrate his ‘feast’ on that day. Even after seven centuries, his tongue is miraculously preserved at Padua for public veneration as a sacred object. Eve non-Christians acknowledge that they have received favour by invoking his help.

The hands of St. Anthony had protected the people in the area over the past 400 years through miraculous power. In relation to St, Anthony they have ancient handwritten prayers and hymns the village, crops, exorcise and invoking divine assistance. Often the Muhuppu (the chef laymen elected by the parish council especially to lead prayers and hymns and to be responsible for parish activities) recite these prayers as a special privilege and as a sign of living under the protection of St. Anthony.  There are instances that the help of St. Anthony is sought in order to inflict damage to others.

TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KANDY: BUDDHIST TEMPLE DEVANAGALA

This historical temple is situated in Mawanella in the village of Devanagala, Sri Lanka. The site was named Danasen pawwa, kithsen pawwa and Parana Nuwara in the past. But the present name of the site is Devanagala which originated due to several reasons.  

According to the well-known archaeologist, H.C.P Bell the word Devanagala originated from two parts Dewana (second) + Gala (stone); the stone here is only second to the Batalegala when compared in size. The second explanation is, the site had been visited by God on his way to Alutnuwara. Therefore the site was named the Deviyanwedi Gala (the place where God had been), later the name became Devanagala.

HOW TO REACH DEVANGALA TEMPLE

Devanagala is located in the Sabaragamuwa province, it is surrounded by several picturesque mountains namely Urakanada, Utuwankanda, Alagalla. One can have a breathtaking view of the surrounding area from the summit of Devanagala. The area is dominated by lush green vegetation throughout the year.

The history of the temple expands over several centuries from the Anuradhapura period to the Gampola period. The history of the temple is ascertained by the artefacts discovered at the site though there is no written historical evidence about it. Stone inscriptions, dagobas, stone slabs carved with Buddha’s footprint and image houses are helpful information to discover the age of the temple.

HISTORY OF DEVANAGALA TEMPLE

The temple of Devanagala is believed to be constructed during the reign of King Dhatusena and the temple was known as Dhasen pawwa. King Dhatusena lived in the 5th Century A.D (Anuradhapura period) and the stone slab of Buddha’s footprint shows the characteristics of Anuradhapura period stone carvings. Even though there is no evidence dagoba is also believed to be dating back to the same period as the footprint of Buddha.

Dagoba is located on the summit of the rock. The dagoba is constructed on a pond that collects water from the rain. The function of the pond is to lower the temperature of the immediate environment, thereby stopping the damage (cracks) on the dagoba due to the high temperature. The same method is very often used by the ancient engineers in Sri Lanka for instance in the Sigiriya. There had been a water ditch with water surrounding the palace on the summit of Sigiriya to lower the high temperature.

It is believed that the temple had been given a prominent place during the Polonnaruwa period (during the reign of King Parakramabahu), due to one commander of the king’s army. The commander who lived in the village had been the commander of the regiment that invaded Burma. The forces of King Parakramabahu successfully invaded Burma under the supervision of the commander. In order to appreciate his service to the king, the commander was given control over Devanagala by the King.

The temple was given the patronage of King Wimaladharma Suriya 1 during the Kandyan period. Image houses, statues and paintings of the temple show the characters of the Kandyan style. It is believed that the tooth relic of Buddha had been deposited in the temple as it was taken to Kandy.

There are three routes to reach the temple one is via the Ayagama junction. The second route is along the Udapamunuwa road while the 3rd route is along the Katugahawatta road.

PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY: AMBULUWAWA TOWER

The Ambuluwawa Tower is a very unpopular and underrated tourist attraction in Kandy. It is visible to most places in Kandy, especially when you travel on the Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road, the tower is clearly visible as you come to Gampola town. In fact, most travellers are wondering what this massive tower is, which is perching on a mountain.

It is none other than the Ambuluwawa Tower, which rises up to 48 meters from its base. The Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Center was built under the supervision of D.M Jayarathna, who had been one of the former prime ministers of Sri Lanka.  

RAIN FOREST KANDY: AMONG THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

Perhaps you don’t know that Kandy is a proud owner of a rainforest. There is a patch of rainforest within the borders of Kandy, near the city centre, which is a very rare occurrence. Most cities around the world are clearing the forest in order to find room for development. However, Kandy has been able to main a healthy green cover within its border. And rainforest of Kandy is one of the most important patches of forest in Kandy.

SPOTTING BIRDS IN THE KANDY FOREST

Brown-capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus), Layard’s Parakeet (Psittacula calthropae), and Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaima flavifrons) are some of the endemic bird species that can be observed here often.

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca) is very rarely seen in Sri Lanka, as well as many other places where it recorded great numbers earlier, can also observe in the Udawattakele forest reserve, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is also known as the Three-Toed Kingfisher and Black-Backed Kingfisher in many parts of the world. There are around eighty bird species recorded in the forest including many endemic bird species.

SPOTTING MONKEYS AT KANDY FOREST

All main primate species on the island can be seen here: toque monkey, Purple Faced langur and Grey langur can often observe here with Indian Muntjac, Porcupine, wild boar, black-napped hare, deer, palm squirrels and some other species of coveting.

LANKATILAKA TEMPLE: PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

Lankathilaka is another temple from the same era as Gadaladeniya temple and is located about 3 km south of Gadaladeniya.

The construction of the Lankatilaka temple was completed in 1344. Lankathilaka and Gadaladeniya are both temples that are supposed to be built by the same craftsman. The temple is constructed on a slightly elevated platform that is surrounded by a breathtaking landscape with small hills and thick vegetation. There are 2 inscriptions at the site created by King Bhuwanekabahu 4 (1341-1351) and King Vikramabahu 3 (1357-1374).

Lankathilaka temple is in a circular form and the central part of the building contains important sacred objects. There is a statue of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha) in the shrine along with statues of Vishnu, Ganesh, and Vibhishana. With figures of important gods of Hinduism and the Buddha statue shows the co-existence of both major religions in one place.

The main reason for both religions to be practised in one place is considered to be the Buddhist king and Hindu queen. It is believed that the temple was consisting of a Buddha statue at the beginning.

Hindu god figures were added in a later period and they were located around the outer wall of the shrine room in the middle of the temple. As time passed on Hinduism became popular and more and more people started to venerate the Hindu Gods.

The outer wall encircling the Hindu statues was added with the increasing popularity of Hinduism in the country. Lankathilaka Temple houses some of the best religious paintings of ancient Sri Lanka. The paintings were added in the 17th century AD.

EMBEKKE TEMPLE: PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY

Embekke is another most visited tourist attraction in Kandy and it is a masterpiece of wood carving by ancient artisans. Embekke is situated further 2 kilometres down the road from Lankathilaka and it also dates back to the 14th century AD. One major difference between Embekke against the Lankatilaka temple is being the material used for the building of the temple.

The temple is completely built of wood including the roof. The temple is more like an open hall and the roof is built on Gammalu wooden pillars. Embekke had been used as the audience hall of the king during the Gampola period. Archaeologists believed that theory to be true, while this architecture was mainly used during the Gampola period on the island.

The temple is dedicated to the God Kataragama and is well known as Udunuwara Kataragama Devala or Devata Bandara Devala.  The temple is nestled among the beautiful countryside dominated by paddy fields, patches of forests and mountains. The temple is just 7 km from the A1 main road and about 20 km from Kandy city. Embekke is one of the major attractions in the Kandyan district.

WHY EMBEKKE TEMPLE IS ONE OF THE BEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KANDY?

Embekke temple shows some of the most valuable wood carvings of Sri Lanka. The ancient temple showcases intricating wood carvings carried out by artisans in the early 18s. And it is one of the oldest Buddhist temples on the island. Therefore Embekke temple is among the important Kandy places to visit.

Wood is extensively used for the construction of the temple. Temple is divided into four important parts namely Garbha, Sanctum, Dancing Halls, and drummer’s hall. The drummer’s hall is an open area with a protective roof. The roof of the building is built on finely carved wooden pillars; these ornate pillars show some of the most exquisite wood carvings of ancient Sri Lanka. According to historical information, some of the woodwork at the temple are from an abandoned royal palace in Gampola.

This is the ideal place to see the typical Sri Lankan designs such as mother & child, the swan, and the double-headed eagle. Some of the other intricating designs include a bacchanalian figure, a wrestling pair, dancers, soldiers, and women in the graceful movement and floral designs. The rafters, beams, columns, brackets doorways, doors and windows all are decorated with beautiful designs. There are 128 designs in the dancing hall, 256 floral designs, and 64 lotus flower designs on the brackets. There are 30 designs on beams while the numbers of designs on crossbars are 36. The total number of designs is 514.

KANDY TOURIST PLACES: BOGAMBARA CULTURAL PARK

One of the oldest and biggest prisons in Sri Lanka “Bogambara Prison” is set on the plateau of Kandy, surrounded by mountains and tea plantations, botanical gardens and patches of forests, giving it a beautiful surrounding. The former inmates include popular political figures such as Dr Colvin R. de Silva and Philip Gunawardene, N.M.Perera. One of the most notorious criminals in Sri Lanka “Sura Saradiel” was also hanged in Bogambara prison. The prison was rehabilitated and converted into a tourist attraction named Bogambara Cultural Park.

KANDY VISITING PLACES: THE TEA FACTORY AND PLANTATION

Kandy is not just a place to see historical and cultural tourist attractions, Kandy is also a perfect spot to learn about the country’s tea industry. Tea is one of the most important products of Sri Lanka, and millions of kilograms of tea produced in Sri Lanka are exported all around the globe. Tea was introduced to the Sri Lankan soil in the early 18s when the fungus disease destroyed the coffee plantations. Fertile soil, cool clime and plenty of rain made Sri Lanka’s hill country a perfect place to grow Tea and it was not long before Ceylon – Sri Lanka’s former name – became synonymous with high-quality tea.

Venturing on a tea factory tour is highly recommended for any aficionado of the heady brew, and Kandy offers a few of them, just a few kilometres down the Colombo-Kandy main road, in the direction of Colombo near Mawanella. The Giragama tea factory tour is a guided trip that introduces you to the various stages of the tea manufacturing process, from tea plucking and sorting to fermentation and cleaning. Well-stocked tea shop invites you to sample a cup of pure Ceylon tea in favour of your visit to the tea factory.

IMPORTANT PLACES IN KANDY-BAHIRAWAKANDE BUDDHA STATUES

The whitewashed gigantic Buddha statue is placed in such a way that it can be witnessed from anywhere in Kandy. The Buddha statue is built on one of the highest points in Kandy known as Bahirawakande. Apart from the Buddha statue, the travellers get the opportunity to visit a Buddhist temple at the site and engage in their religious activities. The temple is called the Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya and is popular due to its giant Buddha statue, which can be seen from almost any point in the city of Kandy. The Buddha statue was constructed in 1972, the statue shows Buddha seated in the Nirvana pose, which is the position associated with his first Enlightenment. Reaching a height of more than 25 metres, it is one of the tallest statues of Buddha in Sri Lanka.

HINDU PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY-PILLAIYAR KOIL

Kandy is predominantly a Buddhist city and a majority of people in the city are Sinhalese. Therefore, the majority of the important places in Kandy are closely connected to Buddhism or the kings who ruled the country. However, a large number of people in the Tamil community are also living just outside the city of Kandy and the majority of them are working in tea plantations. Pillaiyar temple is a Hindu temple and it is built to venerate God Ganesh. The Hindu temple is located near the police station of Kandy on the Kandy-Colombo main road.

The history of the temple goes back to teh reign of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798 – 1815). According to teh folklore, the temple was constructed under the guidance of the king at the request of Arunasalam Ramanathan Chettiar.  The temple is still under the purview of the descendant of Chettiar.

PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY SRI RAMA VIHARA

Sri Rama Vihara is quite an unknown historical site in Kandy. Therefore, the temple is not visited by many tourists, despite it being located within the Kandy city limit. The temple can be accessed through a narrow path located within the Udawattekel sanctuary. The second access route that leads to the temple starts from Sri Dalada Thapovanaya in Udawattakele Mawatha. The origin of the temple is not known. However, some vital information about the temple is found in Asgiri Upatha (ancient Ola manuscripts consisting of 43 ola leaves). As per the Asgiriy Ulpotha, the first settlement in Kandy was founded under the guidance of King Gajabahu of Anuradhapura (112-134 CE). However, the city was constructed under the reign of King Panditha Parakramabahu of the Kurunegala Kingdom (1302-1326 CE). During the construction of the city, a forest monastery was established on the hills of Udawattaekele, this forest monastery is called Rama Vihara today.

TOURIST PLACES IN KANDY HEADMAN’S LODGE

Headman’s Lodge of Kandy (Muladeni Mandapaya) is quite an unpopular historical site in Kandy. However, it is historical background goes back many centuries. This historical monument is located next to the entrance of the temple of the tooth relic on the Deva Veediya (Temple Street). Headman’s Lodge is a building built after the Kandyan architecture. The building has wooden columns and a roof is built on the wooden pillars. The building has some similarities to the audience hall located in the tooth relic temple. Headman’s lodge is smaller than the audience hall and wood carvings on the wooden pillars and columns are also less elaborated. The Headman’s lodge of Kandy served as the resting place for village headman’s visiting Kandy during the British rule in Sri Lanka.

MIGRATORY BIRD PARK AND ECO-TOURISM ZONE IN HANTHANA

Sri Lanka’s first eco-tourism zone was established in Hanthana, Kandy with the first-ever migratory bird park in Sri Lanka. The eco-tourism zone in Hantahna was opened on 20th February 2023. The migratory bird park is established in the popular Hanthana nature reserve, which is one of the most scenic areas of Kandy. The bird park spreads over a 27-acres of land and the visitors will be able to witness hundreds of species of migratory birds in the park. Apart from the large living area for the migratory birds the bird park also consists of a unit to treat injured and sick birds. The government has spent 490 million rupees to establish the migratory bird park. The birds are housed in large cages. The migratory bird park provides facilities for tourists to watch birds. Same time it functions as an educational training centre for animal science students, a bird orphanage, a bird shelter and a quarantine unit.

CENTRAL MARKET KANDY

Hoping to get a memorable experience on your Kandy trip? The central Market of Kandy offers an ideal shopping and an open-door experience for travellers with large number of products such as garments, sacks, souvenirs, and sweetmeat. There is likewise a modern shopping centre, offering a wide range of stores and diversion would it be a good idea for you really want anything that the more modest merchants can’t offer.

KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN RANGE

Even though it is not in Kandy – just a few kilometres toward the north of the city is the Knuckles Mountain range, making a staggering background of moving mountains. Phenomenal biodiversity characterizes this area, from vegetation to fauna like monkeys, reptiles, and many bird species, including a few endemics. Whether mountain climbing, trekking or wildlife watching, the Knuckles is best explored as a day excursion or a Sri Lanka trip with one or two overnight stays. For the more fearless of voyagers, they might wish to burn through two evenings at Residence homestay, tucked far away in the knuckles for a really vivid involvement with a little neighborhood town. Or on the other hand for the people who favor somewhat more solace.

WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL WITH SEERENDIPITY TO SEE TOURIST PLACES IN KANDY?

Serendipity Tour is an entirely locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Serendipity Tours, and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka.

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When you book a tour with Serendipity Tours, you directly book the tour with the local company, which means there are no middlemen and therefore you can guarantee the best price. Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see.

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20 thoughts on “WHAT ARE THE 20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KANDY AND THINGS TO DO IN KANDY?”

  1. We will hope to take a Kandy trip next week as we travel to Sri Lanka. We will travel our own and your article helped us a lot to plan our trip.

    Reply

  3. Nice article on places to visit in Kandy. I have never been to Kandy but I think we will go there very soon. Thanks for the great work.

    Reply

  4. This a very well-written article on places to visit in Kandy sri Lanka. We came across this article while we were gathering information to plan our trip to Sri Lanka. We were able to get a lot of information for this post to plan our trip. Thanks for the article.

    Reply

  5. Very interesting point here in teh article. We were looking for some facts about Kandy Sri Lanka and most of all wanted to know ta tourist places to visit in Kandy. The article gave us good insight on how to plan our trip to Kandy and a well-written article, thanks.

    Reply

  6. Excellent article on places to visit in Kandy, We visited Sri Lanka and Kandy was a city included in our Sri Lanak trip. We were in Kandy for 2 days and visited many interesting places like the Tooth temple, tea garden, museum, rainforest, and botanical garden. However, by reading this article I came to know that there are a lot more places with visiting in Kandy. However, I feel one needs more than 2 days to cover all these tourist paves in Kandy perhaps 4-5 days.

    Reply

  7. Excellent blog with tons of information about travel in Sri Lanka. kandy is a nice place to travel and it offers a large number of tourist places to visit as you mention on this article. I visited few tourist places in Kandy few years back. Kandy is a knife place, very attractive and lot to see.

    Reply

  10. Kandy is a beautiful charming city. There is a lot to see in Kandy and it has a very nice climate. We spend 4 days in Kandy 3 years back and we visited dozens of places, however, we still did not able to many interesting places.

    Reply

  11. Hello Dear, are you actually visiting this site on a regular basis. It seems Kandy is a very interesting place and we like to visit it. Actually we like to plan a Kandy trip and visit some of the places with you, if possible.

    Reply

    1. Hi Haribert
      Thanks for the comment. I travel to Kandy a few times every year for leisure and official visits. But I don’t know if I will be traveling to Kandy while you were in Sri Lanka. Please let me know if you arrive in Sri Lanka, Let’s see. Otherwise, you can contact http://seerendipitytours.com/, which is a very trustworthy local tour operator and they offer Kandy trips on daily basis with highly experienced tour guides.

      Reply

  12. very well-written detailed article about Kandy and places to visit in Kandy.
    You are increɗible! Thanks!

    Reply

  13. Kandy is a nice city and very beautiful. We visited Kandy in 2012 and we visited many places during our 3-day stay. Nice article about places to visit in Kandy.

    Reply

  14. Fantastic web site. Lots of useful information about Kandy trip places.
    I’m sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious.

    And of course, thanks on your great article on Kandy!

    Reply

  15. Amazing article on “Places to visit oin Kandy”. I had been to Kandy many times and explored many places that you mentioned in teh article. But still, there are places I had not visited such as Bahirawalkande, actually, I understood it after reading your article on Kandy trip places. Thanks for good writing

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  16. We are hoping to visit Sri Lanak in near future and hear lot about tooth temple. Where about this place in Kandy?

    Reply

  19. We recently traveled to Sri Lanka. We booked a 10 days Sri Lanka trip and spent 2 nights in Kandy. We visited most of kandy tourist places. great article!

    Reply

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