6 Best things to do in Kandy
Hey everyone, in this article we will share with you the best things to do in Kandy. In April 2024, we spent 2 weeks travelling in Sri Lanka. Out of which we spent 1 night in Kandy which gave us enough time to visit the main things to do in Kandy.
Kandy was on our way south from Sigiriya toward Ella. We stopped in Kandy because it featured the tooth temple and the Royal botanical garden. But there are more to Kandy than only that.
And if you are looking for more in-depth detail, check-out our video about our journey from Sigiriya to Kandy.
In this article, we will tell our story going around all the best things to do in Kandy. So, if you too are planning a trip to Sri Lanka and to Kandy, then let ‘s dive in these best things to do in Kandy.
Here is our complete video from this trip :
Table of Contents
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Getting there
We were coming from Sigiriya, so for us there weren’t that many option. The one we took was to hire a driver to take us from Sigiriya to Kandy. This was the most comfortable option as on the way we got to make a stop at the Tooth Temple in Kandy and then be dropped at our accommodation. This cost us 16 000 Rupees and took around 3h.
The other option was to take a direct bus from Sigiriya to Kandy early morning. However, there was only one direct bus, and it was at 6h30.
The final option was to take a tuktuk to Dambulla and from there a bus to kandy.
Those bus options cost around 3 euros per person.
Moving Around
The best way to move around Kandy is by tuktuk. Always ask your accommodation to organize it for us as you will be able to know the rate before taking it and won’t need to negotiate.
Also, the tuktuk that drives your somewhere, will always come and pick you up to drive you back at the same rate.
When to Visit
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination thanks to its combination of weather systems ensuring that one or several regions has a good weather. Meaning that each side of the island has its own best time to visit.
The dry seasons by month and destination are:
- North – May to September
- Center – January to April
- South – December – March
If like us you plan a trip around the country, the best time to visit to Sri Lanka will be between January and mid-April.
Temperatures are constant year-round, with coastal regions enjoying average temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands 15-18°C on average.
We visited it beginning of April and got quite a good weather with only some rain on our final days there. However, it was hot and humid.
Where to Stay
Our favourite accommodation in Kandy
- (€): Remli Villa
- (€€): The Summit
- ($$$): Aarunya Nature Resort & Spa
What to Eat
The best things to try in Sri Lanka are:
- Dhal curries
- Vegetable curry
- Vegetable Kotu
- Egg Hoppers
- Coconut Sambals
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Regarding alcohol, the Lion beer is quite nice, and you can also try the coconut spirit.Â
At night, we ate in our accommodation and had an amazing homemade meal. That’s something you should also consider.
Best things to do in Kandy
The tooth temple
Also called the Sri Dalada Maligawa or Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a Buddhist temple located in the Royal Palace Complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The relic was historically held by Sinhalese kings. The temple of the tooth is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple and the relic.
Kandy Lake
Kandy Lake, also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk, is an artificial lake in the heart of the hill city of Kandy, built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe next to the Temple of the Tooth. Over the years, it was reduced in size and it is a protected lake where fishing is banned.
KCC
Kandy City Centre is a ten-storey commercial and retail complex near the Temple of Tooth Relic. Construction of the centre was started in 1993 and opened in 2008. This is the place to go shopping if you need anything.
Royal Botanic Gardens
This was one of our favourite things to do in Kandy. The Royal Botanic Gardens is a huge garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees.
There we got lost and we loved it. We even got lucky and met some local students.
Ambuluwawa Mountain Hill
This one is another one our top things to do in Kandy. We visited it on our way out of the city. The Ambuluwawa Mountain Hill is a modern construction with a breathtaking panorama of the region.
Plus, it is so much so fun to reach its top as the stairs are super narrow.
Train to Ella
Even though, we would recommend taking the train to Ella from Nuwara Eliya, to shorten the ride and be able to enjoy the road to Nuwara Eliya, you can take the most beautiful train ride of Sri Lanka from Kandy. The journey takes 6h to 10h and we would recommend that you book your seat in advance and get reserved class tickets.
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We will make another article about our train journey.
More things to do in Kandy
If you want more things to do in Kandy, you can consider:
- Bahirawakanda Temple
It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way
Get our full map
Why pin one by one when you can get them all at once? With this map, you get all our pins, destinations, things to see, where to eat and sleep, and so much more in one time.
