Kandy, Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Kandy is a central Sri Lankan city laid on a beautiful plateau covered by mountains, lakes, and religious temples. These mountains are home to huge tea plantations as well as biodiverse dense rainforests which are supported by the heavy rainfall that the country receives. At the city's heart is situated the picturesque Kandy Lake (also called Bogambara Lake), widely popular among tourists for strolling. Not only that but it is also famous for its numerous sacred Buddhist temples, including the popular shrine called Temple of the Tooth (or Sri Dalada Maligawa).

The Royal Botanical Garden housed by Kandy is one of the most happening places to visit with over 4000+ different species to exhibit. With an entry fee of around 10 USD, the place is quite serene and a must-visit. We suggest planning a full-day picnic with your family with a nice wine basket and some towels to throw over the grass to sit quietly in this peaceful environment.

Kandy offers a picturesque view of local buildings, locals leading their busy lives, and colorful vehicles moving past at the times. Though not so crowded, Kandy’s streets are an ideal choice for taking some cool Instagram shots. You can walk down lanes of shopping stores, local street food, or even indulge in a local vegetable market to get a few cool shots.

If you have an extra day at hand, make sure to add this to your “to-do” list which is a 3-hour long journey to Sigiriya which houses the famous Lion Rock, a UNESCO site. The place is only a few hours’ drive from Kandy with great road-trip views. It is also a good place to catch a panoramic sunrise. If you are visiting during the peak tourist months, you can also skip the long crowd at Sigiriya and instead visit Pidurangala which offers the same panoramic views.

Also known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa - a stunning Buddhist Temple, it is a must-do activity if you’re in Kandy. It features a gorgeous golden ceiling located at the heart of the city. Early morning trips to the temple are the best to beat the crowd and get a clear view of the legendary Buddhist tooth relic, covered in jewels. This place is worth visiting not only for its Buddhist legacy but also for its gorgeous interiors. Pro Tip: you don’t need a guide to explore the temple even though you hear the guides at the entrance insist that you do.

As a part of your Sri Lanka travel guide, an evening stroll along the serene Kandy Lake is the best way to end a day in Kandy considering its undeniable beauty and tranquility. There also lies an island in the center of the lake featuring some tall palm trees - it is the popular picture that you often see on Kandy’s postcards.

The Kandy-Ella Train Route is one of those sole things for which tourists from all over the world plan a trip to Kandy. The views on the route are as mesmerizing as they can get with extensive tea plantation ranges spreading acres altogether. However, getting a train ticket is a huge hassle as tickets get sold out as early as 30-45 days. So you need to request a ticket pretty early to increase your chances. There are different classes of seats on the train and you must decide carefully to get the best views.

Moving away from the hustle-bustle of the bigger cities of Sri Lanka, Kandy offers some amazing spots to relax, meditate, and rejuvenate the soul. Indulging in a reflective, slow-paced yoga class is definitely a to-do in Kandy. You can find several such centers around the city but choose the most experienced center which offers experienced yoga teaching along with a worldwide-recognized certificate of completion from Yoga Alliance.

The weather in Kandy is tolerable and pleasant throughout the year so you can pick a season that you want to experience. The summers last from January to April and have scanty rainfall and pleasant temperatures of 18-28C that make it ideal for adventure sports. The short monsoon season from May to September is best for a couples' getaway and meditation tours owing to the limited crowd and the romantic and calm weather. The maha monsoon season lasts from October to December and receives heavy rainfall. Having said that, you might think it is a bad time to visit, but most tourists plan their outings during this period as crowds are the least and you get to explore a completely different aura of the island with the beautiful tropical rainforests showing their true colors during the monsoons.