Some days Kandy’s skies seem perpetually bruised, with stubborn mist clinging to the hills surrounding the city’s beautiful centrepiece lake. Delicate hill-country breezes impel the mist to gently part, revealing colourful houses amid Kandy’s improbable forested halo. In the centre of town, three-wheelers careen around slippery corners, raising a soft spray that threatens the silk saris worn by local women. Here’s a city that looks good even when it’s raining. And when the drizzle subsides, cobalt-blue skies reveal a city of imposing colonial-era and Kandyan architecture, none more impressive than the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines. History and culture are on tap. The city is renowned for the great Kandy Esala Perahera festival, held annually in July/August, but its vibrant cultural life and attractions more than justify a visit at any time of year.
Discover the historic landmarks, cultural attractions and hidden gems that make Kandy special.
Dominating the town is Kandy Lake. A leisurely stroll around it, with a few stops on the lakeside seats, is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. The nicest part to walk along is the area around the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The lake is artificial and was created in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy.
The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja, the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is opened to devotees and tourists, although the tooth itself is kept inside a gold casket shaped like a dagoba. The complex also includes smaller temples, shrines and museums. Visitors should dress respectfully by covering their legs and shoulders and removing their shoes.
Hidden away in Kandy’s leafy outskirts is the little-visited but fascinating Degal Doruwa Raja Maha Vihara cave temple, constructed in the 18th century. The cave interior is covered with slightly faded but captivating Kandyan-era murals depicting scenes from the Jataka stories. A large reclining Buddha is also found inside the cave.
The Sri Dalada Museum occupies the upper two floors of the Alut Maligawa building and contains gifts donated by presidents and Buddhist leaders from around the world to the Temple of the Tooth. Historical letters, diary entries and photographs document the history of the temple complex.
The Ceylon Tea Museum occupies the 1925 Hantane Tea Factory, around 4km south of Kandy. The refurbished museum contains exhibits about tea pioneers James Taylor and Thomas Lipton as well as vintage tea-processing equipment.
The National Museum occupies a former royal residence and features Kandyan royal regalia and reminders of pre-European Sinhalese life. One of its impressive exhibits is Rajasinha II’s golden crown.
Family HolidaysPinnawala → Dambulla → Sigiriya → Kandy
A quick two-day taste of the Cultural Triangle, ideal for a short stopover between flights.
$25.00 – $202.00
Family HolidaysKandy → Nuwara Eliya → Colombo
A well-paced three-day introduction to Kandy and the hill country, finishing with a Colombo city tour.
$40.00 – $311.00
Family HolidaysKandy → Nuwara Eliya → Colombo
A relaxed four-day hill-country and coast introduction, staying in 4-star hotels throughout.
$55.00 – $419.00
Family HolidaysKandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Colombo
Extends the hill-country loop to include Ella and the Nine Arches Bridge before finishing in Colombo.
$73.00 – $554.00
Family HolidaysKandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Bentota → Colombo
Adds a southern coast finish to the hill-country loop, with a stop in Bentota before Colombo.
$91.00 – $690.00
Family HolidaysKandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Galle → Bentota → Colombo
Adds a Yala safari and more southern coast time to the hill-country and coast loop.
$107.00 – $807.00
Family HolidaysSigiriya → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Galle → Bentota → Colombo
A comprehensive week-long loop covering the Cultural Triangle, hill country, a wildlife safari and the south coast.
$123.00 – $924.00
Family HolidaysNegombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Bentota → Colombo
An extended island loop starting in Negombo, covering the Cultural Triangle, hill country, a safari, and the south coast.
$137.00 – $1026.00
Family HolidaysNegombo → Dambulla → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Bentota → Galle → Colombo
A leisurely ten-day circuit covering Negombo, the Cultural Triangle, hill country, a wildlife safari, and the south coast.
$154.00 – $1154.00
Family HolidaysNegombo → Dambulla → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Bentota → Galle → Colombo
The most complete Family Escape itinerary, an unhurried eleven-day loop covering the whole island with generous time for a wildlife safari and the south coast.
$170.00 – $1274.00
