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Voykit pocket guide · Sri Lanka
Kandy
මහනුවර
Give Kandy one to two nights for the Temple of the Tooth and as the gateway to the hill country; go by train from Colombo if you can book seats in advance, or by road in about 3-4 h.
Kandy was the capital of the last independent Sinhalese kingdom, which held out against colonial powers until 1815, and its historic center around the lake is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the country's most important Buddhist shrine and draws large evening crowds. The town is also where the scenic hill-country railway to Ella and Nuwara Eliya begins. It suits one to two nights, and the traffic and hills reward a hotel near the lake.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Local name
- මහනුවර
- Best months
- Jan–Apr (drier in the central highlands)
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (inter-monsoon rain brings the wettest, most unpredictable weather)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LKR
- Money
- LKR in small notes for tuk-tuks, buses, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 6,000-10,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 10,000-20,000 excl. bed · High Rs 20,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Dialog, Mobitel (SLT-Mobitel) and Hutch sell tourist SIMs at the airport; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 119 · Ambulance (Suwa Seriya) 1990 · Fire and rescue 110 · Tourist Police 1912
- Plugs
- Types D, G, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Old three-round-pin (D and M) and UK three-flat-pin (G) sockets both appear; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Nothing extra if 10% service is on the bill; otherwise 10%.; Driver: Rs 2,000–3,000 a day at the end.; Safari jeep driver and tracker: Rs 1,500–3,000.; Guide: Rs 1,000–2,000 for a site visit.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500; many hotels have a tip box.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants, with a hose; squat toilets in bus stations. Carry tissue.
Get in
By air
- CMB · Bandaranaike International
- About 110 km (68 mi) away; the road takes 3.5-4 h by taxi (roughly Rs 20,000-28,000, check); the Colombo-Kandy train is slower but cheaperAbout 68 mi (110 km) away; the road takes 3.5-4 h by taxi (roughly Rs 20,000-28,000, check); the Colombo-Kandy train is slower but cheaper
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the lake and temple area; three-wheelers and buses reach outlying sights like Peradeniya (Rs 500-1,500 by tuk-tuk, 2026 estimate, check). Colombo Fort to Kandy trains take about 2.5-3.5 h; second and third class are cheap and unreserved, and the onward hill-country route to Ella takes about 6-7 h. Ride apps work but drivers may wait long on the steep roads.
See and do
Known for
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Kandy Lake
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
- Esala Perahera festival (Jul-Aug, elephants and dancers)
- Hill-country railway to Ella and Nuwara Eliya
- Kandyan dance shows
- Bahirawakanda Buddha statue viewpoint
- Kandy Central Market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya | Bus or tuk-tuk about 6 km (3.7 mi), 20-30 minBus or tuk-tuk about 3.7 mi (6 km), 20-30 min | About 30 min |
| Sigiriya and Dambulla | Private car or hired driver via Matale, about 2.5-3 h each way | About 3 h |
| Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage | Bus or tuk-tuk, about 1-1.5 h | About 1.5 h |
| Nuwara Eliya (tea country) | Train about 4-5 h or car about 3 h | About 3-5 h |
Sleep
- Around Kandy Lake
- Walkable to the Temple of the Tooth and town, but louder and busier with traffic.
- Hillside above the town (Hantana, Bahirawakanda)
- Quieter, with valley views; needs a tuk-tuk (about Rs 500-1,000) into the center.
- Peradeniya / Katugastota
- Near the botanic gardens and the river; good for a longer stay with a car.
- Near Kandy railway station
- Handy for early trains to Ella and Colombo; noisier, plainer hotels.
Language
Sinhala is the language of the majority, Tamil of the north, east and hill-country plantations; English is widely spoken in tourism, business and among younger people.
- 'Isthuthi' (Sinhala) and 'nandri' (Tamil) mean thank you.
- WhatsApp is how drivers and guesthouses stay in touch.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Ayubowan' (Sinhala) or 'Vanakkam' (Tamil) with palms together; avoid: Kissing on the cheek
- Temples: White clothes, shoes off, walk clockwise; avoid: Posing with your back to the Buddha; pointing feet at statues
- Hands: Right hand to give and eat; avoid: Left hand for food or money
- Head wobble: A side-to-side nod means yes or OK; avoid: Taking it as no
- Dress: Swimwear only on the beach; shoulders and knees covered in towns; avoid: Topless bathing
- Buses: Leave front seats for monks, the elderly and pregnant women; avoid: Sitting next to a monk (women)
Scams and watch-outs
- Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and remove shoes and hats before entering the Temple of the Tooth; show respect at all Buddhist sites.
- Reserved seats on the scenic hill-country trains sell out weeks ahead: book through the official rail booking site as early as possible.
- Touts near the temple sometimes steer visitors to overpriced gem museums or shops: politely decline unsolicited offers.
- Hill roads are winding and slow, and landslides can close them in heavy rain; keep a buffer day.
- Esala Perahera (Jul-Aug) books out hotels far in advance and raises prices; reserve early if your dates match.
- Monkeys around the botanic gardens and lake can snatch food and phones; keep items in a bag.
Kandy is generally safe for visitors; keep watch on bags in crowded temple queues and markets, and follow local advice during heavy rain.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kandy yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Kandy Lake
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
- Esala Perahera festival (Jul-Aug, elephants and dancers)
- Hill-country railway to Ella and Nuwara Eliya
- Kandyan dance shows
- Bahirawakanda Buddha statue viewpoint
- Kandy Central Market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sri Lanka Tourism: www.srilanka.travel/
- Wikivoyage — Kandy: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kandy
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kandy). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.