A COMPLETE GUIDE TO TRAVEL AROUND SRI LANKA
Travel Guide To Kandy
Kandy City Guide
Kandy, the last kingdom of Sri lanka is a historical place listed as a world heritage site.This beautiful city is situated surrounding a mountain range in the central part of the country at a elevation of 1600 ft about sea level.
The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the main tourist attraction in Kandy.It has become the most visited destination in South Asia.
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Kandy perahera or the Kandy Esala Procession is one of the grand festivals which take place in July-August every year.This event attracts thousands of local and foreign visitors.
This temple is possibly the most sacred Buddhist shrine in the world and venerated by Buddhists all over the world.Â
What to see in Kandy city
- The Tooth Relic Temple/Sri Dalada Maligawa
- Museum of the Dalada Maligawa
- Peradeniya Botanical Garden
- National Museum
- Gadaladeniya Temple
- Embekke Dewalaya
- Lankathilaka Viharaya
- Kandy Lake
- Pinnawala elephant orphanage.
- Hindagala Temple
- Royal Palace
- Ambuluwawa Tower
Best time to visit Kandy
December to April is the best time to visit Kandy as the weather is dry and mostly pleasant during this period.During the months of May to October,Sri Lanka experiences monsoon season.
How to get to Kandy
Where are you starting from ? From Colombo?or Negombo or directly from Airport at Katunayak? Whatever it is ,You have several way to get to Kandy.
If you plan to start from the katunayaka Airport ,you can take a bus ,train or a taxi.Take a tuk tuk to get to Katunayaka bus stand.There are also free bus services available for you up to the bus stand.
From Katunayaka bus stand you can take a bus to Kandy or Kurunegala.There are buses directly from Negombo to Kandy.Negombo is a popular tourist destination situated closed to the Airport.
Negombo is one of the very popular beach destinations in Sri Lanka.It is about 20 minutes from Airport to Negombo bus stand.
There are trains from Colombo Fort to Kandy .Traveling from Colombo to Kandy by Train is very cheap and comfortable.Train journey to Kandy is most scenic compired to other options of transportation.
Train journey would take around 3 hours to reach Kandy.
The cheapest way to get to Kandy is to travel in a bus.There are frequent buses running from Colombo city to Kand.Get a bus from colombo Central bus stand or Bastian mawatha bus stand.
Travel time in a bus from Colombo to Kandy would take nearly 4 hours.
For a comfortable journey you can hire a taxi from Katunayaka Airport at a cost of Rs.10000 and this service is available for 24 hours.
The Tooth Relic Temple/Sri Dalada Maligawa
The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple of great veneration by Buddhists.This royal palace complex houses the one of the two surviving relic of the tooth of Buddha.
The Sacred Tooth Relic of The Buddha is kept inside a special shrine on the first floor.
After the demise of the Kingdom of Kandy the palace was transformed into a Buddhist temple.This site has a number of historical and cultural interests, including temples, museums and and buildings used by royal families.There are two museums inside.
 As this is a Buddhist Temple and you will need to wear attire that covers your shoulders and legs.You are supposed to remove your slippers before entering the Palace.
Remember to remove your cap/hat or any head gears when entering the palace.Avoid taking pictures showing your backside towards Load Buddha’s statues.Â
Entrance fee to the Dalada Maligawa for foreign tourists is Rs.1500.
There is a big crowd at the weekend therefore try to make your visit on weekdays.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden
This is the largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka with extent of 57 hectares.You can locate this garden 6 km from Kandy town.
There were lots of historical trees,tropical flora, different varieties of plants,a large collection of rose,orchids,medical herbs and a high variety of local and global plants.
You have to pay Rs.1500 as an entrance fee.
Most visitors come to see the garden after visiting the Temple of the Tooth.But you will find that one day is not sufficient to explore the whole garden.
Walking though The Royal Palm avenue is an amazing and refreshing experience.You have a chance to see a lot of birds and other animals .Anyone would love to see monkeys and bats in large flocks.Make sure to go into the Orchid House and this is a must.
Toilets are available within the park
Gadaladeniya Temple
Gadaladeniya Buddhist Temple is a large stone temple built on a rock situated in Pilimathalawa ,Kandy.This is one of the major attractions in Kandy city.
You can visit this temple on your way to Kandy turning from Pilimathalawa on Colombo Kandy road.It is situated about 12 km to the west of Kandy
It would take around 30 minutes to reach this place.
Embekke Dewalaya
The Embekka Devalaya is a shrine dedicated for worshiping a local deity called Skanda or Katharagama.
It is renowned for its graceful wood carvings of human figures,animals and flowers and a best place to see Sri Lankan old wood carvings.
This Temple is situated in Udunuwara in Kandy and can be reached turning at Pilimathalawa on Colombo-Kandy main road.
Remember to hire a well informed tour guide to this place if you need to learn about this hostorical place.
Lankathilaka Viharaya
This Buddhist temple is an image house constructed as a four story building with bricks on a large rock, situated in Udunuwara of Kandy.Lankathilaka Viharaya houses a large image of Buddha.
According to the history,this belongs to Gampola period.
You can reach this historical place turning off at Pilimathalawa on Colombo-Kandy main road.
Abmbuluwawa Tower
Ambuluwawa Tower is one of the most visited tourist attraction in Kandy.This tower is located on a mountain at Gampola in Kandy.Click to read more about Abmuluwawa Tower.
Important Links
Explore Sri Lanka
- Beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka
- Adventurous water sports
- Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage
- Colombo travel guide
- Trekking and hiking
- Places for whale watching in Sri Lanka
- Fascinating train journeysÂ
- Guide to water falls
- Wild life Sri Lanka
- Traditional arts and crafts
- Guide to see aboriginal people in Sri Lanka
- Guide to buy Gems in Sri Lanka
- Old coins of Sri Lanka
Destinations Guide List
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