Kandy attractions - what to see

Directly in Kandy itself, there are not very many attractions to see everything, one full day is enough. To see, including the sights in the vicinity, it is better to plan three full days.

Start exploring the city with a walk around Lake Kandy. Here nearby is the most important attraction-The Temple Of The Tooth of the Buddha, for which most of the tourists come here. After the temple of the tooth, visit the nearby Anglican Church of St. Paul, contrasting its architecture and content with the dozens of Buddhist temples around. Harrison National Museum and cemetery is very close by. Well, if you have enough time, you can walk through the park Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, which is a jungle in miniature in the center of the city. In the evening, you should definitely visit one of the traditional dance shows.

But people come here not only for the sake of attractions in the center. Here is the most beautiful botanical garden of Peradeniya, the Tea Museum, several magnificent and unique temples with a very ancient history. Also from Kandy visit other places of central Sri Lanka, using the city as a base.

As for entertainment, there are very few of them in Kandy, or rather, in the city itself there is nothing for tourists at all. But you can go out of town for trekking in the jungle, take a boat ride on the river, do meditation, or go to one of the two elephant nurseries. All this is offered by local travel agencies, but you can go to the elephant kennels yourself. Evening entertainment in Kandy is not much, just a few bars, mainly along the main street Dalada Vidaya. But there is no great variety, besides, everything closes early. In general, after 10 hours the city is almost all asleep, the streets become empty.

Below is a list of the most popular and interesting attractions and entertainment in Kandy, indicating opening hours, costs, and ways to get to them. You can print this list (pages adapted to print on the printer) and use it as a guide. Our map with attractions is also available for printing. You can customize the map to your needs by disabling the display of unnecessary elements on it, and then print it out.

Attractions within the city of Kandy

• Temple Of The Tooth Of Buddha

  

  Temple Of The Tooth-the main temple of Sri Lanka, which houses a shrine important to Buddhists around the world. The tooth has been kept in Kandy since the city was declared the capital in 1592 (according to another version, it appeared here only in the XVIII century). Many pilgrims flock here all year round to get a little closer to the shrine, since it is almost impossible to see it. The tooth is kept in a sarcophagus of seven stupas, nested one in another, and to see the stupa, you have to stand a huge queue of pilgrims and believers.

  Entrance to the temple for foreigners is paid, 1500 rupees, but it includes a visit to two museums (the World Museum of Buddhism and the Sri Dalada Museum). Before entering, you need to pass a strict security check. They will not be allowed to enter the temple in shorts, trousers or a skirt that does not cover the knees, with open shoulders, in a headdress. At the entrance you will have to take off your shoes and leave them either free of charge in the general pile or in the luggage room for money (200 rupees). And yet, when buying a ticket, you can get a free audio guide, including in Russian, leaving a passport as a deposit. Learn more about the temple of the tooth here...

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: sridaladamaligawa.lk

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 05:30 to 20:00; Museum of Buddhism from 09:00 to 18:00; Sri Dalada museum from 07:30 to 18:00. Puja prayer time when the stupa hall opens– 05:30 -06:45, 09:30 -11:00, 18:30 -20:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 2000 rupees (see currency of Sri Lanka, exchange rate), includes museum visits.

  🚶 How to get there: The Buddha Temple is located in the center of Kandy on the lake (temple on the map). The temple can be seen from any shore of the lake, so once in the center you can easily walk to it.

• Kandy Lake

  

  Artificial lake Kandy (Bogambara Lake) is located in the heart of the city, and is the main tourist area and an independent attraction. It appeared in 1807 on the initiative of the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy – Sri Wickrama Rajasinha. In the center of the lake is a small island, which the King used as a harem, and in colonial times the British stored ammunition in it. Now on the island there is just a mini-park with an alley belonging to the Temple of the Tooth of the Buddha.

  There are paths with shops around the lake, hotels and travel agencies can be found here, and Dalada Vidaya Street begins here, on which tourist services are mainly concentrated. In the North is the main attraction of Kandy-the Temple Of The Tooth of the Buddha, and next to the National Museum. In the water of the lake there are many fish, and even exotic amphibians. Learn more about Lake Kandy here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, but at night it is better for women not to walk around the lake, as crime in Kandy is high.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the lake is in the center of Kandy (Lake on the map).

• Devalee Buddhist temples

  

  It is not for nothing that Kandy bears the title of the spiritual center of Sri Lanka, and it is not only in the main temple of the Tooth of the Buddha. In addition to it, there are still a huge number of Buddhist temples, and each in its own way is important for believers, and unique and interesting for tourists.

  The largest concentration of them is in front of the Temple Of The Tooth of the Buddha, and if you visit it, do not regret the time, and take a leisurely walk here. These temples, called Devalee in Sri Lanka, differ from the usual ones in that they are dedicated to the gods of the followers of the Buddha. Even without the guide's story, you will find many interesting discoveries. For example, you can see how an elephant is taken for a walk, and the locals pass under his belly, as this is considered a good omen. You will see how ordinary believers pray, and monks conduct rituals. Life in these temples boils and does not stop for a minute. Learn more about the temples of Kandy here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: most temples are open from 06:00 to 20:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the largest concentration of temples is located on a large area (Temples Square) directly opposite the entrance to the Temple of the tooth (devalee temples on the map).

• Traditional representation

  

  Every tourist coming to Kandy should see a traditional cultural show. Let's say right away that this is not an enchanting show with a bunch of costumes, beautiful music and an exciting plot. Rather, on the contrary, everything looks very simple, and even somewhat amateurish. But this is not at all because the artists are hackish, but because this is the level of traditional folk performances. But despite this, the show is a must-visit. They take place every day in the evenings in several places in the city in the halls of hotels or special concert halls. The performance lasts about an hour, and in order to understand what is happening on stage, the audience is given booklets describing the plot of the play. Learn more about traditional performances of Kandy here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: shows are held in the evenings after 18 hours, the start time is specified when buying tickets

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 500-1000 rupees. The price sometimes includes drinks and even dinner. Buying/booking tickets usually happens in advance through hotels or distributors on the street. You do not have to look for tickets, you will be offered them very often. After booking by the appointed time you will only have to come to the right place, where they collect tourists and take them to the Hall. Sometimes walking escort from the hotel is included in the price, as it is not easy to find halls for performances.

  🚶 How to get there: the show takes place in different places of the city in hotels and concert halls. When buying/booking a ticket, they will explain in detail where to come, and sometimes even offer an escort from the hotel so that you do not get lost.

• Kandy National Museum

  

  The National Museum of Kandy is the main Historical Museum of the city, telling mainly about the traditions, life and religion of the Sinhalese before the arrival of Europeans on the island, this is the period from the 17th to the 19th centuries. There are really interesting exhibits here, more than 5000 in total, but, unfortunately, the museum is not very popular, and it seems that it is simply forgotten. The lighting is poor, there is no air conditioning, many exhibits are not signed, there is no audio guide. The museum itself is located in the former palace of the King's wives (Palle Vahala).

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday and Monday – closed.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults - 600 rupees; children – 400; Photo/Video-250/2000

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the city center next to the Temple Of The Tooth of the Buddha, very easy to find (Museum on the map).

• St. Paul's Church

  

  Surprisingly, in the spiritual center of the traditional religion of Sri Lanka, you can quite unexpectedly get into the Christian Anglican Church-The Church of St. Paul (Saint Paul's Church). It was built in 1843-1848 of red brick in the traditional colonial neo-Gothic style for the British troops who were stationed in Kandy, and was originally called Garrison Church (Garrison Church). It houses the largest organ of all active churches in Sri Lanka.

  The church is still operating, and anyone can visit it, its doors are always open to guests. Learn more about the church here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, donations are welcome.

  🚶 How to get there: located a couple of minutes walk from the lake and the Temple Of The Tooth (church on the map).

• Harrison Cemetery

  

  At Garrison's old British Cemetery (Garrison Cemetery) in the center Kandy there are 165 graves from the colonial period. All those buried here are British subjects who died between 1817 and 1873, after which it was closed for new burials, as it turned out to be completely filled. For a long time it was abandoned and forgotten, but in 1998 it was restored, tombstones were restored, a fence was installed and even a caretaker was hired. In 2013, this place was visited by Prince Charles.

  Today this place is open to anyone. Here you can walk among the ancient graves and read the names and dates of life of the buried people. Pay attention to the age of the deceased, how many of them are young and children, because at that time, and even in such extreme conditions for Europeans, few lived to 40 years. Learn more about the cemetery here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located on a small hill behind the National Museum, the entrance is through the gate of the former Palace (cemetery on the map).

• Military cemetery

  

  Another cemetery Commonwealth War Cemetery in Kandy can be interesting for tourists. Previously it was called Pitakande Military Cemetery. Soldiers of various nationalities and faiths who died from 1939 to 1945 during the defence of Sri Lanka in World War II are buried here. In total, there are 196 graves, among which are British, Africans, Lankans, Indians, Canadians, Italians and one Frenchman. It may seem strange that the cemetery is considered a landmark, but it is very well maintained and beautiful. There are always fresh flowers on the graves, and often you can see Europeans who have come to honor the memory of their relatives or fellow countrymen. Learn more about the cemetery here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located five kilometers from the center of Kandy, can not get there on foot (cemetery on the map). You can take your own transport, taxi, or bus number 644 from the clock tower near the center. On this bus you need to get to the stop Art Lanka Bus Stop or Gamble, and then walk along the river for one and a half kilometers. It is convenient to combine his visit with a trip to the Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, to the tea museum or to the elephant nursery.

• Udawatta Kele Sanctuary Park

  

  To the north of the lake right in the city is a protected conservation area – rain forest Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuary. It is small, and a walk on it will take from 15 minutes to several hours. There are trails-routes passing between giant trees and exotic vegetation, you can see exotic birds, and of course many monkeys. Do not forget about precautions during walks: hide phones, chains and other items in a backpack, and close the backpack well, as monkeys can even get inside and drag something away. And yet, here are found land leeches. Women are not recommended to walk in the park alone. For orientation at the entrance give a map. Learn more about the park here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: 06:30 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults 660 rupees, children-375, guide - 500

  🚶 How to get there: the forest is located right in the city north of the lake, the entrance to it is a 15-minute walk from the temple of the tooth. to find the entrance, from the lake you need to go along the Main Street Senanayaka Veediya (Kandy-Jaffna Hayway) about 500 meters to the post office. After the post office, turn right and go up the hill on the Udawatta Kale Access Road for about 500 meters until you come to the park checkpoint (Checkpoint / entrance on the map).

• Malwatte Maha Vihara Monastery

  Malwatte Maha Vihara Monastery (also Malwatta Mahavihara) is located right in the center of Kandy on the southern shore of the lake on the site where there were once royal flower gardens. The complex consists of three ancient temples: Sangharaja Temple, Tibbotuwawe Temple (Meda Pansala) and Poyamalu Viharaya. Each of them is a kind of Historical Museum of architecture and history of the monastery, and in some buildings there are really small museums containing valuable exhibits belonging to the founders of the monastery. In the House of the head of the monastery there is a library. If you have enough time, then by all means visit this complex, see and learn a lot of interesting things. If you have only five free minutes, then there is no great point in coming here, because it will seem to you that this is the most ordinary temple. Learn more about here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, donations are welcome.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the center south of the lake (temple on the map).

• Bahirawa Kandy Temple

  

  On one of the hills overlooking the city, you can see a large statue of Buddha sitting in the lotus position. It is visible from almost anywhere in the city, as the statue itself "sees" the whole city in the palm of your hand. This is the Buddhist temple of Bahirawa Kandy with its 27 meter statue. The temple is quite traditional, and would be nothing particularly remarkable if it were not for this largest statue in Kandy, and beautiful views of the city center from a height of 600 meters, which is 100 meters higher than the center itself. But in cloudy weather you should not climb here, the views will be hidden by a haze. Learn more about the temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 200 rupees.

  🚶 How to get there: the temple is located on a hill one and a half kilometers from Kandy lakes (temple on the map). You can get there on foot, but you have to overcome the climb up to 100 meters. If you are on a rented transport, you can get to the very top, next to the temple there is a parking space. The uphill climb starts in front of the police station on Sri Pushpadana Mawatha road and transitions to Bahirawa Kanda Road.

Attractions around Kandy

• Royal Botanic Garden Peradenia

  

  The Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradenia is the largest and most beautiful botanical garden in Sri Lanka. On the territory of 60 hectares there is a huge number of exotic plants, more than 4000 in total: trees, shrubs, flowers, spices. All types of plants are marked with signs, plus a colorful map-guide is issued at the entrance indicating the individual gardens of the park and their features, although only in English. Very interesting is the garden of memorable trees, i.e. plants planted by famous and great people our planet. Try to find here trees planted by Yuri Gagarin and Nicholas II.

  To come to Kandy and not visit the Botanical Garden is simply impossible. They even come here specifically from other resorts, although the easiest way to visit it is from Kandy. Learn more about the Botanical Garden here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: 07:30 – 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults 2000 rupees, children 1000

  🚶 How to get there: the Botanical Garden is located 6 kilometers from the center of Kandy (Botanical Gardens on the map). It is not accessible on foot, but it is easy to get a bus from the clock tower for 15-20 rupees, go very often. A trip by tuk-tuk will cost 700 rupees, by taxi 1500. If time permits, together in the garden you can visit another of the attractions in the vicinity: an elephant nursery, a tea museum or a military cemetery. But all at once in one day you will not be able to see.

• Gadaladenia Viharaya Temple

  

  The name of the temple, Gadaladenia Viharaya, is also spelled Galadadenia. This is an ancient Buddhist temple, built presumably in 1344, i.e. almost 700 years ago! Remarkable not only for its age, but also for its architecture. It was created in traditional South Indian architectural style by architect Ganesvarachari at the invitation of King Bhuvanekabahu IV.

  The temple really looks very ancient and interesting. If you take your time with the inspection, you can see a lot of interesting details outside and inside. In the courtyard of the temple is a small artificial pond with lotuses. Learn more about the temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: donations 300 rupees.

  🚶 How to get there: located 12 kilometers from Kandy (temple on the map). It seems that getting here without your transport is difficult, but in fact you can do it by bus. You need to take bus number 644 near the clock tower in the center of Kandy (the fare costs 44 rupees), and go to the Gadaladenia Junction stop. To find out where to get off, ask the driver to let you know by showing the name of the temple on a piece of paper. When you get off at the bus stop, you need to walk along Gadaladenia Road one kilometer to the temple.

• Embekka Devale Temple

  

  Embekka Devali temple (also Embekke) it is a Hindu temple dedicated to the venerable Mahasen, King of Sri Lanka, who ruled the island in the fourth century. The temple itself dates back to the XIV century. At first glance, it looks very simple: a wooden roof-canopy stands on wooden columns. But if you look closely, you can see its architectural feature-traditional wood carving. The wooden columns depict Swans, Lions, Bulls, elephants and much more. There are more than 120 cut images, and each one is unique. In a modest room there is a statue of the God Kataragama-the Hindu patron saint of Sri Lanka. A very interesting temple, worth a visit. Learn more about the temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 300 rupees.

  🚶 How to get there: located 15 kilometers from the center of Kandy in the village of Ebekka (temple on the map). You can take the bus number 643 from the clock tower AZ 40 rupees. Despite the short distance, the bus goes for an hour. You need to go to the intersection of Embekka Junction, then 15 minutes on foot.

• Lankatilake Temple

  

  Lankatilake Temple is a beautiful and large temple that is both Buddhist and Hindu. It was built in the XIV century initially as a Buddhist, but over time there was a sanctuary of the god Vishnu, dividing the temple into two parts that peacefully coexist. It is located in a very beautiful place on top of a low cliff, from the observation deck of which there are good views of the village surroundings, rice fields and mountains. The structure of the temple itself is quite large, as well as its significance for believers. The architecture is Sinhalese, with admixtures of Indochinese elements. Learn more about the temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 300 rupees.

  🚶 How to get there: located 13 kilometers from the center of Kandy (temple on the map). You can take bus #644 from the AZ 40 rupees clock tower. You need to go to the intersection of Lankatilaka Junction, then 5 minutes on foot.

• Ceylon Tea Museum

  

  Ceylon Tea Museum is located in an old tea factory built in 1925. A small exhibition in the Museum of photographs and documents tells about the founders of the tea industry in Sri Lanka, the British James Taylor and Thomas Lipton. But the most important thing here is not this, but the production of tea. During the tour, they tell and show the process of the appearance of the plant from its planting to packaging. Since the foundation of the factory, there are many old machines left in it, with the help of which tea used to be produced, and they are still in working condition. The visit to the museum ends with a tea party and a tea shop.

  Excursions are conducted in English, unless you are part of an excursion tour from Russian tour operators with a Russian-speaking guide. If you have not yet had time to visit a similar Museum in other places in Sri Lanka, then be sure to come here.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: www.ceylonteamuseum.com

  🕐 Working hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 08:30 to 15:45; Sunday from 08:30 to 15:00; Monday – closed.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults - 800 rupees; children-400

  🚶 How to get there: the Tea Museum is located five kilometers from the center of Kandy (Museum on the map). You can get there only by tuk-tuk, taxi or rented transport.

Places of interest on the map