Kandy

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Sri Dalada Maligawa

Lakefront, centre

A temple complex on the grounds of the former royal palace, housing the Buddha's tooth relic in a gilded stupa-shaped casket. The relic itself isn't visible, but the shrine doors open 3 times a day to the sound of drums as worshippers bring lotus flowers. The complex also holds a museum, the royal audience hall and several other temples.

Tip: Come for the evening puja at 6.30pm, when the temple is most atmospheric and the doors to the casket are opened — queues form half an hour ahead on the first floor. Dress in white or light clothing with long sleeves and trousers; shoes are left at the cloakroom for a small fee. After the main shrine, don't skip the International Buddhist Museum at the rear of the complex.

Admission:

LKR 2,000

Time needed:

1.5–2h

Kandy Lake

Bogambara Wewa

City centre

An artificial lake built in 1807 by the last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, in front of his palace. A 4km promenade runs around it, backed by a thick wall decorated with cloud motifs, with views of the temple and the hills. A small island in the middle once held the king's harem.

Tip: Walk around the lake in the early morning around 7am or in the early evening, when it's cooler and less busy. The best view of the temple and lake is from the Arthur's Seat viewpoint on Rajapihilla Mawatha road above the lake, a 20-minute uphill walk. Hundreds of flying foxes roost in the trees around the lake and take off over the water at dusk.

Admission:

free

Time needed:

1–1.5h

Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Royal Botanical Gardens

Peradeniya, 6km west

One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Asia, spanning 60 hectares in a bend of the Mahaweli River. Founded as a royal garden and expanded by the British in 1843, it has an avenue of royal palms, an orchid collection, a giant Javan fig tree with a canopy of over 2,000m2, and trees planted by famous visitors.

Tip: Allow 3 hours for the whole garden — it's huge. The orchid house is by the entrance, and the giant Javan fig tree stands at the centre of a large lawn. The garden is 6km from Kandy, a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride or reachable by bus. Don't skip the suspension bridge over the river at the rear. Local families and couples come at weekends; on weekdays it's quiet.

Admission:

LKR 3,000

Time needed:

2–3h

Kandyan Dance

By the lake

Traditional Sinhalese dance, once ritual in nature, with fast, acrobatic movements, drumming and costumes of silver and beads. It's performed at festivals and ceremonies, as well as at evening shows for visitors. Performances end with dancers walking across hot coals.

Tip: Performances are held every evening around 5–6pm at the Kandy Lake Club and at the cultural centre by the lake, last an hour, and tickets are bought on site. After the show it's a walk to the Temple of the Tooth for the evening puja. Sit in the front rows — the fire-walking happens outside and is hard to see from the back.

Admission:

from LKR 1,500

Time needed:

1h

Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue

Bahirawakanda Vihara

Hilltop above the city

A white statue of a seated Buddha over 20m tall on a hill above the city, visible from most of Kandy. Beside it is a temple and a viewpoint over the whole city, the lake and the surrounding hills. A steep road or a stairway leads up.

Tip: It's most beautiful at sunset, when the city lights up. A tuk-tuk up costs a few hundred rupees; on foot it's a 20-minute climb up a steep road. Admission is small, and clothing must cover shoulders and knees, with shoes removed. At midday the hot paving burns bare feet — socks help.

Admission:

LKR 500

Time needed:

45min

Udawattakele Forest Reserve

Udawattakele

Above the Temple of the Tooth

A forest reserve on the hill directly above the Temple of the Tooth, a former royal garden once open only to kings. 104 hectares of dense forest with giant trees, vines, birds and monkeys, threaded with trails. It's the quickest escape from the noisy centre into nature.

Tip: The entrance is on the street behind the temple, and the trails are well marked. Morning is best for birdwatching, with over 80 species recorded. Macaques can be bold, so don't carry food where it's visible. Leeches appear on trails after rain, and high socks help. Allow an hour and a half for the loop.

Admission:

LKR 1,000

Time needed:

1.5–2h

Ceylon Tea Museum

Hantana, 4km south

A museum in the former Hantana tea factory, built in 1925, in the hills south of Kandy. It traces the history of Ceylon tea from James Taylor's first plantation in 1867, with old leaf-processing machinery on display. Upstairs is a tea room with hill views.

Tip: Admission includes a tea tasting upstairs with a view. If you're continuing into the hills to Nuwara Eliya, you'll see working factories there with free tours — the museum provides the historical context. Tea here is reasonably priced and better quality than in tourist shops. A tuk-tuk from the centre takes 15 minutes.

Admission:

LKR 1,000

Time needed:

1h

Embekke Temple

Embekke Devalaya

Embekke, 15km southwest

A small 14th-century temple renowned for its wood carving. The audience hall has more than 50 carved pillars depicting dancers, soldiers, wrestlers, lotuses and mythical animals, ranking among the finest examples of Kandyan woodwork. The temple is dedicated to the god Kataragama.

Tip: Embekke is out in the countryside 15km from Kandy, and it's best combined into a 3-temple circuit with Gadaladeniya and Lankatilaka — a half-day tuk-tuk costs LKR 3,000–4,000. Look closely at every pillar, as no two are alike. The route passes rice paddies and villages along the way.

Admission:

LKR 500

Time needed:

45min

Lankatilaka Temple

Lankatilaka Vihara

Hiyarapitiya, 15km southwest

A 14th-century Buddhist temple standing on a rocky outcrop above rice paddies. It combines Sinhalese and South Indian architecture, with a large seated Buddha statue inside and wall paintings. At the rear are shrines to Hindu deities.

Tip: It's part of the three-temple circuit with Embekke and Gadaladeniya, and Lankatilaka offers the best view from its terrace over the surrounding countryside. You climb up onto the rock to reach the temple, so wear shoes that are easy to slip off. The monks here are welcoming and happy to explain the history. A combined trip to all three temples takes 4 hours.

Admission:

LKR 500

Time needed:

45min