By rail
Kandy station, ~2.5–3 h from Colombo
Indian Ocean Islands · Sri Lanka
Kandy, Sri Lanka
The Temple of the Tooth by a hill-country lake
Getting there
By air
Bandaranaike International (CMB), ~3 h by road
Best time to visit
January to April — dry and pleasant; the Esala Perahera is in July or August
Don't miss
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Kandy Lake
The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
The Bahirawakanda Buddha
Things to do
The evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth
The Royal Botanical Gardens
A Kandyan dance show
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: A.Savin · FAL
What to pack
White or modest clothing for the temple
A quieter corner
Udawattakele forest reserve behind the lake
Questions travellers ask
When should I visit Kandy?
January to April is dry and pleasant. For the Esala Perahera, come in July or August.
What should I wear to the Temple of the Tooth?
White or modest clothing. Try to be there for the evening puja.
How do I get to Kandy from Colombo?
The train to Kandy station takes about 2.5–3 hours from Colombo. By road, it's about 3 hours from Bandaranaike International (CMB).
Beyond the temple, what's worth doing in Kandy?
Walk around Kandy Lake, visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and the Bahirawakanda Buddha, and catch a Kandyan dance show. For a hidden gem, try Udawattakele forest reserve behind the lake.
About Kandy
- Hills
- Lakeside
Where it is
Kandy lies in the hills of Central Province, Sri Lanka, at about 500 m, beside Kandy Lake and near a great loop of the Mahaweli River, north-east of Colombo.
History
Kandy was the capital of the last independent kingdom of Sri Lanka, which held out in the hills against the Portuguese and the Dutch for more than two centuries. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic was built beside the royal palace to house the island's most revered Buddhist relic, and the kingdom passed to the British in 1815. The sacred city was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
People
Kandy's people speak Sinhala and Tamil, and the town is home to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. Kandyan dance, with its drummers and richly costumed dancers, is native to the area, and each July or August the Esala Perahera fills the streets with dancers, drummers and decorated elephants.
Known for
- The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- The Esala Perahera procession
- Kandy Lake
- The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya
- Kandyan dance and drumming
Did you know?
By tradition, whoever held the Sacred Tooth Relic held the right to rule the island, which is why the relic moved with the royal capital until it came to rest in Kandy.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.