Temple of the ToothUNESCO World HeritageEsala Perahera

Kandy

The last capital of the Sinhalese kings, wrapped around a lake in the hills, and home to Buddhism's most venerated relic.

Tours that go here
When to go
Comfortable year-round at around 500 metres. The Esala Perahera, the country's largest festival procession, falls in July or August and transforms the city — book far ahead if you want to be there for it.
How long to stay
One or two nights.
Getting there
Around three hours from Colombo by road, or a scenic train from Colombo Fort. It is the natural hinge between the Cultural Triangle and the hill country, which is why almost every tour stops here.

What it is

Kandy held out as an independent kingdom long after the coastal lowlands had fallen to the Portuguese and the Dutch, and only came under British control in 1815. That late independence is why so much survives here, and why the city still feels like the cultural centre of the country rather than a provincial capital. The old royal quarter and the lake at its centre are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Sri Dalada Maligawa houses a tooth of the Buddha, brought to the island in the fourth century. Possession of the relic was historically tied to the right to rule, which is why it sits beside the old palace rather than in a monastery.

Try to be there for a puja, when the chamber holding the relic casket is opened and the drummers play. These happen at fixed times morning, midday and evening. Dress covers shoulders and knees, and shoes come off before you enter.

Around the city

The lake was made by the last king in 1807 and the path around it is the pleasantest walk in Kandy, particularly at dusk. Above it, the Bahirawakanda Buddha statue gives the standard view over the rooftops.

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, a short drive out, are the finest in the country — 60 hectares laid out around a loop of the Mahaweli river, with an avenue of palms and an orchid house. Evening cultural shows in town present Kandyan dance and drumming, and end with fire walking.

What not to miss in Kandy

The things worth building a day around.

  • Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

    The country's most important Buddhist site. Go for a puja.

  • Kandy Lake

    Made by the last king in 1807. The walk around it is best at dusk.

  • Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

    Sixty hectares in a river bend, a short drive from the city.

  • Kandyan dance

    Evening shows of drumming, dance and fire walking.

  • Esala Perahera

    July or August. Elephants, dancers and torchlight over ten nights.

Our tours that visit Kandy

Read straight from the itineraries, so this stays true when a tour changes.

Common questions

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How long should I spend in Kandy?

A night is enough for the Temple of the Tooth and the lake. Two lets you add Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and a cultural show without compressing the day.

What should I wear to the Temple of the Tooth?

Shoulders and knees covered, and shoes removed before entering. White is traditional but not required of visitors. Wraps can be borrowed or bought at the entrance if you arrive unprepared.

When is the Kandy Esala Perahera?

It falls in July or August, set by the lunar calendar, and runs for around ten nights, building to the largest processions at the end. Accommodation in the city books out months ahead.

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