Kandy
Kandy is the cultural soul of Sri Lanka. Set among cool misty hills at 500 metres above sea level and centred on a serene lake, the last royal capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka has a different atmosphere from the coastal cities — more ceremonial, more measured, more rooted in living Buddhist tradition. It's also the gateway to the famed hill country rail journey and the tea estate landscapes that define Sri Lanka's highlands.
Sri Dalada Maligawa — Temple of the Tooth Relic
Sri Dalada Maligawa is Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist site — the temple that houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha, which has been venerated on the island since the 4th century CE. The golden-roofed complex beside Kandy Lake is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Asia. Visitors can enter the outer courtyard and, during puja (offering ceremony) times — typically at dawn, midday, and evening — watch worshippers bringing flowers and joining in devotional chanting.
The temple complex also houses an excellent museum tracing the history of the tooth relic and the Kandyan kingdom. The gilded dagoba atop the inner shrine, visible from across the lake, is Kandy's defining visual icon.
UNESCO inscribed the Sacred City of Kandy, including the temple and its surroundings, as a World Heritage Site in 1988 — one of eight such designations in Sri Lanka. Read the UNESCO profile.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
About six kilometres west of Kandy city centre, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya are among the finest tropical botanical gardens in Asia — 60 hectares of immaculate grounds established in 1821 during the British colonial era. The approach along the Avenue of Royal Palms is immediately impressive. Beyond it lie an orchid house with hundreds of species, a giant Javan fig tree (over 150 years old) that covers nearly a quarter of an acre, spice and medicinal plant gardens, and sweeping lawns with views over the Mahaweli River. A half-day here is time very well spent.
Kandy Lake
Kandy Lake was created in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last King of Kandy, by flooding a former paddy field area. The artificial lake at the centre of the city is now a tranquil focus for an evening walk. The path around the lake (about 3.5 km) passes the Temple of the Tooth's lakeside facade, traditional cloud-white cloud walls (called Walakulu walls — their cloud-pattern silhouette is unique to Kandy), and the lakeside promenade where Kandyans gather at dusk. The lake's small island, originally used as the king's private bathing place, can be seen from the shore.
Kandyan Cultural Show
The traditional Kandyan dance performance held each evening at several cultural centres around the city is a genuine highlight. Kandyan dance is UNESCO-recognized as an intangible cultural heritage — a percussive, acrobatic, vividly costumed art form that reached its apex during the Kandyan kingdom. Performances typically last 45–60 minutes and include multiple dance styles: Kohomba Kankariya (the ritual dance-drama), Ves dance (the highest form of Kandyan dance), fire-walking, and plate-spinning. The elaborate headdresses and costumes are remarkable up close.
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
Directly behind the Temple of the Tooth, Udawatta Kele is a forest reserve of 104 hectares within the city — a startlingly wild patch of jungle a short walk from the temple complex. The forest contains several meditation hermitages used by Buddhist monks, and it's a good birdwatching spot with Layard's parakeet, brown-capped babbler, and various other endemics. Monkeys (toque macaques) are common throughout. A peaceful morning walk is easily arranged without a guide.
Tea Factories Near Kandy
The tea estates begin almost at Kandy's doorstep and intensify as you head further into the hills toward Nuwara Eliya and Ella. Several tea factories within 30–45 minutes of Kandy offer guided tours of the production process — from the withering of freshly picked leaves through rolling, fermentation, and drying, to the final grading and packing. Ceylon tea is world-famous for good reason, and tasting it at source is a pleasure.
Getting to Kandy
Kandy is approximately 115 km from Colombo. The train from Colombo Fort station takes about 2.5–3 hours and is one of Sri Lanka's classic rail journeys, climbing steadily into the hills. Buses from Colombo's Bastian Mawatha bus stand are faster (roughly 2–2.5 hours on the intercity express). By car or tuk-tuk the journey is 2.5–3 hours depending on traffic. From Kandy, the iconic scenic train continues to Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, and Ella.