Things to Do in Kandy

Sri Lanka's cultural capital, from the Temple of the Tooth to the lake walk, with real prices and timings for every stop.

Kandy is where Sri Lanka keeps its cultural heart, and most travelers meet it in the middle of the classic route: after the Cultural Triangle, before the hill-country train. The city sits at 500 metres in the central hills around its lake, and its headline act is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, home to a relic of the Buddha and the reason the evening drumming ceremony draws a crowd every single night.

The trick to Kandy is pacing. The temple, the lake loop, and the botanical gardens fill a comfortable day and a half, and the evening puja between 6:30 and 8pm is the moment worth planning around. Most couples and first-timers stay one or two nights before catching the famous train toward Ella, and that is about right.

Places worth your time in Kandy

Ambuluwawa Tower — A slender spiral tower crowning the Ambuluwawa biodiversity reserve near Gampola, with a dizzying climb to panoramic views over the central hills.
Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue | Bahirawakanda Buddha — A 26 metre white seated Buddha on a hilltop above Kandy, one of the tallest in the country, with a sweeping view over the city and lake.
Ceylon Tea Museum — A restored old tea factory on Hantana hill turned museum, tracing the story of Ceylon tea through vintage machinery, exhibits and a top-floor tea room with a view.
Degalldoruwa Raja Maha Viharaya | Cave Temple — An 18th century cave temple on the edge of Kandy famous for its vivid Kandyan-era ceiling and wall paintings telling Jataka tales.
Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve — A former plantation on Kandy's southern edge that grew back into dense forest, now the city's watershed and home to rare wildlife, explored on foot with permission.
Ath Gala (Temple Elephant Stable) — Ath Gala, the elephant stable of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, home to the temple's tuskers and the starting point of the Esala Perahera.
Embekka Devalaya — A 14th century shrine celebrated for the finest wood carvings in Sri Lanka, with intricate timber pillars of dancers, wrestlers and mythical beasts in its drummers' hall.
Gadaladeniya Raja maha viharaya — A 14th century stone temple near Pilimatalawa built in a South Indian style, set on a rock outcrop with fine carvings and a moonstone at the entrance.
Galmaduwa Raja Maha Viharaya — An unusual, never-finished temple near Kandy topped with a tower that mixes Buddhist, Hindu and even Gothic-looking arches, unlike anything else on the island.
Hanthana Mountain Range — A scenic range of seven peaks on the edge of Kandy, an environmental protection area laced with trails through grassland, pine and tea, popular for day walks.
Hunas Falls Waterfall — A pretty waterfall in the Elkaduwa hills above Kandy, dropping beside a hotel of the same name, with cool tea-country air and short walks nearby.
Kadugannawa — A hill town on the old Colombo road marked by the Dawson Tower and a national railway museum, at the pass where the British first drove a road into the Kandyan kingdom.
Kandy Lake — A calm artificial lake built in 1807 by the last king of Kandy, ringed by a walking path in the heart of the city, with the Temple of the Tooth on its shore.
Kandy National Museum — A museum beside the Temple of the Tooth in a former royal palace building, holding regalia, weapons and everyday objects from the last Kandyan kingdom.
Arthur's Seat View Point Kandy — A roadside viewpoint on the hills above Kandy giving the classic postcard look down over the lake, the temple and the red-roofed city.
Knuckles Mountain Range — A rugged, UNESCO-listed mountain range northeast of Kandy, named for its knuckle-like peaks, with cloud forest, waterfalls and some of the island's best hiking.
Magul Maduwa Audience Hall — Magul Maduwa, also known as the Audience Hall, is a historic wooden pavilion located near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Built during the reign of the Kandyan Kingdom, this magnificent structure served as a royal gathering place where important ceremonies, official meetings, and traditional events were held by the Kandyan kings.
Museum of the Tusker Rajah — The Museum of the Tusker Rajah is a unique cultural attraction located within the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic complex in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The museum is dedicated to Rajah, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and iconic tuskers, who played a significant role in the annual Esala Perahera procession for many years.
National Railway Museum — The National Railway Museum opened on 27 December 2014, deliberately timed to mark 150 years since the very first Ceylon Railways train pulled out of Colombo Terminus bound for Ambepussa, back on 27 December 1864, with the Duke of Brabant of Belgium riding along as its most notable passenger.
Nelligala International Buddhist Centre — A modern hilltop temple complex ringed by white stupas and Buddha statues, with a 360 degree view over the hills around Kandy that is especially good at sunset.
Old Royal Palace — The Old Royal Palace of Kandy is a historic landmark that served as the residence of the kings of the Kandyan Kingdom, the last independent kingdom of Sri Lanka. Located within the sacred area of Kandy near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the palace complex represents the rich royal heritage, traditions, and architectural achievements of the Kandyan era.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya — One of Asia's finest botanical gardens, spread over 147 acres in a loop of the Mahaweli River, famous for its avenue of royal palms, a giant Javan fig, and an orchid house.
Peradeniya Bridge — Peradeniya Bridge is a historic landmark located in Peradeniya, near Kandy, Sri Lanka, spanning the scenic Mahaweli River. As one of the main gateways connecting Kandy with the western parts of the country, the bridge holds both practical importance and scenic value, offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
Polgolla Dam — Polgolla Dam is a significant hydroelectric and irrigation project located near Kandy, Sri Lanka, built across the Mahaweli River. Officially known as the Polgolla Barrage, it plays an important role in managing water resources by diverting river water for irrigation, power generation, and regional development.
Royal Palace Park - Kandy — Royal Palace Park is a scenic and historic green space located in the heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka, near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Kandy Lake. Once part of the royal grounds of the Kandyan Kingdom, the park offers visitors a peaceful environment surrounded by nature, history, and beautiful views of the city.
Sembuwatte Lake — A serene man-made lake set high in the Elkaduwa tea hills, its still green water framed by pines and mist, with a small park along the shore.
Srī Pattini (Kannaki) Shrine — The Sri Pattini Devalaya in Kandy is dedicated to the goddess Pattini, known in Tamil tradition as Kannaki, one of the few female deities among the four guardian gods honoured in the city's Esala Perahera. Unlike the other three Devales, which are tied to gods associated with protection, prosperity, and worldly success, Pattini holds a distinct place as a goddess linked to chastity, healing, and the curing of disease, her worship woven from both Sinhalese Buddhist and Tamil Hindu tradition.
Sri Dalada Museum — Sri Dalada Museum is an important cultural and religious museum located within the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic complex in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history, traditions, and significance of the sacred temple and the revered Sri Dalada Maligawa, one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world.
Sri Lankathilake Rajamaha Viharaya | Lankatilaka — A striking 14th century temple built on a rock near Kandy, blending Sinhalese and South Indian design, with old murals and a commanding view over paddy fields.
Sri Maha Kataragama Devalaya Kandy — The Sri Maha Kataragama Devalaya in Kandy is one of the four Devales tied to the city's famed Esala Perahera, dedicated to the deity Kataragama, also known as Skanda or Murugan, a guardian god deeply revered by both Buddhists and Hindus across Sri Lanka.
Sri Natha Devalaya Kandy — The Nātha Devāla is a historic shrine located on the terrace in front of the Royal Palace complex in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Tradition holds that the shrine existed even before the arrival of the Tooth Relic in Kandy
Sri Vishnu Devala Kandy — The Maha Vishnu Devalaya is a premier spiritual pillar of Kandy, dedicated to Lord Vishnu as the protective deity of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Rebuilt by King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe, this architectural gem features a distinctive multi-tiered roof and houses the sacred site where the Kap Situveema ritual initiates the Kandy Esala Perahera.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic | Sri Dalada Maligawa — Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist shrine, home to a relic of the Buddha's tooth kept in a golden casket. The nightly drumming and puja draw pilgrims from across the island.
Udawattakele Forest Reserve | Udawatta Kele Sanctuary — A historic forest sanctuary on the ridge behind the Temple of the Tooth, once a royal pleasure garden, now laced with shady trails, giant lianas and birdlife.
Victoria Dam Viewpoint and Victoria Observation Room — A viewpoint over the graceful arch of the Victoria Dam and its vast reservoir, the largest in the country, set in the hills east of Kandy.
Wel Bodhiya — Wel Bodhiya is a peaceful and spiritually significant Buddhist site located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Surrounded by natural beauty and a calm atmosphere, the sacred Bo tree provides a place for devotees and visitors to seek blessings, engage in religious activities, and experience moments of reflection and tranquility.
International Buddhist Museum — A museum in the old High Court building by the Temple of the Tooth, with rooms devoted to Buddhism across many countries, from Thailand to Japan.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Kandy?: One full day covers the Temple of the Tooth, the lake walk, and the evening puja ceremony. Add a second day if you want the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and a slower pace before the hill-country train.
How much does the Temple of the Tooth cost?: Foreign visitors pay LKR 2,000. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and the most atmospheric time to visit is the evening puja between 6:30 and 8pm.
How do I get from Kandy to Ella?: The scenic train is the classic route, with 2nd class reserved seats at LKR 600 booked up to 30 days ahead. Check the current service status first, as the Kandy to Nanu Oya section has been affected by cyclone repairs, with a road transfer bridging the gap.