Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka. It is also a very busy city, so you can quickly become overwhelmed. Still, Kandy is worth a visit, and we think the city should be given a little more credit than just the base for the world-famous train ride from Kandy to Ella. Explore Sri Lanka’s cultural capital with these 12 things to do in Kandy.
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1. Botanical gardens
The Kandy Botanical Gardens are the number one thing to do in Kandy. They are technically in the village next to Kandy, Peradeniya. Yet you can get here from Kandy by tuktuk in just 15 minutes. Admission to the botanical gardens in Kandy costs LKR 3,000 (€10) per person. For this money, the flowers and plants are well maintained, so as far as we’re concerned, it’s worth it.
You can take a lovely stroll around the botanical gardens in Kandy. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and clear your head. You will spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours at the botanical gardens.
2. An evening watching dancers at the Kandy Lake Club
For a fun afternoon, be sure to visit the Kandy Lake Club. Daily at 5 p.m., the show starts with dozens of dancers performing the 14 traditional Sri Lankan dances. It is fascinating to see the traditional clothes and passion in these dancers. The show lasts just over an hour. Buy a ticket for 3,500 LKR (€11.50) per person.
Make sure you go to the “real” Kandy Lake Club and don’t let tuktuk drivers change your mind. This is because at this original dance show, they do not get a commission for bringing you here. They do get a commission at other dance shows, but those dance shows are by far not as good as at the Kandy Lake Club. This is the Google Maps location where you should go.
3. Take a multi-day hike from Kandy at Knuckles
Knuckles Forest Reserve is a vast nature reserve northeast of Kandy. In Knuckles you can do some wonderful hiking and there is quite a bit of adventure to be had. You can choose to do a one-day hike, but then you will be traveling back and forth a lot on that day. We recommend booking a multi-day trek, with one of the nice guides. Read our extensive blog on Knuckles Forest Reserve for more information, the guides contact information, what to expect and more.
4. Temple of Tooth in Kandy
The Temple of Tooth, known to Sri Lankans as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a must visit in Kandy. In fact, this temple is said to contain the canine tooth of Buddha. Therefore, for many Buddhists, this is a very important place to visit in Kandy. The Temple of Tooth in Kandy consists of two floors, both of which you can visit. On the lower floor you will find the place where the rituals are performed. If you then go upstairs, you will pass by the room – made entirely of gold – where Buddha’s tooth lies. It is incredibly crowded here though so you will have to queue for a long time to get a glimpse of this.
Three times a day Buddhist rituals take place at the Temple of Tooth. Around sunrise, at 05:30, in the morning at 09:30 and in the evening at 18:30. It is most special to visit the Temple of Tooth during these rituals. There is music and the locals wear beautiful clothes. Dress appropriately yourself: long pants or skirt (at least over the knees) and shoulders covered.
You can choose to buy only an entrance ticket, but there are also several guides ready to provide you with interesting information about the temple and, of course, Buddha’s tooth.
5. Walk around Kandy Lake
Hiking is also possible in Kandy itself. Kandy Lake is in the middle of the city and is the perfect place for locals and tourists to take a walk around. Especially early in the morning or late at night (when it’s not so hot) you’ll encounter many hikers. Halfway through, grab some food or coffee at one of the nice restaurants around Kandy Lake: Roots ‘n’ Beans, Buono or The Empire Cafe.
6. Ambuluwawa Tower
Just under an hour’s drive from Kandy stands the Ambuluwawa Tower. This fascinating tower stands on top a mountain, overlooking the nature of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. It is a narrow tower, getting narrower the higher you climb it. For those travelers who are afraid of heights, it can be quite a challenge to get all the way to the top. This is because you have to pass each other in a very small area, which can be scary, as well as dangerous.
Yet it is also just really nice to see the Ambuluwawa Tower. It is a special and beautiful tower, which Sri Lankans have made quite a happening. For example, around the corner you can have a nice coffee at Java Coffee, you can swing (like on the Bali swing) overlooking the mountains and there is even a climbing course. It’s a nice outing for half a day or when you’re on your way to Nuwara Eliya by tuktuk. In that case, you might also consider driving on to Kitulgala, Sri Lanka’s outdoor paradise where you can have fun rafting.
7. Pekoe Trail stage 1
The Pekoe Trail is a 300-kilometer hiking trail through the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It is an insane trek of 22 stages that takes you right through the nature and tea fields of Sri Lanka. The Pekoe Trail starts in Kandy, where the first stage is. From here you hike in 22 stages, via Hatton, Horton Plains and Ella, to Nuwara Eliya. You can also choose – as we did – to hike a separate stage in one day. For example, we hiked Pekoe Trail stage 1 from Kandy, stages 15 and 16 in Ella and stage 22 in Nuwara Eliya. Follow the orange dots and arrows on the trees along the route and also download the Pekoe Trail App to be sure.
8. Kandy Municipal Central Market
The local market in Kandy is one like you see all over Asia: chaotic, hot, crowded and sometimes (a little) dirty. Yet it is also quite special to see where the locals do their shopping and what the customs are at the market. So be sure to visit the Kandy Municipal Central Market when you are in Kandy!
9. Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya: viewpoint on Kandy
For the best view of Kandy, walk all the way to the top of Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya. Here stands a large white Buddha, and you look across the city. Especially early in the morning or at sunset, it’s a fun activity in Kandy.
10. Perahera Esala festival in Kandy
Will you be in Kandy in August? Then you may be in luck. Every August for 10 days, the Perahera Esala festival is held in Kandy. This is a festival held especially for the tooth of Buddha (the same one that lies in the Temple of Tooth). For 10 days there are celebrations and parades. Here, dozens of decorated elephants also walk along, recruited especially for the Perahera Esala Festival.
As a result, these elephants are mistreated throughout their lives. They are “trained” to listen to and obey humans. It’s tradition in Sri Lanka, but as far as we’re concerned, that’s no excuse to mistreat and confine elephants all their lives for this. Whether you visit the Perahera Esala festival in Kandy or not, there is little you as a tourist can do to change this unfortunately.
11. Train journey from Kandy to Ella
This, of course, is what Kandy is really known for: the world-famous train ride from Kandy to Ella. The full train trip takes 7 hours, but we recommend taking the train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya station). This is because in Nuwara Eliya you can also do some fun activities. After this, you can then continue by train from Nuwara Eliya to the lovely mountain village Ella. This is also the best part of the train journey. Read all about the train journey from Kandy to Ella, where to book tickets, which side of the train to sit on and what about food and drinks.
Traveling through Sri Lanka with your own tuktuk? For an extra fee you can choose to have your tuktuk transported by the rental company (tuktukrental.com) so you can take the train. This way you have the best of both worlds: driving your own tuktuk through Sri Lanka, which is really fantastic and experiencing the world famous train ride. You can easily arrange this through tuktukrental.com.
12. Feet off the floor at the Hideout Lounge.
Looking for coziness in Kandy? Then be sure to stop by the Hideout Lounge. There is often live music here in the evenings and a few times a week the music keeps banging until the early hours. The food is tasty and so are the drinks 🙂
So plenty of activities to keep you entertained in Kandy. Hopefully, after reading this blog, you have got answers for what things to do in Kandy.
Using the accommodations below that we have selected especially for you based on value for money, book a hotel in Kandy in advance.
