The ancient kingdom of Kandy is the fourth populous city in Sri Lanka and is a major cultural and religious hub located in the central hills of the country. You can visit Kandy as a day trip from Colombo OR better yet as a stop on a multi-day tour around the country. Regardless of how you choose to visit Kandy, this post will ensure you are informed on not only things to do with one day in Kandy but also all the important things to know about visiting the capital of the hills.
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Table of Contents
A Brief Introduction to Kandy
Kandy was the 8th and last kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka. It was founded in the late 15th century. The kingdom held out against foreign invaders until 1815, until it finally fell to the British. Kandy is located in a very strategic area of the country and this was one of the main reasons why the colonizers were not able to get to Kandy prior to 1815. Situated in the central hills of Sri Lanka, getting to Kandy was quite difficult back in the day as you had to travel via dense jungle and several mountain passes.
Today, Kandy is considered the capital of the hill country and is one of Sri Lanka’s most important and large cities after Colombo. Back in the day, Kandy used to have it’s own governing system and laws. Even today, Kandyans are proud of their culture and make sure that they preserve it. In addition to laws, they also have their own architecture, clothing, food, jewelry, furniture and even certain words.
A visit to this ancient kingdom of Kandy, even for one day is well worth your time during your visit to Sri Lanka.
How to Get to Kandy
By Car
Regardless from where in the country you are coming from, traveling by car is the most convenient and fastest way to get to Kandy. You can either hire a taxi for the day or book a private transfer.
We used Prime Taxi and had a good experience overall.
If you are coming from Colombo, you can either take the express way or the regular road. The express way is actually longer from a mileage standpoint but can be faster. It really depends on the time of day and the day itself. Check on Google Maps before you hit the road.
By Tuk-Tuk
You could potentially hire a tuk-tuk to bring you to Kandy as well. If you are doing this, you may have to arrange for it the day prior with a tuk-tuk driver. Don’t depend on finding a tuk-tuk via an app or from the street the day of. If you are coming from Colombo, the journey may take 4 +hours (tuks can’t go as fast as cars). Alternatively, you can also hire a tuk-tuk and drive it yourself. This mode is fast becoming popular with tourists, however, unless you are used to driving in chaos, I personally would not do it.
With only one day in Kandy, you maybe wasting time with this option.
By Bus
There are several direct buses that go to Kandy from Colombo throughout the day. The easiest way to catch the bus would be to go to the main bus station in Fort and then hop on either the Kandy or Badulla bus. It may take around 4 hours to get to Kandy from Colombo
If you are coming from Sigiriya, you will have to catch a bus to Dambulla and then catch a bus from Dambulla to Kandy.
You can also find air conditioned buses that go from Colombo to Dambulla. You will need to book these in advance. Checkout an option HERE. I recommend these over the public bus.
With only one day in Kandy, If you are taking the bus, I recommend that you take an early morning bus so that you have time to spend in the city.
By Train
Coming by train is one of the best options as it avoids traffic. At around 3 hours, it can also be the fastest option sometimes. You can book a first class air conditioned ticket, 2nd class reserved or unreserved ticket or a 3rd class reserved or unreserved ticket. There are several trains that go from Colombo to Kandy throughout the date but note that not all trains will have a 1st class carriage. I would avoid the 3rd class unreserved option. Also note that only the 1st class carriage is air conditioned. 2nd and 3rd class are not.
HERE is the train schedule.
Getting Around Kandy
If you got to Kandy by public transport, then you can easily use tuk-tuks or taxis to get around. You can book these via Uber or the local ride-share app called PickMe.
Tips for Spending One Day in Kandy
- Kandy is also called Nuwara or Maha Nuwara in Sinhala.
- There is a lot of traffic in Kandy. While you absolutely can visit Kandy as a day trip from Colombo, I recommend you stay at least one day in Kandy, preferably overnight.
- If you are coming by train, book your ticket early, especially if you want an air conditioned compartment (and trust me, you would want it!)
- If you spending one day in Kandy as a day trip, and want to see everything I have listed in this things to do post, then I recommend that you start your day early.
- If you are visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic, then you need to dress a little conservatively. You can always carry a shawl and wrap but remember no shoulders or knees can be exposed for any gender. Also, locals will wear white or light colored clothing if you would like to do the same but this is not required per se.
See all my important tips for visiting Sri Lanka HERE!
Things to Do with One Day in Kandy
Walk Around the Lake
The Kandy Lake is a man-made lake built by the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. It was built right next to the Temple of the Tooth. One of the best views of the temple in my opinion is from the opposite side of the lake. Especially early morning when the reflection of the temple hits the stillness of the lake. The lake is about 3.2 kilometers in circumference, so you can walk all of it or some of it but definitely walk the section opposite the temple for some beautiful pictures. At the section next to the Temple is a white building. This was the bathing house of the queen of the last king. When the British took over, they added another floor and made it into a library. Today, it’s used by the Sri Lankan police.
Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic
Visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic is the best thing you can do in Kandy and is the one site I recommend that you visit if you only have one day in Kandy.
History
This temple houses a tooth relic belonging to the Buddha. This relic was brought to Sri Lanka from India in the 3rd century AD and has been housed in many locations across the country. Since ancient time, the relic has been the symbol of sovereignty and protection in the country. It was passed down from sovereign to sovereign for over 1700 years as it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.
Today, the relic is housed in the Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth Relic. The present temple was built in the early 1700s. There were 3 other temples built in Kandy prior to today’s temple that were destroyed by the Portuguese, Dutch or natural causes. Next to the temple is the royal residence that was built in the 14th century.
Visiting the Dalada Maligawa
The temple has 3 thevawa’s or services daily. These usually draw larger crowds. Below are the times of these services. Depending on your interest, you may want to either avoid these times or go during these times.
- Morning service – 5:30 AM – 7 AM
- Mid-day service – 9:30 AM to 11 AM
- Evening service – 6:30 PM to 8 PM
There are four main buildings that you should visit in this complex:
- The Temple – The 2 storied building as you enter through a beautiful corridor with murals is the place where the relic is kept. You can go to the upper chamber and take a peek but the doors are usually locked unless it’s during service times. The relic itself is not exposed unless there is an exposition which does not happen often.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of the tooth relic, there is a small museum depicting the story through a series of murals.
- Magul Maduwa – This royal audience hall is one of the most significant buildings in Sri Lankan history. It was here that the British took over the country in 1815. It was also used for various trials of those who opposed British rule.
- Royal Residence – Built in the 14th century, the old royal residence is now a museum showcasing various artifacts from pre-historic Sri Lanka and most importantly from the Kandyan era.
- Museum – If you have the time, the museum is also worth a gander. It’s located at the lower palace. However, If you are planning on doing the other things listed on this one day in Kandy post, then you may have to cut this one out.
Annual Perahara
Every year, since ancient times, the tooth relic is paraded through the streets during the month of July. This event is called the Esala Perahara. Today, it’s really a replica of the relic that gets paraded but the parade is full of dances, drummer and pageantry. The replica of the tooth relic is placed inside a casket and paraded through the streets by a tusker, while drummers, dances and fire eaters perform ahead of the tusker’s path. You can witness what is considered one of the oldest recorded parades in the world if you visit Kandy in July. However, note that this parade draws thousands of people from across the country and you will have to book your lodging etc. ahead of time. You would also have to spend more than one day in Kandy if you are coming to watch the perahara.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Located about 6 kilometers west of Kandy is Peradeniya. This town is know for 2 things – The University and its beautiful botanical garden. It is said that the origins of the botanical garden dates back to the 1300s when one of the Kandyan king’s held his court at Peradeniya and built a temple in this location. In the 1800s a British governor turned this place into the botanical gardens we see today. The garden has over 4000 specifies of plants and is known for its beautiful and colorful orchids.
You have to buy tickets at the entrance. Also get a map as the gardens are huge.
Embekke Devalaya
About 10 kilometers from the botanical gardens is a small temple called Embekke Devalaya. The temple was built in the 14th century by a sinhala king and is well known for its wood carvings. These wood carvings are some of the finest in Sri Lanka so much so that we even learned about them in school. The carvings consist of mythical creatures, florals and various patterns. They really are quite exquisite and I think Embekke is worth your time, especially if you are an art lover.
Lankathilaka Viharaya
Close by to Embekke is another ancient temple called Lankathilaka Viharaya. It’s built on top of a natural rock and you can see some nice views of the surrounding areas from here. The temple has a structure that you may not see at other temples around the country. It was built in the 14th century by a south Indian architect and incorporates design elements from Polonnaruwa as well as Indo-Chinese and Dravidian styles. Check out the image house and the rice storage bins called an atuwa.
There is one more temple you can see close by and it’s called Gadaladeniya. But, if you have temple fatigue, then head back to Kandy
Watch a Dance Show
Sri Lanka has several traditional dance forms. Kandyan dancing is perhaps the most prominent. A really good way to witness Kandyan dancing is to watch a show. Kandyan dancing compromises of traditional drums, costumes and dance forms.
You can witness Kandyan dancing at Kandy Lake Club Dance. See HERE for more details.
With More Time in Kandy
Ambaluwawa Tower
If you have more than one day in Kandy, checkout the nearby Ambuluwawe Tower. The tower is located about 26 kilometers or about an hour away from Kandy. This tower sits on top of a mountain and is about 55 meters high. It is one of the best places to see a panoramic view of the Kandy area and surroundings.
The tower is unique because it tapers on the way up. It’s fast becoming a very popular place in Sri Lanka. Check out more HERE.
Tours in Kandy
With only one day in Kandy and with a few things to do, you may want to look into some tours to make the best of your time and to really immerse yourself in the history. Here are some options:
Where to Stay in Kandy
If you are a regular reader, you know how much I love booking.com. I’ve used booking.com to book my accommodation for 10 years or so now and have booked accommodation at over 50 countries at least. What I love most about booking is that you can set your filters to look for the facilities and amenities that you want. Plus you can book options with free cancellation and the more you book with them, the more discounts that you get.
Ru Boutique
I stayed at Ru Boutique Hotel in Kandy. I wanted to showcase different accommodation options in Sri Lanka during my visit and wanted to stay in a small boutique hotel. This hotel is located just above the lake and has great lake views. The rooms were spacious and the entire place was beautifully decorated showcasing a lot of traditional Kandyan furniture and artifacts. The staff were very friendly and welcoming!
See HERE.
Mahawali Reach Hotel
Another really great hotel option is the Mahawali Reach hotel. This hotel is a Kandy classic! Located next to the Mahawali River (the longest river in Sri Lanka), this hotel is a beautiful example of not just Kandyan architecture but also Kandyan hospitality. They have a large pool and regally decorated rooms. I have stayed at Mahawali Reach Hotel before and cannot recommend them enough. Also, try one of their local cocktails that they make using Sri Lankan flavors. So good!
See HERE!
Where to Go from Kandy?
If you are looking to extend your trip from Kandy, then you could explore the options i have listed below. Note that technically, you can also visit these options from Kandy as day trips if you are spending more than one day in Kandy.
Dambulla
Dambulla is the largest cave temple system in Sri Lanka dating back to the 3rd century BC. Today, you can visit these caves where you will see beautiful murals depicting the life story of the Buddha as well as 100+ statues of the Buddha in various positions and postures.
Sigiriya
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sigiriya is perhaps one of the most visited historic sites in Sri Lanka. You cannot Google Sri Lanka without seeing this distinct rock in the results. This rock has a very interesting story, one that is over 1500 years old. This is the one historic site I definitely recommend that you visit. If you love to hike, check out the nearby Pidurangala Rock for the best views of Sigiriya.
Check out my detailed post on Sigiriya HERE!
Nuwara Eliya
Sitting at 1868 meters, Nuwara Eliya is the highest city in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is well known for cool temperatures, beautiful flower gardens, waterfalls and tea plantations. There are about 3 different ways to get to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy and they are all very scenic.
Ella
Taking the train from Kandy to Ella is one of the most popular things you can do in Sri Lanka. This train ride is actually considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world! Also, the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and this train ride is one of the best ways to see it! I highly recommend going to Ella either from Kandy or from elsewhere during your visit to Sri Lanka.
The Hills
In addition to Ella and Nuwara Eliya, you can also visit other towns in the hills from Kandy. Places like Hatton, Thalawakalle and Badulla are all beautiful towns in the hill country of Sri Lanka.
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