Kandy
Sri Lanka's Sacred Cultural Capital
Central Province · 474 m elevation · 115 km from Colombo
Kandy is the cultural and spiritual heartland of Sri Lanka — the last capital of the ancient kings, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to what may be the most sacred Buddhist relic in the world. Set in a bowl of wooded hills at 474 metres elevation, the city wraps around an artificial lake that the last Kandyan king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, ordered built in 1807 as a royal pleasure garden. The lake, the golden-roofed temple beside it, and the surrounding green hills give Kandy an atmosphere of composed grandeur unlike any other Sri Lankan city.
The Kandyan kingdom resisted European colonisation for over 300 years — the Portuguese and the Dutch both failed to capture it. It was only in 1815, under the British, that the kingdom fell, through a combination of military pressure and a treaty with Kandyan chieftains who had grown weary of their own king's cruelties. The British signed the Kandyan Convention in the temple complex itself, promising to protect the Buddhist religion and its institutions — a promise whose interpretation continues to define Sri Lankan politics to this day.
For visitors, Kandy offers the most concentrated encounter with traditional Sinhalese culture anywhere on the island: classical Kandyan dance performances, the sacred tooth relic ceremony, the botanical gardens, hill walks, and authentic cuisine that differs markedly from the coastal cooking most tourists encounter.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The Dalada Maligawa — Temple of the Tooth — is Kandy\'s defining landmark and Sri Lanka\'s most sacred Buddhist site. The tooth relic it houses, believed to have been recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha in 483 BC and brought to Sri Lanka in the hair of a princess, has been the source of political legitimacy for Sinhalese kings for over 1,600 years. Whoever holds the relic holds the right to rule — and this belief has made the temple the target of raids, wars, and colonial attempts at appropriation throughout Sri Lankan history.
The current temple complex was built primarily in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the distinctive octagonal Paththirippuwa (eight-sided tower) added in the early 19th century. The golden-roofed relic chamber is housed in the inner sanctum — a nested series of seven golden caskets, one inside another. The innermost casket is only opened on special ceremonial occasions; at other times, the outer golden karaduwa is displayed at the daily pujas (offerings) at 6:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 6:30 PM. Visiting during a puja, with drumming, white-robed devotees, and the scent of temple flowers, is an extraordinary experience.
Arrive before 8:00 AM on weekdays to avoid the largest queues. Dress modestly — remove shoes before entering, cover shoulders and knees. Photography is permitted in most areas of the temple grounds but restricted inside the inner sanctum.
Top Attractions in Kandy
Kandy Lake (Kiri Muhuda)
The artificial lake at the city's heart, built in 1807 by the last Kandyan king. A shaded 3 km walk around the lake offers views of the temple, the hill forest, and the cloud moods that roll through the valley. The small island in the centre was the king's private bath house.
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
147 acres of extraordinary botanical collection 5 km west of Kandy, established 1821. The avenue of royal palms, the giant Java fig tree, the bamboo collection, and the orchid house are the highlights. Allow 2–3 hours. USD 15 entrance fee.
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
A 104-acre rainforest reserve directly above the temple complex — the former pleasure garden and sacred forest of Kandyan royalty. Short walking trails through dense forest with endemic birds, giant squirrels, and monkeys. Free entry from the gate near the temple.
Kandyan Cultural Dance Performance
Nightly shows (typically 5:30 PM) at several cultural centres near the lake feature all seven forms of traditional Kandyan dance alongside fire walking. The 90-minute performance provides the best accessible introduction to classical Sinhalese performing arts.
Kandy City Market & Food Hall
The covered market behind the bus station is the best place to encounter local produce — jackfruit, rambutan, wood apple, Kandyan spices — and the upstairs food hall serves authentic rice and curry that bears no resemblance to tourist versions.
The Esala Perahera Festival
The Esala Perahera is one of Asia's grandest and oldest festivals — a 10-night procession of decorated elephants, Kandyan dancers, musicians, and traditional standard-bearers that winds through the streets of Kandy each July or August (dates follow the Sinhalese lunar calendar). It is held in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is ceremonially paraded through the city on the back of the Maligawa Tusker — Kandy\'s chief ceremonial elephant — on the final nights.
The procession grows in scale each night, reaching its peak with the grand Randoli Perahera on the final night — typically featuring over 100 elephants, hundreds of dancers, torch-bearers, and thousands of spectators lining the route. The atmosphere combines deep religious devotion with spectacular performance art in a way that is unique in the world.
Hotels in Kandy book up 6–12 months ahead for Perahera week. If you plan to attend, Lanka Travel Bee can arrange Perahera package tours with reserved grandstand seating and accommodation — contact us early in the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy?
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) houses what is believed to be a tooth of the Buddha, brought to Sri Lanka from India in the 4th century AD. It is the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka and one of the most revered in the world. The golden-roofed temple complex sits beside Kandy Lake and is open daily. Entrance fee is LKR 1,500 for foreign visitors. Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is required.
When is the Esala Perahera festival in Kandy?
The Esala Perahera is held annually in July or August (dates follow the lunar calendar). The festival runs for 10 nights with nightly processions of decorated elephants, Kandyan dancers, drummers, fire performers, and flag bearers through the streets of Kandy. The final Randoli Perahera night is the grandest. Accommodation books up months in advance — plan well ahead if visiting during this period.
How far is Kandy from Colombo and Negombo?
Kandy is 115 km from Colombo (approximately 2.5–3 hours by road via the E01 expressway and A1 highway) and 130 km from Negombo (about 3 hours). The train from Colombo Fort to Kandy takes 2.5–3 hours and passes through pleasant hill scenery — a good option for a relaxed journey.
What is the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens?
The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, 5 km west of Kandy, cover 147 acres along a loop of the Mahaweli River. Established in 1821 by the British, they contain over 4,000 plant species including a famous avenue of royal palms, a bamboo collection, orchid house, and the great Java fig tree — a single tree covering 2,500 square metres. Entrance is USD 15 for foreign visitors. Allow 2–3 hours.
Is Kandy worth visiting for one day?
Yes — one full day covers the essentials: the Temple of the Tooth (morning, before crowds), a walk around Kandy Lake, a visit to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, and a Kandyan cultural dance performance in the evening. Two nights is ideal if you want to include Udawatta Kele forest, the Tea Museum at Hantane, or a Kandy cooking class.
Explore Kandy with Lanka Travel Bee
Kandy is a highlight of our Cultural Triangle, Classic Sri Lanka, and Hill Country tours. We arrange temple visits at the right times, cultural show tickets, and Perahera packages.