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Sri Lanka · Central Province

Kandy travel guide

The Temple of the Tooth and the gateway to tea country

The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Photo: Ernest Jourdier, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

11h 15mflight from London
CMBnearest main airport
27° in Aprwarmest month
23° in Jancoolest month

Kandy is the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, set around a lake in the hills. The Temple of the Tooth holds the island's most sacred Buddhist relic.

It's the starting point for the famous train ride to Ella, and the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens are among Asia's finest.

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What Kandy is known for

  • Temple of the Tooth

    The Buddha's tooth relic.

  • Botanic gardens

    Royal gardens at Peradeniya.

  • The hill country train

    To Nuwara Eliya and Ella.

  • Kandyan dance

    Drums and fire walking.

Top things to do in Kandy

  1. 1

    The Temple of the Tooth

    Go for the evening puja.

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  2. 2

    Peradeniya Botanic Gardens

    Orchids and a giant fig.

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  3. 3

    A Kandyan dance show

    An hour of drumming and dance.

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  4. 4

    Kandy Lake

    A walk around the lake.

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Where to stay in Kandy

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Best time to visit Kandy

Best value: Apr, Jul, Sep, Nov. January to April: dry and pleasant. July or August for the Perahera.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
22.9 C23°J23.9 C24°F25.7 C26°M26.9 C27°A26.4 C26°M25.7 C26°J25.5 C26°J25.6 C26°A25.7 C26°S25.3 C25°O24.3 C24°N23.4 C23°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Kandy, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 11h 15m from London to CMB, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Walk the centre. Tuk-tuks for everything else.

Airport transfer to Kandy

Find flights to Kandy (CMB)

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Good to know

  • Book train seats to Ella well in advance.
  • Wear white to the temple if you can.
  • Traffic is heavy at rush hour.
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Kandy FAQ

How many days in Kandy?

One or two days.

When is the Perahera?

July or August, by the moon.

More places in Sri Lanka

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