Sri Lanka / Kandy & the Hill Country / KandyKandy
Last Royal Capital and the Temple of the Tooth
The hill capital of the last Sinhalese kings, round a lake 500 m up. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a UNESCO site, holds Sri Lanka's most revered Buddhist relic; the evening puja with drums is the time to go. The Peradeniya botanical gardens, a Kandyan dance show and the spice and tea country round about fill two days. In July-August the Esala Perahera brings ten nights of elephant processions and the town fills up.
Highlights
- Evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth
- Walk round Kandy Lake
- Peradeniya botanical gardens
- Kandyan dance and fire-walking show
- View from Arthur's Seat or the Bahirawakanda Buddha
- Spice garden and tea factory visits
- Esala Perahera (July-August)
- Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and Embekke temples
Things to do
- Temple of the Tooth evening pujaEvening · 2h
- Royal Botanical Gardens, PeradeniyaMorning · 3h
- Kandyan dance showEvening · 1h
- Kandy Lake walk and Bahirawakanda viewpointAfternoon · 2h
- Three-temples loop (Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka, Embekke)Morning · 3h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: January – April
Heads up
Inter-Monsoon Storms
October and November bring thunderstorms across the whole island and the risk of cyclones from the Bay of Bengal: Cyclone Ditwah at the end of November 2025 caused deadly floods and landslides, especially in the hills. Watch the Department of Meteorology's warnings (meteo.gov.lk) and keep a spare day.
Worth knowing
Hill-Country Railway Disrupted
Landslides from Cyclone Ditwah (November 2025) cut the scenic Main Line through the hills; in 2026 the trains were reported starting at Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) rather than Kandy. Check eticket.railway.gov.lk before planning round the Kandy–Ella ride, and book reserved seats 30 days ahead when they open; a car to Nanu Oya and the train on to Ella still gives the best stretch.
Worth knowing
Esala Perahera: Kandy Fills Up
For ten nights in July or August, ending on the full moon, the Esala Perahera parades the Tooth Relic casket through Kandy with dozens of elephants, drummers and dancers. Rooms sell out and cost several times the normal rate; book months ahead, and buy a seat on a stand along the route (a few thousand rupees to much more), as the pavements are packed.
Heads up
Peak Season Crowds
Late December to January is the busiest time on the south coast and in the hills: Galle Fort, Sigiriya and the Ella train are crowded and the best rooms sell out. Book rooms and reserved train seats early and climb Sigiriya at opening.
- Kandy Esala Perahera — Sri Lanka's greatest procession: for ten nights before the full moon, the casket of the Tooth Relic is carried round Kandy on a caparisoned tusker, with dozens of elephants, Kandyan drummers, dancers, whip-crackers and fire-twirlers; the last night (Randoli) is the grandest, followed by a day procession. Book rooms months ahead and a seat on a stand along the route.
- Vesak — The full moon of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing: towns hang paper lanterns and lit pandals (thoran) telling Jataka stories, and roadside dansal stalls give free food and drinks to everyone. Colombo's lights round Beira Lake and Gangaramaya are the most elaborate. Alcohol sales stop and slaughterhouses close for the Vesak week; it also ends the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu / Puthandu) — The national new year, at the auspicious times astrologers set: families go home, many shops, restaurants and buses stop for two or three days around 13-14 April, and trains and buses before and after are packed. Nuwara Eliya has its season of races and shows round it.
- Christmas and New Year peak — The south coast's busiest and dearest fortnight: beach hotels set minimum stays and gala dinners on 24 and 31 December, the Ella train and Yala jeeps sell out, and Indian holiday-makers add to the European winter crowds. Book rooms and reserved train seats by October.
Part of a longer route
Kandy is a stop on 2 curated circuits through Sri Lanka.