Sri Lanka›From Colombo›Kandy
Colombo to Kandy by train, bus or road
About 120 km. The train is fastest at 3.2 h; the bus is cheapest, from ₹100 per person.
Fastest
Train
Train to Peradeniya + tuk-tuk to Kandy
3.2 h door to door
Cheapest
Bus
Air-con intercity bus to Kandy
from ₹100 per person
Best value
Bus
Air-con intercity bus to Kandy
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Train to Peradeniya + tuk-tuk to Kandy | 3.2 h | ₹350–₹700per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Bus | Air-con intercity bus to Kandy | 3.5 h | ₹100–₹400per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Private car | Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | 3.3 h | ₹4,160–₹7,460per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
- Train, Train to Peradeniya + tuk-tuk to Kandy: Since Cyclone Ditwah the trains from Colombo Fort stop at Peradeniya, 6 km short of Kandy: the railway bridge into Kandy is still being rebuilt (reopening expected by the end of 2026). Take a tuk-tuk or bus for the last stretch, and check eticket.railway.gov.lk: once trains run to Kandy again it is 2.5-3 h, and reserved seats book out 30 days ahead.
- Bus, Air-con intercity bus to Kandy: From Colombo's Bastian Mawatha stand, every few minutes.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Train · Train to Peradeniya + tuk-tuk to Kandy | ₹700–₹1,400 | ₹1,400–₹2,800 |
| Bus · Air-con intercity bus to Kandy | ₹200–₹800 | ₹400–₹1,600 |
| Private car · Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | ₹4,160–₹7,460 | ₹4,160–₹7,460 |
Once you’re in Kandy
- Best time: January – April
- Typical stay: 2 days
- November: Mixed month: November is outside the recommended season (January – April). Against it: Inter-Monsoon Storms.
Related
Plan Colombo and Kandy
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.