Kandy Tourism

Travel to the magnificent city of Sri Lanka!

Quick Information

See Map
Best time to visit
Dec - May
Ideal Duration
5-6 Days
Visa
On Arrival
Starting from
Rs. 1,980
  • Ideal for families
  • Ideal for friends
  • Nature

About Kandy Tourism

Kandy, an important city, is located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

The city of Kandy was the last capital during the era of ancient kings in Sri Lanka. It is the now the administrative and religious capital of the Central Province apart from being its capital. Kandy is situated in the middle of the hills in the Kandy plateau which is surrounded by tea plantations. It is also home to one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world, the Tooth Relic. In the year 1988, it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Tourism in Kandy is one of the essential things about the economy of Sri lanka. 

Kandy City stands tall because of its rich tradition and valiant history. The city has stood the test of time by becoming bigger and better. Kandy’s strategic location on the plateau is made even more scenic with the tea plantations surrounding the area. The city is hailed by the locals as an important province of Sri Lanka because it contains the legacy and works of the last king of the country, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. There are numerous mesmerizing places to visit in Kandy, like the Botanical Garden, Royal Palace and Temple of the Sacred Tooth. A trip to Kandy will prove to be one of the best experiences in your life because of its spiritual and administrative sides that you can individually explore. The history of how the city was kept away from the colonizers for the longest time will draw you to the stories of the valiant and brave warriors of that time. A tour of the Kandy City will show you the long-lasting elegance and beauty of one of the oldest cities in Sri Lanka and will convince you to set off on an exciting journey to the city of Buddhist shrines and the Kandian history.

History of the Kandy City

Kandy City holds within itself the vibrant and brave history of so many people and places. There are ancient landmarks that exist to this very date and convey different stories regarding so many incidents that took place in the past. The city is known for its resistance to the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Kandy City rebelled and drove away the Portuguese in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Dutch sent their troops, approximately at the same time, and they were initially successful in almost making a foothold in the city. However, their army was attacked by King Kirti causing a heavy loss of weapons and people at the coast. This led to the remaining Dutch soldiers to withdraw into the forests. Living in the forests proved to be difficult because of the lack of food, water, and comfort. On the other hand, this acted as a gain for the Kandian sharpshooters who used their agility and training to hide in the forests and take down the remaining army in small numbers. The small numbers turned into a huge cause of concern for the people at the Dutch headquarters. They immediately sent in a fresh troop of soldiers to attack the city. The soldiers’ surprise attack on the city was the leading cause of their win against the Kandian warriors. On your visit to Sri Lanka, you will discover that it was in the year 1952 when the city of Kandy was named as the capital city of  the only remaining independent kingdom in Sri Lanka after the conquest of the coastal regions by the Portuguese. When you travel to Sri Lanka, you will discover that Kandy city struggled to preserve its independence until 1815.

The people of the city immediately packed their bags and fled to the forests. This cycle of incidents kept on being repeated many times. The Dutch became weary of the constant resistance and came to a peace treaty with the city in 1766. The history of Kandy City becomes even more intense with the passing time and their struggle for independence paved the way for a country with a bright future and innovations.

Famous Tourist Places in Kandy

Kandy City is a land of numerous Buddhist shrines, historical landmarks and colorful festivals. The city also houses various tea plantations and picnic spots that should be visited in your trip to Kandy.

Temple of the Tooth - Every travel guide in Kandy will suggest you to visit the famous Temple of Tooth which is a famous shrine of Lord Buddha. Tourists can visit the temple and see that the justified hype around the famous relic of Buddha. The temple houses the tooth of Lord Buddha which was transferred from Kalinga in India to Kandy in Sri Lanka. Visitors cannot see the tooth as it is kept safely in a casket but can participate in the regular prayers during the whole day. This will let you experience spiritual joy and calmness.

Kandy Lake - Kandy Lake was a creation of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The lake was made to make the Temple of the Tooth look more appealing to the eyes of its visitors. Tourists can take a walk along the tranquil lake as it is therapeutic. Visitors can even go on an exciting boating expedition on the lake.

Royal Botanical Garden - The Botanical Garden was built and developed by various Kandian kings. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Kandy and that can be proved by the millions of visitors it receives annually. The garden is much sought after because of its huge collection of Palm trees, colorful orchids and fruits. A visit to Kandy will let you relax and enjoy the lush greenery and vibrant atmosphere of the picture perfect Royal Botanical Garden.

Shopping In Kandy 

Kandy offers a host of options for visitors to shop for. From jewelry to antiques, there are so many things that you would want to buy in Kandy. Here is a list of the best places in Kandy for an enhanced shopping experience. 

Main Market - It is a famous stop for local handicrafts. It is located in the main market of the city and visited by tourists and locals alike. Main Market is offers a lively street shopping in kandy while offering handicrafts, textiles and paintings for sale. 

Luv SL By Odel - It is a popular shopping hub known for selling authentic souvenirs. You will find an innumerable range of souvenirs which you can carry home. It is also known for its upscale shopping malls offering high-end fashion wear and offer a boost to tourism in Kandy

Kandy City Centre - It is located in the heart of the city and is known as the only shopping mall in Kandy offering all types of items under one roof. Shop for clothes, electrical items and souvenirs and handicrafts from here. 

Nightlife in Kandy - add detail information, different best areas, things to do, add info in bullets form while highlighting areas/market names

Nightlife In Kandy

Nightlife is surely an essential source of entertainment for tourism in Kandy. Enjoy a bout of happiness and fun during the nightlife experience in Kandy. Some of the best places in Kandy that will oomph up your vibe are :

Royal Bar & Hotel- It is one of the coolest places in Kandy for a drink. There are a couple of excellent atmospheric bars that offer a lovely set-up along with a host of alcoholic drinks. Although the prices are usually steep, ‘happy hours’ offer a better deal. 

Blackout - One of the best nightlife experiences in Kandy, Blackout is a modern club frequented by tourists who love to enjoy a variety in music. The club oomphs up with music by DJs who play progressive and deep house, minimal and techno. It sure provides a boost to tourism in Kandy

Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar - Offering stunning views, pool tables, PLF, Chinese cuisine and ‘happy hour’, Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar is one of the busiest yet liveliest places for good food and drink in Kandy. Try the local wine here which is available at a cheaper rate. 

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Kandy Packages Reviews

Read on to find out why our customers love us!

Padhu's 7 days trip to Kandy

Hi, We sincerely appreciate the wonderful arrangements your team made for our recent trip to Sri Lanka. Overall, it was a memorable experience, and we’re grateful for your efforts in showcasing this beautiful country—clean, green, and filled with warm, responsible people. The emphasis on road safety and the peaceful atmosphere added to our enjoyment. Highlights: The itinerary was well-curated, and most accommodations/transfers were seamless. Your team’s hospitality and attention to detail in key locations were exceptional. Constructive Feedback for Improvement: Hotel Concerns (3rd Stay): The remote location and lack of basic amenities at the third hotel made our family uncomfortable, especially as we were the only guests. A refund for this stay would be greatly appreciated. Transparency in Costs: Entry fees at temples/private attractions were unexpected. Clarifying these in advance or including them in the package would help future travelers. Similarly, sharing day-wise programs with detailed cost breakdowns (e.g., train tickets) would improve planning. Itinerary Communication: Providing a more detailed schedule (e.g., attraction entry times, fee lists) would enhance the experience. Request: Given the issues with the third hotel and unused train tickets, we kindly ask for a refund or credit for these. This would reflect your commitment to customer satisfaction. Also as agreed by your team return off $80 towards train arrangement which was cancelled due to local strike. Please note we lost $200 during the trip which was unexpected. Thank you again for the beautiful moments and your responsiveness throughout. We’d love to recommend your services with these refinements in place. Special thanks to Madhu who supported us through the tour Thanks to Aruna for safe driving Best regards, Padmanabhan

Padhu Amar Chennai

Ashish's 8 days trip to Kandy

Had a great experience touring Sri Lanka thanks to Madhu for managing this well. And Roshan for driving us around. There were some confusion about the final payment in cash vs. online hope they would have communicated well on this. Roshan managed our expectations well and ensured our needs are taken care.

Ashish Kumar Surat

Suresh's 7 days trip to Kandy

I am from India tour to Srilanka CNB is the Superb Travel agent, they provided excellent hotels in beautiful locations, very good food and good Driver. Excellent cooperation. Thanks to Travel Triangle. Srilanka trip was Ramayana Circuit and Honeymoon trip.

Suresh Alicatta Hyderabad

Nayanamallesh's 7 days trip to Kandy

Our itinerary was perfectly customized to our preferences, thanks to Mr. Suna who was always prompt, polite, and helpful in addressing all our queries. The hotels were clean and spacious, except for one in Bentota, which was a bit dirty and noisy. The highlight of our trip was our chauffeur, Mr. Sumith. As a group of three girls, we felt completely safe and comfortable throughout the 7-day journey. He wasn’t just a driver—he became a friend and guide, always ready to solve any problem and suggest the best places to visit (or skip). His kindness and friendly nature truly made our trip special. We left Sri Lanka with beautiful memories and heavy hearts—the hardest goodbye was definitely to Mr. Sumith. This trip was an unforgettable experience, and we’re so grateful for the amazing hospitality.

Nayanamallesh Bangalore

Holsrio's 4 days trip to Kandy

Suna was very good and he answered all our questions with patience and even went out of the way to customize the package as per our requirements. Alika was also a very good driver and the vehicle was also very clean. The Ocean hotel in cmb was very good. Disappointed with the villa in Mirissa .Not upto the mark.. only pool and breakfast was good . Overall a very good trip made memorable by Suna and Akila. Best place was secret beach in Mirissa

Holsrio Mumbai

Vanitha's 8 days trip to Kandy

I recommend Travel Triangle for planning your trips. We recently travelled to Srilanka as family of 3 with a 2 years old toddler. TT assigned various local travel agents and I picked CNB Travel agency as they are good in listening my needs and customisation as per my need. Overall it was a comfortable and relaxing trip.

Vanitha KB Bengaluru

Subhojeet's 7 days trip to Kandy

We had taken a land package for our Srilanka vacation from Crimson voyages via Travel triangle. Nurshida from Crimsons voyages was our trip manager. I initially liked the swift and prompt communication with Crimsons which made me go ahead with their itinerary. We liked the way they greeted us at the airport. The hotels were also very good at all locations . However, the other experiences , could have been better. I am sharing few things which we didn't like about them. 1. The driver assigned to take us around was not even aware of the itinerary which was finalized with Crimson. Due to his lack of awareness, we missed our Colombo casino visit which was part of the package. I had to give him a copy of the itinerary separately to bring into his knowledge, what we were supposed to do. Till then he was simply blank. There seemed to be a huge communication gap within the team of Crimson. 2. A 7 GB SIM card was supposed to be provided to us as complimentary with the tour package. I had discussed the same with Nurshida before travel, however, after a lot of persuasions and follow ups, they gave me a used SIM with only 1.7GB data. The response from the backend team was very cold. Things could have been better. For every other thing they had an excuse that it is a New years’ time and shops are all closed ( in reality not all shops were closed and I had detail discussion prior to our travel). 3. Driver was not having any knowledge about the places. For every other thing which was promised to us, we had to keep following up with the driver or the tour manager. 4. The vehicle assigned to us was also not in good condition. Video system was not functional. Things did not look welcoming as initially we had hoped for. I hope Crimson voyages will take note of these feedbacks for their future clients. Thank you. Beach resort stay at Palms Bentota and stay at Araliya green city hotel.

Subhojeet Ghose New delhi

Neethu's 6 days trip to Kandy

I recently booked a 6-day, 5-night package to Sri Lanka with this agency, and while the duration was a bit rushed for exploring this beautiful country, the agency excelled in some areas. Their driver was exceptional - patient, kind, and caring. The agency also showed flexibility with last-minute changes and upgrades. However, there's room for improvement. It would be great if they could tailor recommendations based on individual preferences and suggest some offbeat locations. One area for growth is taking constructive feedback positively. After sharing some feedback, I felt it wasn't well-received, which limited further communication. Overall, I'd rate this experience 3.5 stars. With a few tweaks, this agency could truly shine!

Neethu C Bengaluru

Eranki's 9 days trip to Kandy

Our tour was very nicely arranged and Ms.Chamodi and her team were very professional and helpful

Eranki Venkata Ravikanth Bengaluru

Varsha's 5 days trip to Kandy

Our sri lanka trip was organized by steeple tours. It was very well organized and all customizations were done as per our suggestion. Mrs Chandi was very helpful and she was always polite and helped us in getting things done faster All the hotels we stayed were very good. No issues faced. Would like to mention specifically , our driver Mr Anil was very friendly and helpful. He was very polite too and drove very smooth! His suggestions were very apt and helped in planning places better. He was kind to our kid and a good gentleman as well. Thanks steeple tours for organizing our trip well and helping us in getting queries resolved faster. Thanks Varsha Stay at the palms was very good. Very beautiful resort huge and good food for Indians as well. Kids can enjoy beach and pool time.

Varsha H Bangalore

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FAQ's of Kandy

Read on to find out why our customers love us!

If you want to travel within Kandy City, opt for the services of a ferry. Before accepting a ride on the ferry, please fix a fair price that should be given to the driver afterwards.

Kandy City is a safe place and you can take part in its lively nightlife that tourists are encouraged usually enjoy. There have been no records of criminal violence against tourists for the longest time.

There were some Indians who migrated to different cities in Sri Lanka, Kandy being one of those cities, and are mostly referred to as ‘Indian Tamils’ and they form the minority of the country. However, the Sinhalese form the major population of the country and are not mostly of Indian origin.

Tourism in Kandy

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