Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Welcome to

Kandy

Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Commonwealth War Cemetery, Millenium Elephant Foundation, Horton Plains National Park, Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue and many more. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Palace of Kandy, Udawattekele Sanctuary, Udawattekele Sanctuary, Millenium Elephant Foundation, Horton Plains National Park, Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue, International Buddhist Museum, British Garrison Cemetery, Kandy Lake, Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage and many more places. Sitting ideal is not even an option and hence you will find several places to visit in Kandy. Overlooking the city of Kandy, you will find a big statue of Buddha on top of a hill. It is one of the first things that you will get reminded of when you think of this city. The city houses some beautiful temples which has one of the most beautiful shrines of Buddha. The Buddhist temple has the relic of the tooth of Buddha which is a popular tourist attraction. For shopaholics, the city has its special Kandy City Centre which is the only shopping place in the city and you can definitely shop for some souvenirs too. The City Hall of Sri Lanka also showcases traditional and beautiful Kandyan dance which can be viewed by the visitors at a very minimal price range.

Places to Visit in Kandy

Horton Plains National Park

Horton Plains National Park is best known for its scenic panorama in Sri Lanka, delighting travel enthusiasts with gamut of exclusive plant and animal life. It is also one of the heritage sites in the world, stretching above the two lofty mountains Totapola and Kirigalpotta, which is a sight-to-behold. Tourists from all over the world head for this national park, a highland-like structure with plains on one side and spectacular mountains and deep jungles on the other. All of it constitutes the Central Highlands of the island country Sri Lanka. You need to wake up very early in the morning to take in the beauty of this park before the clouds roll in to obscure the view. Make sure you are prepared to head for the park by 9 am, else, you will miss the scenic view because a thick blanket of morning mist enfolds Horton Plains for the rest of the day. Take a walk deep into this national park to discover World’s End, which is a towering cliff top offering a sweeping view of Sri Lanka towards the coast and also past the shoreline. You will discover numerous lakes, waterfalls, rocky hills, as well as the spectacular view of the ocean from this heritage site in Sri Lanka. Besides, the scenic vista, Horton Plains National Park is covered with thick verdant forests boasting a variety of wild animals and numerous species of birds. The national park is an inimitable ecosystem with plentiful flora and fauna, which is why it’s hailed as a super biodiversity site of Sri Lanka.

Royal Palace Of Kandy

Tucked miles away near the deep and verdant valleys of the Kandy village, Royal Palace of Kandy was once the residence of the Sinhalese Monarchy. The magnificence of this palace and the brilliance of its creativity has enlisted it amongst the most beautiful tourist places to explore in Sri Lanka. The palace is situated in the close vicinity of the Temple of the Tooth and is entirely surrounded with lush green beauty. Crowning itself as the royal home of the Sinhalese Monarchs, the palace history buffs have a way of things to do here. Queen’s bathing pavilion, king’s headquarters, queen’s palace, king’s palace, and royal audience hall are some key attractions of this palace. In the year 1942, the remains of the original structure of the Royal Palace of Kandy were transformed into the National Museum of Kandy. So, what you see there today, is actually a museum where all the galleries represent chambers with artefacts dating back to the British Era and the Kandyan Kingdom.

Kandy Lake

Kandy Lake is an artificial lake built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1807. The lake, also called Kiri Muhuda or Sea of the Milk, is situated in the heart of the Kandy city. It covers an area of 6,544 sq. m. with a circumference of 3.21 km. The lake boasts of a small island at its center. A building, together with some earliest ruins is also located at the center of the lake. The iconic serene lake is one of the greatest attractions for visitors for its lush green settings and pristine blue waters. It has several rest zones, where tourists can sit, breathe fresh air, and catch the glimpse of scenic beauty around them. Nature lovers and tourists can enjoy the picturesque surroundings and soothe their jittery nerves by taking a stroll around the 2.1 km pathway. People generally stroll or jog the pathway in the evening, when the mercury drops considerably. It presents a beautiful sight at night. The palm trees in the middle of the lake add charm to the entire surroundings. Tourists can opt for boat rides and relish the experience. One can hire the boat either for their party or join other passengers for a ride. The boat ride costs approximately Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 for a 20-minute boating experience around the Lake. Visitors can look forward to gratifying their senses, by buying products ranging from balloons to cashew nuts from vendors roaming around the lake. Owing to the pollution and other factors, which led to shrinkage of the lake, the management has declared it as a protected area and banned fishing at this spot. However, animal lovers and ornithologists can revel in watching birds, fishes, and huge monitor lizards.

Kandy View Point

The mesmerizing view point is located on the Rajapihilla Mawatha and is ranked 5th out of 105 tourist attractions in Kandy. The place is located near the Kandy Lake and is enclosed in breathtaking landscapes of mountains and meadows. From the city, you have to take the Rajapihilla Mawatha Route, after which a 1 km steep climb will guide you to the view point. You can also hire a tuk-tuk to reach the top.The panoramic view that you would get to see is worth the pain of the ascent. The entire Kandy town lies ahead of your eye, and from the top, you can also spot the Kandy lake and Dalada Maligawa.

Highlights: Panoramic view of the city, souvenir shops, art galleries

Location:Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy

Timings:Anytime during the day.

Spice Gardens

Spice Gardens forms a key attraction of Sri Lanka. The country is famous across the globe for its rare collection of herbs and spices. The key attraction of this location is to explore the popular as well as the rarest herbs being sown and processed in the most exquisite manner. Herbs those are common in a household like Turmeric, Pepper Corns, Cloves, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Aloe Vera, etc are being processed here. The best part of visiting the Spice Garden in Kandy is to gather knowledge about the herbs, their growth process, their benefits and usefulness in Human life. The natural environment and serene beauty of the Garden is one of the mesmerizing experiences for every traveler. Away from the hustle of city life, this is a complete contrast of environment.

Located: Located at the Hill capital, Kandy this is close to Botanical Garden

Ceylon Tea Museum

Located at Hantane, the 1925 vintage Ceylon Tea Museum is one of the important attractions of the hill country, Kandy in Sri Lanka. The Tea Museum is a building of four floors where from ground floor to second floor it’s all old machineries, library and auditorium. For purchasing lip smacking variety and flavors of Sri Lankan tea one must visit the third floor which is sales unit. The fourth floor comprises of a magnificent restaurant where one can enjoy a free cup and the captivating and breathtaking surrounding view of the hill country from the top. One can visualize Matale Range and Kunckles Range through a telescope positioned here. From the top it’s an encircling view of green landscape comprising tea plantations of myriad types.

Location: Hantane Road, Kandy

Price: 1070LKR for adults and 428LKR for child.(approx)

Best Time: Tuesday – Sunday, 8:30am to 4: 30pm