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The path across the lawns to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy

Hill country

Kandy

The last royal capital, built around a lake and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine.

Plan a trip with Kandy
Time to spend
2 nights
Best months
January to April. Showers are possible all year; October and November are wettest.
Getting around
The centre is walkable. Use a tuk-tuk for Peradeniya and the viewpoints.
Good to know
Cover shoulders and knees for the temple and leave shoes at the counter. The ticket is sold only from the temple's own machines.

Kandy was the seat of the last Sinhalese kingdom until 1815, and the old centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sacred City of Kandy. The town wraps around a lake laid out in 1807 under King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, with forested hills on every side.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) draws pilgrims from across the island, especially for the daily services and for the Esala Perahera procession in July or August.

Kandy is also where most travellers board the hill-country train towards Nanu Oya and Ella, and it is a short drive from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya.

What to see and do

  • Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Must see

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    The shrine of the Buddha's tooth relic, with drumming during the daily services and several museums included in the ticket.

    1 hr 30 min · Evening · 05:30 to 20:00LKR 3,000official priceCover shoulders and knees

    LKR 3,000 for foreign adults (LKR 2,500 for SAARC, Thai and Myanmar visitors), sold only from the temple ticket machines.

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya

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    Sri Lanka's largest botanic garden, on a bend of the Mahaweli river, known for its avenues of royal palms, orchid house and giant Javan fig tree.

    2 hr · Morning · 07:30 to 17:00LKR 3,540to confirm

    Planning price for foreign adults (2026 tariff); confirm at the gate.

  • Kandy Lake walk

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    A flat 3.4 km loop around the lake in the centre of town, best early in the morning or before the evening service.

    1 hr · MorningFree entry

  • Kandyan dance performance

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    An hour of traditional Kandyan drumming and dance, usually staged in the early evening at halls near the lake.

    1 hr · EveningLKR 2,000 to LKR 3,500to confirm

    Venue prices vary.

  • Udawattakele Forest Reserve

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    The old royal forest on the hill behind the temple, with shaded trails, birdlife and monkeys a few minutes from the centre.

    1 hr 30 min · Morning · 07:30 to 16:30Fee chargedto confirm

    An entry fee is charged at the gate.

Also consider

Nearby places to stay

Photos

The lake-side buildings of the Temple of the Tooth on Kandy Lake
The lake-side buildings of the Temple of the Tooth on Kandy Lake
Landscaped lawns and trees in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Landscaped lawns and trees in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
An avenue of palms in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
An avenue of palms in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
The orchid house at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
The orchid house at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Kandy Lake in the early morning
Kandy Lake in the early morning
Buddhist flags lining the approach to the Paththirippuwa, the octagon of the Temple of the Tooth
Buddhist flags lining the approach to the Paththirippuwa, the octagon of the Temple of the Tooth
A gilded Buddha framed by elephant tusks inside the Temple of the Tooth
A gilded Buddha framed by elephant tusks inside the Temple of the Tooth
Devotees laying flower offerings inside the Temple of the Tooth
Devotees laying flower offerings inside the Temple of the Tooth
The small island in the middle of Kandy Lake
The small island in the middle of Kandy Lake

Ready-made trips that include Kandy

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