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Kandy
Sri Lanka's hill-country cultural capital
- Best time to visit
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec
- Currency
- LKR
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Country
- Sri Lanka
Kandy is the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, set around a lake in the central highlands and home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People come for Buddhist heritage, colonial-era streets, hill views and the cool, green surroundings.
- Colombo
- Kandy
- Galle
- Jaffna
- Negombo
Quick facts
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- City population
- 120,087
- Population of Sri Lanka
- 21.4M
- Country area
- 65,610 km²
- Official language
- Sinhala and Tamil
- Currency
- Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) · 1 USD ≈ 331 LKR
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Calling code
- +94
- Drives on the
- Left
- Elevation
- 505 m
- Plugs
- D / G · 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 119 · 110 · 1990
- Best time to visit
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 27° | 29° | 31° | 31° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 27° | 27° |
| Low | 20° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 21° | 22° | 21° | 21° | 20° | 20° | 20° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$20
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$60
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$170
Top things to do
- ≈ $7
Temple of the Tooth Relic
Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine, where the relic casket is displayed at dawn and again around 6:30pm; the ticket also covers the Royal Palace, World Buddhist Museum and Raja Museum.
- Half day
- Kandy Lake and Temple Square
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
- Free
Kandy Lake circuit
A flat paved path loops the artificial lake past the temple walls and the cloud-capped hills; go early or late for cooler air and fewer crowds.
- Half day
- Kandy Lake and Temple Square
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
- ≈ $1
Royal Palace Park
A small terraced garden with a pond and views over the lake, a quiet stop between the temple and the town centre.
- Half day
- Kandy Lake and Temple Square
- Good for kids
- ≈ $2
Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuary
A surviving patch of rainforest once reserved for the royal palace, with monkeys, birds and ponds; wear long trousers after rain because of leeches.
- Half day
- Udawattakele and Bahirawakanda
- Good for kids
- ≈ $1
Bahirawakanda Buddha statue
A 26-metre seated Buddha on a hill above town with wide views over Kandy; reach it by tuk-tuk or a steep 1 km walk from the centre.
- Half day
- Udawattakele and Bahirawakanda
- Good for kids
- Free
British Garrison Cemetery
A small, well-kept colonial cemetery below the National Museum where the caretaker explains the stories behind the tombstones; entry is free.
- Half day
- Kandy Lake and Temple Square
- ≈ $5
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Sprawling gardens of palms, orchids and giant trees about 5 km from town, easily reached by local bus; allow two to three hours to walk the grounds.
- Half day
- Peradeniya
- Good for kids
- ≈ $40
Knuckles Mountain Range day trip
A full day of hill trails, tea country and viewpoints north-east of Kandy, usually arranged with a driver-guide; start early as the roads are slow and winding.
- Full day
- Katugastota
Before you go
Entry and visas
Most visitors must apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival; it is free of charge for nationals of 40 countries including the UK, USA, India, Spain, and most Gulf states, and valid for 30 days with double entry. Nationals of Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore have reciprocal arrangements, while other nationalities follow the general ETA rules and fees. Check the official ETA portal for your nationality before booking.
Official websiteFrom the airport
Most visitors arrive from Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, either by intercity train (about 2.5–3 hours) or by road (about 3 hours by taxi, longer by bus). The railway station and the long-distance bus station sit close together near the city centre.
Getting around
The centre is small enough to walk, with tuk-tuks and local buses covering the rest of the city and nearby Peradeniya.
Local tips
- Dress modestly at temples: shoulders and knees covered, and remove shoes and hats before entering shrines.
- Carry small notes for tuk-tuks, tickets and temple donations; agree the fare or use a ride-hailing app before getting in.
- Expect rain in May and from October to December, and pack a light rain jacket even in the drier months.
- Kandy is generally calm, but keep valuables secure in crowds and avoid isolated paths in the forest reserve after dark.
Areas worth knowing
- Kandy Lake and Temple Square
- Peradeniya
- Central business district and clock tower
- Katugastota
- Udawattakele and Bahirawakanda
The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 21, 2026.
Read the advice on GOV.UKMore cities in Sri Lanka
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Sources: eta.gov.lk · srilanka.travel · eta.gov.lk · Wikipedia: Kandy · Wikivoyage: Kandy