Places to visit in Kandy

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, alongside Adam’s Peak, is considered one of the holiest places in Sri Lanka and is an important pilgrimage destination. The golden-roofed temple is supposedly home to a tooth of Buddha and during the puja, the time of offering and prayers, tourists, as well as religious followers, are able to inspect the gold casket in which it is guarded.

Kandy Lake

Kandy Lake was artificially constructed by the last king of Sri Lanka and Kandy, Wikrama Rajasinhe, as an additional feature for the beautifully laid out Temple of Tooth complex. Also called the Milky Ocean, the lake remains partially incomplete due to the British invasion in 1815. Several legends are connected to Kandy Lake and it is believed that the king installed a secret tunnel from its island to the palace.

Giragama Tea Plantation

Sri Lanka remains one of the world’s most important tea producers and is home to numerous extensive tea plantations. It is worth taking a trip to one of the many tea factories to inspect the process up close and marvel at the beauty of the tea plants, which are usually planted over hilly areas and make for a truly dazzling scenery. Giragama Tea Plantation is located just outside of the city and provides an insight into the refinery of delicious teas, from green to Earl Grey. It is situated around 613 meters above the sea level and it also houses a tea museum. Visitors will not only be able to further their knowledge through a tour but they will also be given a taste of the end products.

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden

Due to an ideal climate, Sri Lanka has been a popular destination for merchants trading in spices for more than 2000 years. Visitors can find a wealth of deliciously smelling plants in Kandy’s spice gardens from pepper and nutmeg to cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. The Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, is located just a few kilometers outside of the city and is home to more than 4000 different plants species including medicinal plants, orchids and palm trees. Travelers are able to enjoy a truly memorable experience here. For those looking to take some of the spices back home, there are several markets, however, it is advisable to double-check prices.

Walk in Udawattakele Forest Reserve

The urban forest reserve of Udawattakele once served as the pleasure garden of the kings of Kandy. The wildlife sanctuary is home to several species of mammals, reptiles, and an impressive fauna. Additionally, it houses several important Buddhist meditation hermitages. The park is particularly popular with bird watchers and is of great educational value. The Sri Lanka Forest Department has installed two offices in the reserve which display posters and stuffed animals and where visitors can get more information about the life of the park. Udawattakele is a celebration of the lush jungles of Sri Lanka and its tropical nature and is one of the best reasons to get out of the bustling city.

Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue

Located on a hill, overlooking the city, lies Bahiravokanda Vihara, a giant Buddha statue and one of the city’s most notable religious monuments. Visitors can climb to the top of the hill within an hour but should be aware of rising temperatures during noon. Once you have reached the peak, bahivara kanda, or devil’s hill, offers panoramic views of Kandy and its surrounding area. The statue itself can be seen from most places throughout the city and is particularly enchanting at night when it is bathed in light. Make sure to remove your shoes before entering the premises or join the devotees, who offer flowers or light oil lamps in reverence to the mighty Buddha.

December to April – This is the best time to enjoy a holiday in Kandy. The weather is dry and mostly pleasant during this time. Unlike India, the weather does not really get very cold even during winters. This is the ideal time to go sightseeing and enjoy trekking in the mountains of Knuckles Mountains range.

May to September – Sri Lanka experiences two monsoon seasons. The period between May to August is the time of the Yala monsoon that brings rains to the southwestern part of Kandy. Sightseeing and trekking can get tricky during this time of the year.

October to November – This is the time when Kandy, like most of Sri Lanka, experiences the Maha monsoon. Again, sightseeing and trekking can get a little difficult during this time of the year.

December to April – This is the best time to enjoy a holiday in Kandy. The weather is dry and mostly pleasant during this time. Unlike India, the weather does not really get very cold even during winters. This is the ideal time to go sightseeing and enjoy trekking in the mountains of Knuckles Mountains range.

May to September – Sri Lanka experiences two monsoon seasons. The period between May to August is the time of the Yala monsoon that brings rains to the southwestern part of Kandy. Sightseeing and trekking can get tricky during this time of the year.

October to November – This is the time when Kandy, like most of Sri Lanka, experiences the Maha monsoon. Again, sightseeing and trekking can get a little difficult during this time of the year.