Travel In Sri Lanka - Kandy

Kandy is built around a lake and boasts of picturesque view of hills. This lake at the centre of the city makes the city very attractive and also helps in keeping the environment cool. This laid-back capital of Sri Lanka has a very distinct architecture while its standout attraction is the Dalada Maligava temple which houses the sacred tooth of Buddha. With all its mountains and lake, this place is ideal for trekking and water sports.Fact File
Country : Sri LankaPopulation : 161395 Languages : Sinhala, Tamil, EnglishClimate : The weather in Kandy is cooler and wetter than the coastal areas so do not forget to carry with you warm clothes. The dry season lasts here from December to April. The moderate climate here is perfect for tea plantations. The humidity here is between 70% to 79%.
Dry Season(December – April) : 22oC - 30oC , Monsoon Season(May – August) : 25oC - 29oC , Inter-Monsoon Season (September – November) : 24oC - 29oCOfficial Currency : Sri Lankan Rupee(LKR) ; 1 LKR = 0.4358 INR = 0.01001 USD = 0.008285 Euro (subject to change).Location : Kandy is located at a distance of 116km from the Colombo city which is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. To arrive to this beautiful destination the tourists can take rail or road route. Mahaveli Ganga river which runs through the city has many tributaries thus providing natural drainage to the city as well as a healthy and clean environment.

Getting there
After landing at the Colombo International Airport the tourists can reach Kandy in 3hrs from Colombo by bus. Road to Kandy is quite neat so tourists can take cars or go by van as well. There are trains as well running from Colombo to Kandy, however they take a bit longer to reach there.

Book a tour to Kandy

Getting Around
Kandy has a reasonably good network of public transport, in the form of buses and trains that link the city to the suburbs. Train fares are slightly lower than bus fares, but getting a bus is infinitely easier than trying to catch a train, so it works out about the same. Kandy railway station is an railway station in the city.
Other than buses and trains, taxis and three-wheelers also can be hired, though obviously these are more expensive; meters are often not used, and it’s best to do the negotiating and settle on a mutually acceptable price before you start the trip.

Accommodation
The city has number of decent hotels to ensure a convenient stay for the visitors. Mentioned below is the list of hotels in the city:4 star hotel accomodations
Le Kandyan Hotel
Mahaweli Reach Hotel
Hotel tree of life( resort) 3 and a half star hotel accomodations
Citadel Hotel
Thilanka Hotel 3 star hotel accomodations
Queens Hotel
Regent lodge
Hotel Suisse 2 star hotel accomodations
Hotel Casamara
Hotel Hill Top
Topaz
Hotel Tourmaline

Major Tourist Attractions Dalada Maligava : Also called as the temple of the sacred Tooth of Relic is a must visit place for the Buddhists. The Pathirippuva or the octagon was built by the king of Kandy in 19th century who had also built the lake. Daily rituals are performed in the temple to venerate the relic. Esala Perahera, the colourful pageant is held here for ten nights every year to honour the Tooth Relic.Malwatta and Asgiriya Monastries : Located on the southern and western side of the lake, they form the center of Buddhism. Asgiriya temple houses the gigantic statue of Buddha and the ground here has been the cremation ground for the Kandyan royalty. Kandy Lake : This is the heart of the Kandy city and is the most famous landmark of the city. There is an old building at its edge, near the Dalada Maligava temple which was initially the queens bath.Royal Botanical Gardens : They are located at a distance of 6km from the city at Peradeniya . The Orchid house here contains 300 varieties of Orchids. The lush green lawns and huge trees are a welcome sight along with the spice garden here which will introduce you to the spices of Sri Lanka. Other Attractions
The Kandy market is a great bazaar
The Kandy museum
The Gadaladeniya Temple
Lankatilaka Temple
Hanthana Mountains
Elephant Orphanage