Where to stay in Kandy
Kandy is Sri Lanka's hill capital, built around a lake in the central highlands and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The town centre is compact, but much of the accommodation sits on the hills around it, so choose between being able to walk to the lake and temple or having a view and quiet a tuk-tuk ride away.
Around Kandy Lake
Hotels and guesthouses around the lake and on the roads just above it put you a short walk from the Temple of the Tooth, the market and the cultural dance shows. Evening walks around the lake are pleasant. Traffic in the centre is heavy, but you can avoid it on foot.
Hillside above the town
Many guesthouses and boutique hotels sit on the steep hills around Kandy, with balconies over the lake or the forested valleys. They are quieter and greener, but you will need tuk-tuks to reach town, as walking back up is steep.
Peradeniya and the outskirts
Around Peradeniya, home of the Royal Botanical Gardens, and along the Mahaweli River, larger hotels and resorts offer pools and gardens. They are a short drive from the centre and convenient for the gardens and the hill-country railway.
One thing to think about
Avoid booking right on the main roads through the centre, which are noisy with buses and traffic. During the Esala Perahera festival in July or August, prices rise sharply and rooms fill up months ahead.
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Kandy are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
When is the Kandy Esala Perahera?
The Esala Perahera is held in July or August, depending on the lunar calendar, and lasts about ten days. Processions of dancers, drummers and decorated elephants parade through the streets at night. It is one of Asia's great festivals, so book accommodation well in advance.
Is the train from Kandy to Ella worth taking?
Yes. The hill-country railway from Kandy through Nanu Oya to Ella passes tea plantations, waterfalls and mountain views and is one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Reserved seats sell out quickly, so book early or be ready to stand in second or third class.
What else can I see from Kandy?
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, the tea museums and estates of the hills, and the Pinnawala elephant orphanage. Kandy is also a good base for the cultural triangle sites of Sigiriya and Dambulla, a few hours to the north.
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