• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - This temple, with its golden roof, is home to Sri Lanka’s most significant Buddhist relic—a tooth of the Buddha. During puja (offerings or prayers), the room where the tooth is kept is accessible to both devotees and tourists, although the tooth itself is not visible. It is secured within a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six progressively smaller dagoba caskets.

In addition to the esteemed main temple, the complex features a variety of smaller temples, shrines, and museums.

• Kandy Lake - Kandy Lake is a prominent feature of the town. A leisurely walk around the lake, with occasional breaks on the lakeside benches, offers a delightful way to spend a few hours. However, the tranquility can be slightly disturbed by diesel buses speeding along the southern edge. The most pleasant area for a stroll is near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
• Royal Botanical Gardens - These magnificent gardens were once the exclusive domain of Kandyan royalty. Today, they are open to the public, showcasing the largest and most impressive botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, spanning 60 hectares.

Highlights include a remarkable collection of orchids, a grand avenue of royal palms, the uniquely named cannonball fruit tree, and 40-meter-high Burma bamboo. A major attraction is the giant Javan fig tree on the great lawn, with its massive central trunk and umbrella-like canopy. Peradeniya is located 6km from central Kandy.

• Udawattakele Lake - The Udawattakele Forest Reserve, also known as Udawatta Kele, is a historic forest reserve situated on a hill-ridge in Kandy. Covering 104 hectares (257 acres), it was once referred to as “Uda Wasala Watta” in Sinhalese, meaning “the garden above the royal palace.” The sanctuary is renowned for its diverse birdlife and a wide variety of plant species, including lianas, shrubs, and small trees. Several large lianas can be found here, along with many small and medium-sized mammals native to Sri Lanka. Various snakes and other reptiles may also be spotted. Udawattakele was designated a forest reserve in 1856 and became a sanctuary in 1938.
• Asgiriya Maha Viharaya - Offers a free museum visit and meditation experience.
• Bahirawakanda - Climb the stairs inside the Buddha statue to enjoy the view.
• Oak Ray Handcrafted Wood Carvings - Free demonstrations and opportunities to learn or DIY.
• Natural Gems and Gemmological Museum - Free entry to the museum and factory facilities.
• Heritage Spice & Herbs Garden - Free admission.
• Storefield Tea Factory - Free entry.
• Kandy Lake Club - Cultural Dance Show - Enjoy the vibrant Kandyan cultural dance performance. An entrance fee of 7 USD per person is required.

• Private transportation
• In-vehicle air conditioning

Some days Kandy’s skies seem perpetually bruised, with stubborn mist clinging to the hills surrounding the city’s beautiful centerpiece lake. Delicate hill-country breezes impel the mist to gently part, revealing colorful houses amid Kandy’s improbable forested halo. In the centre of town, three-wheelers careen around slippery corners, raising a soft spray that threatens the silk saris worn by local women. Here’s a city that looks good even when it’s raining.

And when the drizzle subsides, cobalt-blue skies reveal a city of imposing colonial-era and Kandyan architecture, none more impressive than the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines.
History and culture are on tap. Yes, the city is renowned for the great Kandy Esala Perahera festival (held annually in July/August), but its vibrant cultural life and attractions more than justify a visit at any time of year.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.