Kandy

Settled on a plateau encircled by lush mountains, Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka with biodiverse rainforests and tea plantations. Around 4 hours by road from Colombo, the city is famed for the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most sacred Buddhist places in the world. Kandy is bountiful in nature with national parks like Udawattekele Sanctuary, and mystical cloud-laden peaks like Hanthana Mountain Range. Truly, the city is an epicentre of cultural, historical, spiritual and nature tourism.

Overlooked by Kandy Viewpoint, Bogambara Lake is the city’s heart. Since 1807, the scenic lake has a flurry of historical sites and snazzy waterfront eateries. Kandy is a paradise for families and adventure lovers, featuring amazing activities to enjoy in Horton Plains National Park, Millennium Elephant Foundation, and Royal Botanical Garden. Hiking in the Knuckles Mountains brings you to grasslands and jagged peaks, while Riverton Gap’s trekking trails offer waterfalls like Huluganga Waterfall. To see Kandy’s famed tea estates, Giragama Plantations and Ranweli Spice Garden are the top destinations.

Learn more about Lankan history at tourist hotspots like Ceylon Tea Museum, Commonwealth War Cemetery or the Royal Palace Of Kandy. Then, seek blessings at Lankatilaka and Degaldoruwa Temples. For a perfect finishing touch to your Kandy tour, take home beautiful handmade gems, antiques, Ceylon tea and Buddhist handicrafts from Main Market, Kandy City Centre and Buddhist Publication Society.