Central Province
The last kingdom, and the tooth it was built around
About Kandy
Kandy held out against the Portuguese and the Dutch and did not fall to the British until 1815, which makes it the last independent Sinhalese kingdom. The Temple of the Tooth holds what is said to be one of the Buddha's teeth, and whoever held the relic was understood to hold the right to rule.
It is a working temple, not a monument. Go at a pooja time and you will be among Sri Lankans doing something they take seriously, with drummers, and a queue that moves.
01Worth your time
The Temple of the Tooth at pooja
Three ceremonies a day. Dress covers shoulders and knees, shoes come off, and the atmosphere is completely different from an empty midday visit.
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
147 acres in a loop of the Mahaweli river, with an avenue of royal palms and a fig tree that covers 2,500 square metres on its own. Genuinely world-class.
The lake walk
An hour around the water the last king built. Best at dusk, when the heat drops and the whole town comes out to do the same thing.
A Kandyan dance performance
Touristy and worth it anyway — the drumming is extraordinary and the fire-walking finale is real.
02Straight answers
Questions people actually ask
How long does it take to get from Colombo to Kandy?
Around three to four hours by road for 115km. Distances in Sri Lanka are short and slow, and this route is a good introduction to that.
What should I wear to the Temple of the Tooth?
Shoulders and knees covered, for everyone. Shoes are removed before entering. Sarongs can be hired at the entrance if you arrive unprepared.
Is Kandy worth staying overnight?
Yes, mainly so you can attend an evening pooja at the temple and walk the lake at dusk. Many people prefer to sleep in the hills just outside the city, where it is quieter and cooler.
Usually combined with
Reviewed . Entry fees, opening hours and park closures change — check before you travel.
No obligation
Thinking about Kandy?
A rough month and a rough idea is enough to start. We will come back with a shape for the trip, and you can pull it apart from there.