Kandy
Kandy, located in the central region, is a beautiful city surrounded by green hills. It's famous for its history and culture. People from all over the world visit to see the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a very important Buddhist site. You can also enjoy nature in places like the Royal Botanical Gardens and Kandy Lake.
Kandy is easy to reach by a famous train that connects major cities like Colombo, Ella, and Nuwara Eliya. People love this train ride because it offers beautiful views of the countryside, with waterfalls, rice fields, and tea gardens along the way.
Most travelers prefer to take the iconic train between Kandy and Ella. However, tourist offices often purchase all the available first-class tickets and sell them at a high price, weeks in advance, leaving no tickets available at the train stations. The benefit of a first-class ticket is a guaranteed numbered seat.
The best way to take the train is to purchase a second- or third-class ticket at the ticket office on the same day as your departure.(Second or third class is the same)
Keep in mind that these tickets do not guarantee a seat, and you may need some luck to find one. The journey from Ella to Kandy takes 6 to 8 hours by train, and standing for that duration can be uncomfortable. A third-class ticket costs around 200 rupees, approximately 0.7 EUR.
Note: For a better chance of getting a seat on the train from Kandy to Ella, get on the train at Peradeniya Station Station instead of Kandy Central Station. Since most passengers join the train at Kandy, starting from Peradeniya increases your chances of finding a seat if you’re not traveling first class.
By car, it is 2,5h from Sigiriya, 3h from Nuware Eliya and 3h15 from Colombo.
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens is a large, beautiful park full of plants from all over the world. It was founded back in 1821 and is one of the oldest gardens in Asia. You can see tall palm trees, colorful orchids, and lots of other unique or rare plants as you walk around. There are also some ponds where you can sit and relax.
The most photographed part of the garden is the avenue of royal palms, which is like a fancy road made of big trees, very impressive. There are also some special parts in the garden like the orchid house and the spice garden. It's a great place to visit if you like nature and want to see lots of cool plants in one spot, perfect for strolling around during the day or afternoon.
Ambuluwawa Tower
Ambuluwawa Tower is a 48 meters tall, cone-shaped tower located in Gampola, less than one hour by tuk-tuk from Kandy. It houses the Stupa (Pagoda) of the Buddhist Temple.
As you go up the narrow stairs, there are many viewing platforms where you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery. The staircase gets more and more narrow as you go further upward, presenting a challenge for those who are not comfortable with heights.
The tower is located on the summit of the mountain peak Ambuluwawa, 1100 meters above sea level. Because there are no other mountains nearby, Ambuluwawa Tower offers unobstructed views from afar, and vice versa. You can even spot the tower from Gampola Train Station.
I suggest taking a tuk-tuk to reach the temple as the walk from the entrance takes around 2 hours and isn't enjoyable. You'll be walking on a concrete road the whole time, sharing the path with tuk-tuks and cars trying to reach the top.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic
The Temple of the Tooth Relic is located at Kandy Lake and is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world. It houses a tooth believed to be that of Lord Buddha, making it a revered pilgrimage destination for Buddhists.
The temple, called Sri Dalada Maligawa by locals, is a stunning building with beautiful carvings and gardens around it.
People come here to show their love and pray, making the place feel really special and peaceful. There's a special golden box inside that holds the tooth and during a big festival called Esala Perahera, it's carried through the streets in a big parade.(July and August)
Lots of people from different countries come to see it, and it's a great way to see how important this temple is to people and how it connects us to our past.
Be aware of the dress code: knees have to be covered, for women also the arms need to be covered.
Kandy Lake
Kandy Lake, also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk, is an artificial lake located in the heart of Kandy. Built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, it spans over 6,544 square meters and is surrounded by lots of greenery and beautiful views. In the middle of the lake is a small, charming island called Diyathilaka Mandapaya, housing a Buddhist temple. Visitors can stroll along the lakeside promenade, enjoy boat rides or simply relax in the serene ambiance.
One side of Kandy Lake is very busy because of the road right next to it. At the side of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a car-free zone is created to have a more relaxing walk and enjoy the lake.
I stayed at two different places in Kandy:
AirBnB Kandé was a wonderful stay and an amazing host. It had a great, vintage atmosphere and wolderfull rooms. Highly recommended.
The second AirBnB was Square Peg, an industrial loft. Very well done, althoug the view from the room was not as expected. Overall great host and wonderful place to eat with a view over the city! The breakfast and dinner are very good!
