{"id":1305071,"date":"2026-10-01T15:33:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T15:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1305071"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:10:11","slug":"kandy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/sri-lanka\/kandy\/","title":{"rendered":"Kandy"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302972,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-city","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_country_stats":"","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"","hw_hub_country_facts":"","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"","hw_hub_country_cities":"","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"","hw_hub_country_do_title":"","hw_hub_country_do_body":"","hw_hub_country_do_points":"","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"","hw_hub_country_do_more":"","hw_hub_country_food_title":"","hw_hub_country_food_body":"","hw_hub_country_food_points":"","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"","hw_hub_country_food_more":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"","hw_hub_country_money_title":"","hw_hub_country_money_body":"","hw_hub_country_money_points":"","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"","hw_hub_country_money_more":"","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"","hw_hub_country_season_title":"","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"","hw_hub_country_season_note":"","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_country_events_title":"","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"","hw_hub_country_events_source":"","hw_hub_country_events_country":"","hw_hub_country_events_count":"","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_events":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"","hw_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city guide","hw_hub_city_hero_h1":"Things To Do In Kandy","hw_hub_city_hero_intro":"The last royal capital, in the hills around a lake, with the Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddhism's holiest sites, and the start of the most beautiful train ride in Asia.","hw_hub_city_hero_image":"1302976","hw_hub_city_hero_overlay":"medium","hw_hub_city_hero_cta":"Where to stay | #areas\r\nWhat it costs | #money","hw_hub_city_live_stats":"1","hw_hub_city_stats":"1815 | The kingdom falls\r\n1988 | Joins UNESCO\r\n6\u20137 h | Train to Ella, once the line reopens","hw_hub_city_intro_title":"The hill capital","hw_hub_city_intro_body":"Kandy was the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, which held out against European rule until 1815. Its Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, beside the lake, holds a tooth of the Buddha, and the whole sacred city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\r\n\r\nKandy sits in green hills at about five hundred metres, cooler than the coast.\r\n\r\nIt is also where the hill country train begins its climb to Nuwara Eliya and Ella. Two days is right.","hw_hub_city_facts":"Getting there | Bus from Colombo, 3\u20134 hours. Trains due back from October 2026\r\nGetting around | On foot and tuk-tuk\r\nLanguages | Sinhala and English\r\nTipping | 10% in restaurants\r\nTap water | Not drinkable\r\nHow long to stay | Two days","hw_hub_city_areas_title":"Where to stay","hw_hub_city_areas_intro":"Stay close to the lake and the temple for the sights, or in the guesthouses on the hills above it, along Rajapihilla Mawatha, for views and quiet. Peradeniya, by the botanic gardens, is greener and cheaper but needs a bus or tuk-tuk into town.","hw_hub_city_areas_map":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_zoom":"13","hw_hub_city_hostels_pins":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_live":"1","hw_hub_city_areas":"Lakeside | First-timers | Walking distance to the temple, the lake and the market. | 7.2936 | 80.6413 |  | \nThe hills above the lake | Views | Guesthouses along Rajapihilla Mawatha, quiet with views over the town. | 7.2895 | 80.6455 |  | \nPeradeniya | Budget | Green and cheaper, by the botanic gardens, a short bus ride from town. | 7.2690 | 80.5970 |  | ","hw_hub_city_itin_title":"How long have you got?","hw_hub_city_itin_intro":"The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.","hw_hub_city_itin":"","hw_hub_city_do_title":"Things to do in Kandy","hw_hub_city_do_body":"The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, beside the lake, is the reason to come. Go for one of the daily pujas, the ceremonies of drumming and offerings when the doors of the relic chamber open: at dawn, mid-morning and, most atmospheric, in the evening around half past six. The tooth itself is kept inside nested caskets and never shown. Foreigners pay LKR 2,000 (about \u20ac5.50). Wear white or modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees; shoes are left at the entrance.\r\n\r\nWalk the three-kilometre loop around Kandy Lake, built by the last king in 1807, and watch a Kandyan dance performance: shows with drummers, dancers and fire-walking run every evening at around five in halls near the lake.\r\n\r\nThe Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, twenty minutes away, cover 60 hectares, with an avenue of royal palms, an orchid house and giant fig trees. The Ceylon Tea Museum, in an old factory in the hills, explains the island's tea before you see the estates.\r\n\r\nThe Knuckles range, a UNESCO-listed cloud-forest massif, is the best hiking near Kandy; go with a guide. Once the line reopens, the train to Ella through the tea country is one of Asia's great journeys.","hw_hub_city_do_points":"Temple of the Tooth | Evening puja around 6.30pm. LKR 2,000\r\nKandy Lake | A 3 km loop, best early\r\nKandyan dance | Nightly at about 5pm\r\nPeradeniya | 60 hectares of botanic gardens","hw_hub_city_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_city_do_more":"All things to do in Kandy","hw_hub_city_free_title":"Free things to do in Kandy","hw_hub_city_free_body":"The walk around Kandy Lake is free and best in the early morning, when monitor lizards and herons are out.\r\n\r\nThe central market, a two-storey covered hall of fruit, spices and fish, costs nothing to wander. The Kandy View Point above the town, sometimes called Arthur's Seat, gives the classic view over the lake and temple roofs for free.\r\n\r\nThe streets of the old town, with colonial shopfronts around the clock tower, are worth an hour, and you can watch worshippers bringing lotus flowers to the temple from outside without a ticket.","hw_hub_city_free_points":"Lake walk | Early morning, with monitor lizards\r\nCentral market | Fruit, spices and fish\r\nKandy View Point | The classic view, free\r\nOld town | Colonial shopfronts by the clock tower","hw_hub_city_free_tag":"free-things-to-do","hw_hub_city_free_more":"All free things to do in Kandy","hw_hub_city_food_title":"Eating and drinking in Kandy","hw_hub_city_food_body":"Kandy eats simply and cheaply. Lunch is rice and curry, often a self-service spread in workers' restaurants around the clock tower, for \u20ac2 to \u20ac3. In the afternoon, bakeries and short-eat counters sell rolls, patties and vadai, and many places serve hoppers in the evening.\r\n\r\nKottu is everywhere after dark. The town is a good place to try a proper cup of Ceylon tea, and the hill country's fruit, including mangosteen and rambutan in season, is sold at the market.\r\n\r\nA meal is \u20ac2 to \u20ac6.","hw_hub_city_food_points":"Rice and curry | Lunch, \u20ac2\u20133\r\nShort eats | Rolls, patties and vadai\r\nKottu | After dark, everywhere\r\nCeylon tea | Drink it here before the estates","hw_hub_city_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_city_food_more":"All food guides for Kandy","hw_hub_city_nightlife_title":"Going out in Kandy","hw_hub_city_nightlife_body":"Kandy goes to bed early. Evenings start with a Kandyan dance show at five and the temple puja at half past six, and by ten the town is quiet.\r\n\r\nThere are a few hotel bars and some guesthouse rooftops with views over the lake, and that is about it. Kandy is the place to rest before the hill country, not to go out.\r\n\r\nA beer is \u20ac2.50 to \u20ac4. Every full-moon day is a Poya holiday, when alcohol sales are banned and most bars close or serve only quietly; check the calendar before planning a night out.","hw_hub_city_nightlife_points":"Dance show | 5pm, before the puja\r\nHotel bars | A few, with lake views\r\nA beer | \u20ac2.50\u20134\r\nEarly nights | Quiet by 10pm","hw_hub_city_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_city_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for Kandy","hw_hub_city_transport_title":"Getting around Kandy","hw_hub_city_transport_body":"Kandy is compact enough to walk between the lake, the temple, the market and the clock tower. Tuk-tuks cover the hills; agree the fare first or use PickMe.\r\n\r\nCyclone Ditwah badly damaged the railway around Kandy in late 2025. Trains to Colombo are due to return from October 2026, and the hill country line towards Nanu Oya and Ella is expected back by the end of 2026. Until then, buses and cars are the way: Colombo is three to four hours, Nuwara Eliya about three, Ella five to six. When the trains run again, reserved seats sell out, so book ahead.\r\n\r\nBuses leave from the Goods Shed and clock tower bus stands for Dambulla and Sigiriya, about two and a half hours.","hw_hub_city_transport_points":"To Colombo | 3\u20134 hours by bus; train from October 2026\r\nTo Ella | 5\u20136 hours by road; train by the end of 2026\r\nTo Sigiriya | About 2.5 hours by bus\r\nAround town | On foot, PickMe or tuk-tuk","hw_hub_city_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_city_transport_more":"All transport guides for Kandy","hw_hub_city_money_title":"What Kandy costs","hw_hub_city_money_body":"Kandy is cheap. Dorms start around \u20ac7 and a careful day is \u20ac18 to \u20ac28.\r\n\r\nThe Temple of the Tooth is LKR 2,000 (about \u20ac5.50) for foreigners, a dance show a few euros, and Peradeniya has a separate foreigner's ticket. A rice-and-curry lunch is \u20ac2 to \u20ac3 and a tuk-tuk across town \u20ac1 to \u20ac2.\r\n\r\nThe currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR); prices here are euro equivalents. There are ATMs in the centre; carry cash for guesthouses and tuk-tuks.","hw_hub_city_money_points":"Dorm bed | From about \u20ac7\r\nA day | \u20ac18\u201328\r\nTemple ticket | LKR 2,000, about \u20ac5.50\r\nLunch | Rice and curry, \u20ac2\u20133","hw_hub_city_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_city_money_more":"All budget guides for Kandy","hw_hub_city_safety_title":"Staying safe in Kandy","hw_hub_city_safety_body":"Kandy is safe. Touts around the lake and the temple offer guiding or a lift to a spice garden or gem shop; a firm no is enough.\r\n\r\nAt the temple, cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats, and never pose with your back to a Buddha statue, which is considered deeply disrespectful. Tattoos of the Buddha have led to visitors being refused entry, and in some cases deported, in Sri Lanka; keep them covered.\r\n\r\nMonkeys around the lake and the botanic gardens grab food and bags. The lakeside path is quiet late at night.\r\n\r\nEmergency: 119 police, 1990 ambulance (Suwa Seriya, free). Tourist Police: 1912.","hw_hub_city_safety_points":"Temple dress | Cover shoulders and knees\r\nBuddha images | No back-to-statue photos\r\nMonkeys | Guard food and bags\r\nEmergency | 119 police, 1990 ambulance","hw_hub_city_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_city_safety_more":"All safety guides for Kandy","hw_hub_city_trips_title":"Day trips from Kandy","hw_hub_city_trips_intro":"Royal palms, tea history, cloud forest and the rock fortress, all within a few hours.","hw_hub_city_trips":"Knuckles range | About 1.5 hours | Car, with a guide | Cloud forest and ridge walks in a UNESCO-listed massif. |  | 1305100\nSigiriya | About 2.5 hours | Bus via Dambulla | The rock fortress, best as a stop on the way north. |  | 1305101","hw_hub_city_trips_tag":"day-trips","hw_hub_city_trips_more":"All day trips from Kandy","hw_hub_city_season_title":"When to go","hw_hub_city_season_intro":"January to April is driest.","hw_hub_city_season_note":"Average highs.","hw_hub_city_season_rows":"January | 28 | 4 | Good\r\nFebruary | 29 | 5 | Dry\r\nMarch | 31 | 5 | Dry\r\nApril | 31 | 4 | New Year\r\nMay | 30 | 3 | Vesak\r\nJune | 28 | 2 | Wet\r\nJuly | 28 | 4 | Perahera\r\nAugust | 28 | 5 | Perahera\r\nSeptember | 28 | 3 | Good\r\nOctober | 28 | 2 | Rainy\r\nNovember | 28 | 2 | Rainy\r\nDecember | 28 | 3 | Good","hw_hub_city_events_title":"What is on while you are there","hw_hub_city_events_intro":"The Esala Perahera is one of the great festivals of Asia.","hw_hub_city_events_source":"api","hw_hub_city_events_count":"8","hw_hub_city_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_city_events_cta_label":"All events in Kandy","hw_hub_city_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/asia\/sri-lanka\/kandy\/","hw_hub_city_events":"Esala Perahera | July or August | Kandy | Ten nights of processions with elephants and dancers. |  | \nVesak | May | Kandy | Lanterns. |  | ","hw_hub_city_budget_title":"What your trip will cost","hw_hub_city_budget_intro":"Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.","hw_hub_city_budget_note":"Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents.","hw_hub_city_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8\r\nMiddle of the road | 16 | 10 | 5 | 15\r\nComfortable | 32 | 20 | 10 | 25","hw_hub_city_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_city_hostels_title":"Where to stay in Kandy","hw_hub_city_hostels_intro":"The top-rated places to stay in Kandy right now, live from Hostelworld.","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Kandy","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/sri-lanka\/kandy\/","hw_hub_city_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_city_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_city_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_city_picks":"Best for solo travellers |  |  | \nBest for a party |  |  | \nQuietest |  |  | ","hw_hub_city_hostels":"","hw_hub_city_faq_title":"Kandy travel questions","hw_hub_city_faq_note":"The ones we get asked most.","hw_hub_city_faqs":"When is the Esala Perahera? | In July or August, over ten nights leading up to the Esala full moon. Dates change each year with the lunar calendar, and rooms book out months ahead.\r\nWhat should I wear to the temple? | White or modest clothing covering shoulders and knees. Shoes and hats come off at the entrance, and sarongs can be borrowed if needed.\r\nHow long is the train to Ella? | Six to seven hours in normal times, but the Kandy section was closed after Cyclone Ditwah and is expected to reopen by the end of 2026. Until then, go by road to Nuwara Eliya or Ella and take the train from there.\r\nDo I need to book the train? | Yes, once services resume. Reserved seats in second and first class sell out weeks ahead in the high season; unreserved tickets can be bought on the day.\r\nHow many days do you need? | Two: one for the temple, the lake and a dance show, and one for Peradeniya or a hike.\r\nWhen is the best time to visit? | January to April is driest. July and August bring the Perahera, the most spectacular time and the busiest.\r\nWhat is the puja? | The temple ceremony of drumming, chanting and offerings, held three times a day, when the doors of the relic chamber open. The evening puja, around 6.30pm, is the one to see.","hw_hub_city_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_city_cta_body":"Compare Kandy hostels \u2014 live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_city_cta_buttons":"Find hostels in Kandy | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/sri-lanka\/kandy\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_city_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_city_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. 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