| Destination | Opening Hours | Adult Price | Child Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu devales, Asgiriya Monestry, National Museum & Archeology Museum. | Inc. within roundtrip Cultural triangle tickets | Worth seeing if you have lots of time. | ||
| Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) |
6am – 5pm daily for Tooth. WorshipTemple remains open until 8pm |
USD 10.00 per person | Under 6 years free | Visit early morning or late at 6am, 10am or 6pm to hear drummers and Pujas (prayers) |
| National Museum | 9am - 5pm | R55 | R30 | Colonial heritage and well documented |
| 4 Devales (Buddhist shrines) and Bodhi trees | 24 hrs | Tuk Tuk rides | ||
|
Monastries Asigiriya & Malwatte |
6am - 5pm | Donations welcomed | Walk or Tuk Tuk trip | |
| Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre | 6 - 7pm | Rs300 | An hour of thrilling themed dancing, plate spinning and fire walking. | |
| Peradeniya Botanical Gardens | 7.30am-4.30pm daily | USD 6.00 per person | Child – 50% | 6km from Kandy centre. |
| Pinnewala Elephant Orphange |
30-5.30pm daily Bathing: 10-12noon, 2-4pm Meals: 9.15am, 1.15pm, 5pm |
USD 20.00 per person | Child – 50% |
Other Places of Interest
Spice Gardens & Tea Plantations: Kandy and its surrounding countryside is full of commercial tea and spice plantations with visitor centers. The tours are fascinating so be prepared to tip your guide and join them for ginger tea etc.
The best tea museums and visitor centres are enroute to Nuwara Eliya but the drivers are always well versed on where to go.
Meditation Centres : there are 4 meditation centers in Kandy region where you can learn the art of meditation and live within a monastic environment. The accommodation is extremely basic. There is no charge but donations are welcomed.
Nillambe Meditation Centre
Tel 0777 804555, email upulnilambe@yahoo.com.
Very close to heritage home Erin Bungalow if you are seeking comfort nearby
Sri Jemieson international Meditation Centre. 5-10 day courses.
Tel . 081 222 5057
Dhamma Kuta Vipassana Meditation Centre. 10 days courses and superb views from hills.
Tel: 070 800057, email : dhamma@sltnet.lk
Paramita International Buddhist Centre. 2 x 14 day course / month
Tel. 081 257 0732
Useful Contacts
Tourist Office, Palace Square open 9am-1pm and 1.30pm – 4.45pm Mon- Fri. Tel. 081 222 2661
A-Z Street Guide can be found in Vijitha Yapa book shop in town.
Activities |
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Ayurveda & Spa
Kandy has many ayurveda centers and is a teaching centre. You can enjoy a treatment within a casual centre in town or disappear to the luxurious ayurvedic spas within hotels in the hills.
1. Wedamedura Ayurveda, Mahamaya mawatha, South East of Lake.
Tel. 081 4 479484 / 7
Eg. 1hr massage $8, 2 ½ hr treatment $38
Le Kandyan Resort. (30 mins in Tuk Tuk)
Tel. 081 223 3521/2
Eg. 1 ½ hr body massage and steam bath $25
Amaya Hills, (former Le Kandyan Resort)
Walking
Kandy sits in a valley between Knuckles Mountain Range and Hunus Mountain. Both make for excellent hiking and can be tough going. There are no official treks so you will need a guide . Many guesthouse proprietors enjoy guiding in theior spare time, or visit the Tourist Board for freelance guides.
You will need leech proof socks and good walking shoes.
Swimming
Only a handful of hotels have swimming pools but Kandy is relatively cool. Queens Hotel and Hotel Thilanka around the lake and Le Kandyan in the hills will allow non- residents to make use of the pools for R100-150. Fantastic way to entertain the children as the parents relax with a spa treatment.
Golf
The Victoria Golf Club is 20km east of Kandy and overlooks the Victoria Reservoir. It’s a challenging 18 hole course and equipment can be hired.
Green fees : $25 weekdays
Club rental : $6 / day
Caddies : R150 / day (enforced)
Rugby
A strong Rugby side play out of Kandy and regularly compete in Sri Lanka 7’s. Nittawella Rugby Club. Season is May- September.
Cricket
Asgiriya Cricket Ground hosts up to 15,000 fans and Sri Lanka is certainly full of cricket fans. Tickets vary in accordance with local international matches. Ticket Office Tel. 081 223 8533
Bars & Restaurants |
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Kandy is a sophisticated City albeit not Colombo. There is a wide choice of venues from pubs to local restaurants and a plethora of tempting bakeries.
The Pub – Tel. 081 232 4868. Dalada Vidiya, Kandy town.
Bustling with large TV screens. Very European feel
Western and local menu and a lively atmosphere.
Devon Restaurant - Dalada Vidiya.
Full menu but beautiful bakery that will awake your taste buds. Most cakes are baked daily but they can dry out quickly so don’t be afraid to change it if it's not scrumptious.
Rams – 87 Bennet Soysa Vidiya.
Excellent South Indian cuisine.
Helga’s Folly – 32 Frederick E de Silva Mawatha, Off Rajapihilla Mawatha (5 mins from lake) Tel. 081 223 4571
Eccentric and eclectic hotel with a hostess of incredible warmth.
The food is rich and over the top but beautifully prepared. 5 course dinner is just $14/head.
For lunch bites/ fast food, there is a KFC, Pizza Hut and local food court in town.
Entertainment/Nightlife |
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The temples, Kandyan dancers and lively, late night bars will keep you entertained.
Bus
Private Intercity express buses depart for Colombo through out the day. 2 ½ -3 hrs at just R75.
There is also an Airport express bus departing at 6.30am and 5.30pm.
There are private and City buses departing for the Cultural Triangle, Trinco, Nuwara Eliya and Hatton everyday. Check with the bus station for times as they vary.
Trains
There is an excellent express service to many cities namely : Badulla, Bandarawela, Colombo, Ella, Haputale, Hatton, Matale, Nanu Oya (Nuwara eliya). There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd class options and an observation carriage You must book in advance tos ecure seats in 1st / observation class. For up to date timetables call the Rail information on Tel. 011 244 0048.
Tuk Tuk’s
Tuk Tuk’s are in abundance and are great for short journeys within the city.
Taxi’s
Radio Cabs Tel 081 223 3322
Sea plane/ Air taxi
A speedy and luxurious way to travel at a fraction of the time. The costs are not exorbitant. The planes land at Victoris Lake just 30minutes from the City.
For details on private drivers and getting about the island, click here.