Kandy Is So Underrated!! What Are The Unique Things To Do In Kandy?
BY
Sibashree
Mar 5, 2026
Kandy has been in the news recently for the last-over clincher between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the last ICC T-20 World Cup tournament.
It is also good to see Kandy slowly getting its rhythm back after the major disruption in the beautiful Colombo-Kandy-Ella-Badulla railway due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah in the latter part of 2025.
With a man-made lake at the epicenter, Kandy, in a bowl of mountains, was home to the last rulers from the Kandyan empire.
Today, it continues to play an important role in the politics, economy, and culture of Sri Lanka as the capital of the Central Province.
Sri Lanka is full of contradictions. From the rich Tamil Culture in Jaffna and the abandoned Buddhist ruins at the Ritigala Forest Monastery, to the bustling city of Kandy, it’s like visiting different countries with a few miles of traveling.
Moreover, Kandy is just 20 km away from Gampola, the home to the famous Ambuluwawa Tower, the symbol of natural diversity and religious inclusivity in Sri Lanka.
Hi, in today’s blog, I will talk about how to reach Kandy, the things to do in Kandy, where to stay, where to eat, and more.
How To Reach Kandy?
Kandy, one of the major cities of Sri Lanka, is easily accessible. If you are a budget traveler and a believer of the LowDownUnder Travel philosophy, you can take a local bus or train for the journey.
1. The Kandy Railway Station: The Major Gateway
The Kandy Railway Station is the main gateway to the city if you are traveling from other parts of the island.
Also, this railway station on the beautiful Kandy to Ella line still exudes a colonial charm and shows Victorian influences in its architecture.
A train ride from Colombo to Kandy takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, and based on the class, the ticket prices cost between LKR 300 and 1200.
You can even take a train on the Kandy to Ella route to explore the tea plantations, mountains, and the highland region.
However, being one of the most scenic railway routes in the world, tickets for these trains are always in high demand.
You can check out the available tickets at the official website of the Sri Lankan Railways. Tickets for a date get sold out even 1 month before.
2. Colombo To Kandy Bus
If you cannot book trains to reach Kandy. Don’t get disheartened, as buses are available from the Bastian Mawatha Bus Station in Colombo.
You can take an ordinary or AC intercity bus to reach Kandy from Colombo. The distance is around 120 km and the travel time is approximately 3-4 hours.
Also, the ticket prices start from LKR 360.
What Are The Things To Do In Kandy?
Kandy is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. So, no wonder that it offers a good mix of colonial history, spiritual experience, and the serenity of the Kandy Lake.
Also, Kandy is home to the quintessential Singhalese food. I found the delicacies in Kandy to be way creamier and milder than the fiery food in Jaffna.
Nevertheless, I will talk about what to eat in Kandy a little later, and for now, let’s explore the things to do in Kandy and enjoy a mixed bag of experiences.
1. Visiting The Royal Botanic Gardens
Hours Open: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Entry Fee: LKR 200 for Locals, LKR 3540 for Foreign Visitors
From Kandy City, you can take a short tuk-tuk ride to reach the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is home to more than 4000 plants and covers an area of 147 acres.
A green oasis in the overwhelming city landscape, it also has an arboretum and decorative flower beds.
My favorite, however, was the majestic palm tree avenues. However, as the day grew, it got crowded by social media content creators.
Furthermore, there are giant bamboo trees. Another popular photography spot in the national park is the Mahaweli Ganga River suspension bridge. However, more than five people cannot get on the bridge at a time.
So, you may have to wait in a queue if you desperately want a photo for your socials.
Moreover, you will see bats hanging from trees, chipmunks, and monkeys in the botanical gardens. And don’t miss the Spice Garden here.
Also, if you feel hungry, you can buy drinks and snacks from the stalls inside and the local vendors outside the park.
2. Exploring The Udawattakele Forest Reserve
Hours Open: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee for Foreigners, LKR 830, For Locals: LKR 70
I walked for around 30 minutes to reach the Udawattakele Forest Reserve. You can even take a tuk-tuk ride from the Centre of Kandy.
It has some of the most famous caves in Kandy and diverse fauna.
However, I did not expect that mother macaque monkeys would welcome me with their babies clinging to them.
After the grand entry, I chose the circular route around the park as I wanted to see the religious caves, the bathing pond, and the city viewpoint.
The Route
The green canopy stands in humility as you advance on the route, and now you are transported to a different world.
The birds were chirping, and I could hear the squeal of monkeys.
However, the highlight on that route was the Liana’s. These tree-sized vines created coils along the oath.
I followed the route upward and reached the City View Point.
The City View Point
From the City View Point, I loved the perspective of Kandy City and Lake. Then, walked further to come across the Cittavisuddhi Lena cave and othe two religious caves.
The cave had beautiful sculptures, paintings, and offerings by pilgrims. These are sacred to the Buddhist people.
However, overgrown trees and the fear of insects and bats deterred me from entering the cave and exploring the two other Buddhist caves.
Despite all the cautions, destiny had something different in store for me. There were leeches all over my legs, and luckily, I was carrying adequate salt to get rid of them.
The fellow tourists also helped to remove the leeches.
3. Visiting The Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
The Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue at the top of a hill is the guardian angel of Kandy. You need to take a short and steep walk to reach the Buddha Statue from the town.
You can even take a tuk-tuk.
Once you reach the statue, you can find the steps behind the magnificent statue and climb to higher vantage points looking over the other side of the city of Kandy.
Moreover, there is a small shop from where you can take trinkets and religious texts. The entry fee was 600 LKR when I visited last.
4. Exploring The Kandy Market
I mentioned how an old lady in the Jaffna Public Market was the icebreaker during my trip to Jaffna.
In Kandy, it was the Kandy Market, which made me acquainted with the hilly region of Sri Lanka.
The market was near the Kandy Station. I visited it early in the morning and found vendors selling dried fish, bananas, fresh vegetables, and souvenirs.
5. Spending Moments By The Kandy Lake
The Kandy Lake, or Lake Kandy, is at the heart of the city and is very close to the Temple of the Tooth.
It is a magnificent man-made lake around which you can take a walk of 2.1 miles. The pathway is called the Cloud Wall, and the highlight of my walk was finding out about the Queen’s bathing pavilion.
This ivory excellence reminded me of the regal past of the Kandy Lake.
I also spotted the ducks, busy schools of fish, and water monitor lizards.
Moreover, there is a well-groomed garden in the center of the lake. When I visited, it was in full bloom.
6. Walking To The Kandy Viewpoint
After stretching my legs at the Kandy Lake, I took a short walk to reach the Kandy Viewpoint.
Hiking to the Kandy Viewpoint is one of the most delightful free things to do in Kandy. You can capture panoramic shots of the city from this viewpoint and interact with local hawkers for a meaningful cultural exchange.
7. Visiting The Asgiri Maha Vihara Pirivena - Buddhist Stupa And Temple
If you are a Buddhist or someone eager to learn about the religion, visiting the Asgiri Maha Vihara Pirivena is one of the best things to do in Kandy.
This stupa is very close to the city, and I took the stairs across the train tracks to reach the stupa.
For me, the highlight of the stupa was the meditation room on the central floor. The iconographies were grand and meaningful.
Furthermore, the walls there depicted the three stages of decay a body has to undergo after death.
However, I did not yet know what was awaiting me, the dome of the stupa.
Filled with Buddhist artwork, an enormous lotus carving, and eight statues of Lord Buddha, it defined enormity.
The military guide finally took me to the balcony that surrounds the stupa. I found many monks clad in orange robes busy in their rituals, and I also loved the view.
8. Visiting The Temple Of The Tooth
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Mandira preserves the canine tooth of Lord Buddha.
It has the Udawaththa Kelaya to the east and the Lake Kandy to the south.
After several invasions and destructions, the temple was finally rebuilt by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, and it is in its current form that we see today.
The temple has beautiful works of ivory, gold, and silver.
More Things To Do In Kandy
Along with being a primary tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, Kandy is also the gateway to many iconic landmarks showing the richness of Sri Lanka in nature and wildlife.
You can take a train ride or a bus ride from Kandy to the Royal Cave Temples of Dambulla. Or, you can attend a wildlife safari in Kaudulla National Park and other national parks of Sri Lanka.
Where To Stay In Kandy? Know The Accommodations
I stayed at a hostel near the hillside surrounding the city. It was modest, but the views I got from the room and balcony were amazing.
However, if you are not willing to walk so much, you can choose places such as the Ceyloni City Hotel.
The tariff of this city hotel is around 7500 LKR.
What To Eat In Kandy?
You can choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian options in Kandy. Balaji Dosai is a nice spot to try vegetarian food, especially dosa.
The Siri Ramya Hotel is the place to try Kottu Roti in Kandy. You can have it as spicy as you want. Also, you can combine them with different types of veggies, eggs, chicken, or mutton.
Another thing you must not miss in Kandy is the snacks available on the bus or train. The fried chips and snacks have a lot of salt and chilli.
However, they are great for the taste buds.
Also, do not forget to try the rice and curry combination at the “famous hole in the wall rice and curry joints” in Kandy.
These offer a nice and filling lunch at the best price.
The Nightlife In Kandy: Where To Drink?
Kandy is not a place famous for its nightlife. However, if you want to cherish some drink after a busy day, you can visit places such as The Stag’s Head Pub and the Royal Bar and Hotel.
Enjoy the beers, cocktails, and your favorite drinks with spicy local snacks, and enjoy the view of the city and lake at night.
Drinking at any of these places will cost you around 790 LKR.
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