Kandy is one of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka for tourists. It is located in the central region of the country and at only about 3 hours’ drive from the capital, Colombo.
Kandy is famous for its temples of significant cultural importance, surroundings of breath-taking mountain ranges and tea plantations as well as its landscape, climate and friendly people.
I personally believe tourists must visit Kandy to truly comprehend the beauty and culture of Sri Lanka.
As a tourist, you could easily spend 2 or more days here exploring the city.
I am listing some of Kandy’s most famous attractions that you cannot afford to miss.
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Most famous attractions in Kandy for tourists
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is as spectacular as its name suggests.
According to popular belief, the temple is supposed to house a tooth of Buddha. As you can imagine, for that reason, The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is one of the holiest sites for Buddhists in Sri Lanka.
It is widely regarded as one of the most important and significant temples in Sri Lanka and is a popular pilgrimage destination.
Visitors and religious followers can see the gold casket in which the tooth is guarded during the prayer ceremonies.
Apart from religious significance, the architecture and scenic beauty of the temple is also a key reason for its popularity with tourists.
The temple has a golden roof while its exteriors are beautiful done in white with holes to house coconut-oil lit lamps.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is located within the royal palace complex of Kandy. Tourists can enjoy the entire area which is blessed with gorgeous natural beauty, lakes and well-maintained Palace buildings.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is open from 5.30am to 8pm daily and has an entrance fee for all tourists.
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden
Towards the west of Kandy, at about 5 kms, is the beautiful Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden.
Kandy in general is a haven for nature lovers and the botanical garden is simply the icing on the cake. It is blessed with incredible flora and fauna including 4000 plant species and splendid orchids.
The garden is brilliantly positioned near the Mahaweli River and The National Herbarium of Sri Lanka is located within the garden complex.
Total area of the Royal Botanical Garden is 147 acres and tourists can easily spend a whole day here admiring the natural beauty and learning about the various plant species that include various medicinal as well as spice plants.
Interestingly, the Royal Botanical Garden was first used as a place for coffee and cinnamon plantations and has grown since its inception into one of the best gardens in entire Sri Lanka.
The Royal Botanical Garden is open from 8am to 5.30pm daily except on Sunday when it opens at 8.15 am. There is an entrance fee for all visitors to the garden.
Knuckles Mountain Range
One of the reasons why Kandy is so popular is the fact that it is surrounded by extraordinary mountain ranges that provide magnificent views all around.
Knuckles Mountain Range is the most famous of the mountains near Kandy and it looks like your knuckles when forming a clinched fist.
The range lies between Matale and Kandy and has several vantage points of gorgeous views of the landscape.
There are nine main peaks in Knuckles Mountain Range with Gombaniya the highest peak at 1906 meters above sea level.
Knuckles Mountain Range is ideal for natural lovers, hikers, those seeking an adventure or if you simply want to witness superb scenery including streams, waterfalls, thick clouds making their way through tall trees and interesting hills and grasslands.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is perfect for those looking for a great picnic spot near Kandy. It is located at Pinnawala village, about 40 kms from Kandy and takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to reach by road.
As the name suggests, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage for wild elephants who have been injured or separated from their herd.
Utmost care is given to the elephants, both adult and young ones who thrive at the orphanage. There are over 90 elephants at the moment at the orphanage making it the largest captive elephant population in the world.
If you love wildlife, then Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a must-visit. Not only do you get to see a large population of wild Asian elephants, you get to learn about their habitat, their care and conservation efforts.
The entire area near Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is rich in nature. It is picture-perfect and ideal for spending half a day marvelling at these amazing creatures.
The Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation established the orphanage in 1975. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm on all days. There is an entrance fee which differs in rates as per visitors from SAARC and non-SAARC countries.
Hulu River Waterfall
Hulu River Waterfall, also known as Huluganga Falls is located at the idyllic town of Dumbara, about 30 kms from Kandy.
Hulu river originates from Knuckles Mountain Range and the waterfalls sits at a height of 75 meters.
This is another area near Kandy that has an abundance of rich flora and fauna. The entire area is extremely picturesque with some great points to stand and admire the Huluganga Falls.
Adventurous tourists can even go up to some of the superb rock formations near the base of the falls for photos or just enjoy the cold clear waters. Of course, caution should be exercised when trying to go near the actual waterfalls due to the high pressure from the water.
Kandy Lake
Kandy lake is located at the heart of Kandy itself within the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic complex.
It is an artificial lake that was built by Wikrama Rajasinhe, the last monarch of Sri Lanka.
The area around the lake is peaceful and idyllic. It is ideal for a nice stroll to enjoy the peace and calm of Kandy. There are cafes and other shops nearby for tourists to explore.
Kandy Lake has a lot of history and several legends are associated with it. Some believe that the center of the lake is connected with the royal palace via a secret tunnel. The lake is also said to be only partially complete due to the British invasion of Kandy around 1815.
Final thoughts
Kandy is perhaps the most beautiful and picturesque location in Sri Lanka. It is not tough to see why it is so popular once you visit this lovely town.
For tourists, you can keep couple of days for overall sightseeing and ideally spend a day or two more just bathing in the natural wonders that surround Kandy.
