Kandy is the second-largest city in Sri Lanka. It’s about 3 hours by train from the capital Colombo. If you follow our 3-week travel itinerary in Sri Lanka, Kandy will be your first real meeting with Sri Lankan culture. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature and mountains. Below you find 5 great things to do when in Kandy. So, get inspired for your next trip to Kandy in Sri Lanka.
1. Explore the Royal Botanical Garden
Sometimes Kandy can be a quite hectic city. Therefore, it can be a good idea to spend a quieter day in the shadows inside the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kandy. The garden is a huge area where you can relax on the lane or explore the different smaller gardens. One thing is sure – You will not regret a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
2. The beautiful Temple of the Tooth
The Temple of the Tooth is one of the most sacred places for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The temple guards the tooth of Buddha. It’s hidden inside the temple behind gold and pomp. The locals visit the temple daily to pray and do rituals. The temple is one of our favorite temples to visit. As a tourist, you should just be aware that you need to cover your knees and shoulders to enter the temple as well as have respect for the praying locals.
3. Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock
Sigiriya Lion Rock is a 200-meter high rock in the middle of the country. It takes around 3 hours (by tuk-tuk) to get to the rock. But if you ask us it is definitely worth the 3-hour bumpy ride.
When climbing Sigiriya Lion Rock you should set aside a couple of hours for the whole climb. That way you have plenty of time to stop along the way to the top to enjoy the beautiful view. On the top, you can explore the history of the rock, relax in the shadow, and enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking Sri Lanka.
4. Walk around Kandy Lake
Kandy Lake lies in the heart of Kandy city – right beside the Temple of the Tooth. Walking around the lake is a way of getting some quietness in the otherwise hectic city. The area is stunning and perfect for a walk or just some time for thoughtfulness on one of the benches. Another plus is of course that the sunsets are amazing from this view.
5. Take one of the World’s most scenic train rides
The train rides in Sri Lanka are something you can’t miss when traveling in Sri Lanka. Especially the trip from Kandy to Ella is known as one of the World’s most scenic train rides. The ride from Kandy to Ella takes around 7 hours. But if you ask us we would always recommend you break it up and make a stop in Nuwara Eliya. Expect beautiful nature and look forward to standing with your head outside the doors and windows of the train.