Kandy City

Kandy is home to THE Buddhist sanctuary of Sri Lanka – a molar tooth of the Buddha. For Sinhalese, the relatively large city in the central highlands of Sri Lanka is the epitome of national feeling, as the city has managed to be subjugated against the Dutch and British colonial powers over several centuries.

In Kandy, as a traveler, you can trace the Sri Lankan Buddhism that is lived every day. In addition, the enchanting surrounding area with its gentle hills and the pleasant climate make the city an oasis of well-being - also because of the fresh city climate, its winding alleys and the colonial house facades.

Things to see and do

Many paths and round trips lead through the hill city of Kandy. What you wanted to experience and see there, we have listed as top 5:

1. Every year in July/August, Kandy is all about the temple festival Kandy Perahera, which is second to none: in a magnificent parade, the tooth relic of the Buddha is carried around the city.
2. Lake Kandy, which was created in the 19th century, has a special charm. Our tip: From the south shore you have a wonderful view of the Temple of the Tooth, its reflection in the lake and the mountains in the background.
3. You should definitely plan a performance of the Kandy dances. In various event rooms, there is a performance every late afternoon that impresses with acrobatics and artistry.
4. The Temple of the Tooth, idyllically surrounded by green trees, can also be visited daily. You can expect artistically painted walls, finely crafted ivory carvings, silver and gold. Our tip: Three times a day, the drummers urgently call for the so-called "puja", worship. Anyone who is in the temple at one of these times can take a brief look at the elaborately veiled tooth relic together with hundreds of believers. But we don't get to see Bhudda's supposed molar tooth, only his storage box.
   Attention, it is important to wear appropriate clothing: shorts and off-the-shoulder tops are taboo. In temples, shoes have to be taken off, and it is best to orient oneself to the local believers. You should not take pictures in front of religious statues and do not touch them.
5. The area around Kandy inspires culture and nature lovers alike, where you can find many other Buddhist and Hindu temples and stupas as well as the botanical garden of Peradeniya. Our tip: If you want to combine exercise and culture, you can explore some of the surrounding temples and the picturesque landscape between hills and rice plantations on a hike on foot.

Climate and best time to travel to Kandy

The best time to visit Kandy is the travel period December to March. During the day the thermometer climbs to about 31 degrees, but at night it cools down to a pleasant 22 degrees. It rarely rains.

If you want to visit the spectacular temple festival Kandy Esala Perahera in July/August, you can also expect very good travel weather. The nights between July and September are warmer than in the European winter and the average rainy days per month are limited.

Basically, however, Kandy is a year-round destination, with most of the rain falling in October and November.

Itineraries around Kandy

If you want to embed Kandy in a Sri Lanka round trip, you will find some tour suggestions across the central highlands here, whether animal sightings, hiking or culture.

• Active holidaymakers can go trekking from Kandy to the nearby Knuckles Ranges, 30 to 40 km away. The two-hour journey is via small idyllic mountain roads.
• Those interested in culture are drawn north to the lion rock Sigiriya (2 hours away by car) and to the old royal cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura (each about 4 hours away by car).
• You can also continue your journey to the tea plantations in the highlands around Nuwara Eliya, possibly even on an incomparable journey on the train that continues from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
• National park visits: If you still want to go elephant and leopard stalking, you can reach Yala via Ella, Wilpattu via Anuradhapura or Udawalawe via Ratnapura.
• If you have to start your journey home soon, you will also find good connections by bus (3.5 hours) or train (4.5 hours) to Colombo via the expressway.