Kandy walking tour & city guide

The lake, the temple and the town

Kandy Lake was created by the last king of Kandy in the early nineteenth century, and a path runs all the way around it under tall trees. On its northern shore, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Maligawa, holds a relic believed to be a tooth of the Buddha; drums and offerings mark the daily ceremonies, and pilgrims bring white flowers.

North of the lake, the compact town centre is a grid of busy streets, colonial-era buildings, shops and the covered Kandy Market. A large white Buddha statue looks down from Bahirawakanda hill, and the Udawattakele forest reserve rises just behind the temple. A few kilometres out of town, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya are among the finest in Asia.

A classic walk: around Kandy Lake

Start early with a loop of Kandy Lake, when the air is cool and the mist lifts off the water. Visit the Temple of the Tooth in the morning, then walk into the town centre and through Kandy Market for fruit, spices and tea.

In the late afternoon, climb up to the viewpoint above the town for the classic view of the lake and the temple, and come back down for the evening ceremony at the temple, when the drums sound across the water.

Good to know

January to April is generally the driest time, and in July or August the city hosts the Esala Perahera, a great procession of elephants, dancers and drummers. The train from Colombo takes about three hours and continues into the tea country towards Ella. Wear white or modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees at the temple, and remove your shoes. Tuk-tuks are the easiest way to reach Peradeniya and the viewpoints.