Nestled against a backdrop of lush, tea-clad hills, Kandy’s lively bustle feels slightly surreal. Now Sri Lanka’s second largest city, Kandy was the proud capital of the last Sinhalese Kingdom until the early 19th century. A brilliant springboard for delving into the island’s turbulent past or exploring the many wonders of the tea country, Kandy has become immensely popular with visitors. Accommodation options abound, with our Gurus’ list of the best places to stay in Kandy ranging from quirky guest houses to gorgeous heritage hotels.
Kandy Lake lies in the heart of the city, surrounded by age-old trees and historic landmarks. Having held out against the Portuguese and the Dutch, the Kingdom of Kandy finally fell to British forces with the capture of the king in 1815, and the quelling of the Uva Rebellion in 1817. Delve further into this history with guided tours of the city centre, where you’ll find the Old Royal Palace, the Kandy National Museum, the International Buddhist Museum and other striking buildings. Perhaps most famous is the imposing Sri Dalada Maligawa — also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth — in which rests the tooth of Lord Buddha.
This is one of the most significant places in the Buddhist world, and the annual Esela Perahera is the jewel in Kandy’s cultural calendar. A dazzling multi-day pageant of traditional music and dance, in which the tooth relic is paraded through streets lined with white-clad pilgrims, this really is something very special. If you’re visiting at another time of year, fill your bags with fresh produce and souvenirs from Kandy’s thrumming markets, or play a round on the beautiful Victoria Golf Course. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens are also spectacular. Come afternoon, there’s no better place to be than on the terrace of your pick of the best places to stay in Kandy — cup of tea or sundowner in hand.