Are you planning a short trip to Sri Lanka? The city of Kandy is sure to be on your travel list as it is one of the most fascinating places in the country.
Kandy inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List The entire city is built around Kandy Lake. Sounds like fun, right? If you are traveling around Sri Lanka, 2 days in Kandy is enough to cover all the highlights.
Kandy was also the old capital of Sri Lanka before Colombo. I am so glad I visited Kandy during my trip to Sri Lanka as it gave me a totally different experience. I was there for 2 days, which I think is enough to explore most of the place and experience the local culture. If you’re short on time, you can plan a 2-day trip and still explore most of the city. If you have time, explore the Ella to Kandy train (and vice versa) – it’s awesome!
So, that’s about my time in this beautiful city.
How I explored Kandy in 2 days
You can explore the city in two ways, Either hire a taxi or a tuk tuk. I feel this is one of the best ways to interact with the locals as they will give you more information about the places you are visiting. Since we hired a taxi from Colombo to Kandy, we visited a few places on arrival. The whole trip cost us about 5000 LKR.
The next day, I rented a tuk tuk for about 6 hours a day, which cost me about 2500 LKR. A taxi costs almost twice as much as a tuk-tuk, but it all depends on your haggling skills. I personally prefer to explore the city by tuk tuk Because it makes me feel like a part of the city, not a traveler. Plus, it’s more fun and more cost-effective!
Where to stay in Kandy
There are plenty of places to stay in Kandy depending on your budget. If you are looking for bigger hotels or some of the best hotels, they are mostly located near the city center. But if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find hotels and even hostels near Kandy Lake.
I actually live in a beautiful resort, Amaya Hills, not surprisingly, on top of a hill some distance from the city. You can hire a taxi or tuk tuk to get to your desired hotel. It won’t cost you much. I have some hotel recommendations for every budget if you want to consider.
1. Budget hotel
If you’re on a tight budget, Feel Home is one of the best options. The property is located in Kandy, within 2.8 km of Kandy Railway Station and 3.5 km of Bogambara Stadium, and provides air conditioning, a toaster, a fridge, an electric kettle, a bidet, free toiletries and a desk. It has a cozy homestay feel, but with enough privacy.
Enjoy a Full English/Irish and Asian breakfast including hot dishes, fruit and juices. There is also a lounge on site, and grocery deliveries and packed lunches are available on request.
Many Travel Dudes travelers have booked to stay at Feel Home during their stay in Kandy!
2. Mid-range hotels
If you’re looking for more comfortable accommodation with more amenities, you can consider mid-range hotels like the Lakefield Hotel and Blue Kandy Hill.
3. Luxury hotel
If you prefer to stay in luxury lodges, the best ones are the Kings Pavilion and The Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge.
Things to Do in Kandy
The city of Kandy has several popular attractions. Well, my travel time is shorter, so I take my time to experience and explore some of the best places in the city and skip the ones I don’t find interesting.
1. Kandy Lake
Kandy Lake takes up a major part of the city and you should definitely visit it (and probably see it a few times during your 2 days in Kandy)! When it comes to Kandy, this is one of my favorite places. I took a walk by the lake early one morning and it was a very pleasant experience. I met people who practiced the Buddhist way of meditation in the nearby area.The lake runs parallel to the road, which can be a bit confusing during busy times during the day, but One of the best places to spend time with yourself and relax on a peaceful morning.
2. Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
This beautiful Buddha statue one of the largest statues in the country If you are visiting Kandy, you must not miss to visit this place. The colossal 88-foot statue of Buddha seated in the Nirvana position is a real eye-catcher. But I climbed to the top of Bahirawa Kanda and the view from the top is breathtaking! I heard that the statue looks beautiful at night, which is when I visited. It was fully lit with lights and lamps and I was able to see a mesmerizing panorama of the city from the top.
This place is open 24 hours, but The best time to visit is early morning or at sunset. Also, it cost me about 200 LKR to see the statue, about 80 rupees.
3. Kaduganwa Tea Factory
When it comes to the largest tea producing country, I am surprised that Sri Lanka ranks 4th in the world! Kandy city has some amazing tea factories and tea gardens So I thought I’d visit one since I’m a die-hard tea lover! I went to Kadugannawa tea factory to learn more about the whole process of making tea.
Embilmeegama is another famous tea factory in Kandy that you can visit. I took a tour of the factory, learned about some of the machines and how they work, and finished off with a cup of their famous tea. Interestingly, the entire process from picking the tea leaves to packing them takes a full 24 hours, much of which is done by machines. If you are a tea lover like me, you can also visit this place. Factory tours are also free!
Here’s what to do in your 2 days in Kandy!
4. Kandy Traditional Dance
I personally like to learn more about the culture and traditions of the places I visit so I went to see Kandy traditional dance performance. It is called Kandy Dance and it takes place in many different parts of the city. However, what I saw was the Kandy Lake Club near Kandy Lake, which ended up being one of the best clubs in the city. It was amazing to see the colorful costumes and unique Sri Lankan dance forms! The dance ends with a performance of the artist walking on fire!
Shows usually start at 5:30pm, but I was about 15 minutes early to get a front row seat. It lasts about an hour. Also, the show cost me about 500 rupees, but I think it’s worth it. You can book online.
5. Temple of the Tooth Relic
Another place to visit if you are religious and enjoy visiting temples. I’m not very religious personally, and time is short, so I actually skipped this. But according to the locals, it is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. One of the Buddha’s teeth is said to have been removed at his funeral and hidden in a gold coffin at the temple. People come to visit and pray to Buddha. Local Buddhists believe that one must worship at least once in a lifetime.
6. Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
The Peradeniya Botanical Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the country. It has a variety of trees and plants, and if you want to know more about them, you can visit this place. Although a tuk tuk driver might tell you that it will take 4-5 hours to explore the gardens, we managed to do it in under an hour. It’s a nice place, I wouldn’t recommend visiting if your travel time is short.
Some restaurants enjoy Kandyyan flavors
Kandy offers a wide variety of restaurants for all foodies (read more about Sri Lankan cuisine), offering many different dishes and cuisines. Here are some of my suggestions that you can try to treat yourself during your 2 days in Kandy.
1. Obtain a BBQ license
This is a roadside place to get burritos and burgers for super low prices! And the food is so delicious, I keep craving more and more! I love having the tandoori there, it’s delicious!
2. Cafe Shenzhou Street
It’s a small cafe, but the food is good and value for money. You can taste local specialties and Western dishes here. You get a decent amount of food and it’s fine to eat here.
3. Cool Lounge
This place is one of the best bars if you want a beer in the evening. You can relax with a beer while admiring the mesmerizing sunset view from the rooftop!
4. Cool Corner Ice Cream Parlor
Well, who doesn’t love ice cream! This is one of my favorite places to eat ice cream because they serve me such large portions that I find it hard to finish after a big dinner! The menu card has a whole 3 pages of different flavors of ice cream! That’s crazy! Also, the price is not bad compared to the quantity, so you can try the ice cream at this place.
places to shop
If you like shopping, Central Market and Kandy City Center are the best places to shop. You can also explore the local markets in the cities around Kandy Lake, where you can find some accessories, handicrafts, designer clothes and more!
If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, Kandy is a beautiful place in Sri Lanka. I had a great time here and I’m sure you will too! You’ll love exploring the place, learning and interacting with the locals, it will be an experience of a lifetime!
