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Destination spotlight · Sri Lanka

Kandy Tour Packages

Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The lakeside town in the hills hosts the Esala Perahera, one of Asia's grandest processions.

Kandy at a glance

  • LocationSri Lanka, South Asia
  • Time zoneSame as India
  • Driving sideLeft
  • Calling code+94
  • CurrencySri Lankan rupee (LKR)
  • LanguagesSinhala, Tamil, English
  • Power plugsTypes D, G and M · 230 V
  • Ideal stay1–2 days

Best time to visit: January to April

Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Popular packages

Top Kandy travel packages

A few of our Kandy itineraries in different travel styles. Every one is private and can be changed to suit you.

View all 16 packages
Before you go

Essential tips for travelling to Kandy

Currency and payments

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Carry some local currency for markets, small shops and tips, and ask your bank about international card charges before you travel.

Tipping

A 10% service charge is common; small tips for drivers and guides are expected.

Drinking water

Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.

Power plugs

Types D, G and M · 230 V. Indian plugs will not fit; carry a universal adapter.

Emergency numbers

119 (police), 1990 (ambulance)

Language

Languages spoken: Sinhala, Tamil, English.

Getting around

Private cars with drivers are the norm. The Kandy–Ella train is one of the world's most scenic rides.

Planner's tip

Book the Kandy–Ella train's reserved observation or first-class seats well in advance.

Planner's tip

Cover shoulders and knees and remove hats at Buddhist temples.

Planner's tip

Board the Kandy–Ella train for one of the world's most beautiful rail journeys.

General guidance. Local rules and services change; we confirm details for your dates.

Map

Where is Kandy?

Who it suits

Who should visit Kandy?

Plan from your city

Plan your Kandy trip from India

Departures to KandyPick the city you travel from and we include flights from there in your quote.

Everything you need to know about Kandy

Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The lakeside town in the hills hosts the Esala Perahera, one of Asia's grandest processions.

Highlights include Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake, Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Local food worth trying: Rice and curry, Kiribath and Wood apple juice. Plan 1–2 days here; it suits culture lovers, pilgrims. Our Kandy itineraries run from 5 to 11 days and every one can be changed to suit you.

When to go

January to April. Dry season; Esala Perahera is in July or August.

How to reach Kandy

  • By air: Colombo (CMB), about 3 hours
  • By rail: Kandy station, scenic trains to Ella
  • By road: About 3 hours from Colombo
Tour packages

View all Kandy packages

Private, customisable itineraries with prices quoted for your dates, hotel category and group size.

Sri Lanka Highlights7D / 6NKandy · Nuwara Eliya · Bentota · Colombo
Family holidays

Sri Lanka Highlights

Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, tea country at Nuwara Eliya, beaches at Bentota and Colombo's city sights.

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Sri Lanka Ramayana Trail6D / 5NColombo · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya
Pilgrimage toursCultural holidays

Sri Lanka Ramayana Trail

Sites linked to the Ramayana, including Seetha Amman Temple and Ravana Falls, with Kandy's shrine.

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Sri Lanka Honeymoon8D / 7NKandy · Nuwara Eliya · Ella · Bentota
Honeymoon packages

Sri Lanka Honeymoon

The scenic Ella train, tea-country bungalows and three beach nights on the southwest coast.

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Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle5D / 4NSigiriya & Dambulla · Kandy
Cultural holidays

Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka's ancient heart in four nights: the Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla's painted caves, Polonnaruwa's ruins and Kandy's Temple of the Tooth.

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Sri Lanka Grand Tour11D / 10NColombo · Sigiriya & Dambulla · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya
Cultural holidays

Sri Lanka Grand Tour

Ten days around the island: ancient cities, tea hills, the Ella train and Galle Fort.

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Kandy & Nuwara Eliya Short Trip5D / 4NKandy · Nuwara Eliya
Hill-station holidays

Kandy & Nuwara Eliya Short Trip

Temples and tea: Kandy's lake and botanical gardens, then the hills of Little England.

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Sri Lanka Family Wildlife Trip6D / 5NSigiriya & Dambulla · Kandy · Bentota
Family holidaysWildlife safaris

Sri Lanka Family Wildlife Trip

Elephants at Minneriya, the Pinnawala centre, turtles at Kosgoda and calm beaches.

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Sri Lanka & Maldives8D / 7NKandy · Bentota · Maldives
Multi-country toursHoneymoon packages

Sri Lanka & Maldives

Sri Lanka's culture and beaches followed by three nights at a Maldives resort.

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Ella & Tea Country Train Journey6D / 5NKandy · Nuwara Eliya · Ella
Train journeysPhotography holidays

Ella & Tea Country Train Journey

Built around the famous Kandy–Ella railway, with Nine Arches Bridge and hikes in Ella.

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Sri Lanka Senior-Friendly Tour7D / 6NColombo · Kandy · Bentota
Senior-friendly holidays

Sri Lanka Senior-Friendly Tour

A gentle pace with two long bases, short drives and accessible sights.

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Sri Lanka Luxury Tour9D / 8NSigiriya & Dambulla · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya · Galle
Luxury holidays

Sri Lanka Luxury Tour

Jungle lodges, a colonial tea bungalow and a boutique hotel inside Galle Fort.

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Sri Lanka Buddhist Trail5D / 4NKandy · Sigiriya & Dambulla
Pilgrimage toursCultural holidays

Sri Lanka Buddhist Trail

The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Dambulla cave temples and the sacred city of Anuradhapura with its Bodhi tree, from a Sigiriya base.

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Madurai, Rameswaram & Sri Lanka6D / 5NMadurai · Rameswaram · Colombo · Kandy
Pilgrimage toursCultural holidays

Madurai, Rameswaram & Sri Lanka

Madurai's Meenakshi temple and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, then a short flight to Colombo and the hill city of Kandy, linking the temples of both shores.

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Sri Lanka Highlights Holiday6D / 5NKandy · Nuwara Eliya · Bentota · Colombo
Family holidaysCultural holidays

Sri Lanka Highlights Holiday

Hill temples, tea estates and a beach finish in six easy days: Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, Nuwara Eliya's tea country and Ramayana sites, a Bentota river safari and a Colombo city tour.

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Sri Lanka, Singapore & Malaysia9D / 8NKandy · Colombo · Kuala Lumpur · Singapore
Family holidaysMulti-country tours

Sri Lanka, Singapore & Malaysia

Three countries in nine days: Kandy's temples and Pinnawala elephants in Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur's towers and Batu Caves, and Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa and Universal Studios.

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Sri Lanka & Thailand8D / 7NKandy · Bentota · Pattaya · Bangkok
Multi-country toursFamily holidays

Sri Lanka & Thailand

Sri Lanka's hill capital and south-west coast, then Thailand's Pattaya and Bangkok: Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, a Bentota river safari, Coral Island, the Alcazar show and Safari World.

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16 itineraries

Nearby in Sri Lanka

More places in Sri Lanka

Top attractions

Top things to see in Kandy

Kandy Lake, Kandy
Kandy LakeLakeside walkPhoto: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0
GalleKandy
Temple of the Tooth

Sacred Buddhist shrine

Wildlife

Wildlife in Kandy

Sightings depend on season and luck and are never guaranteed. Keep your distance, stay with licensed guides and never feed wild animals.

Culture

Cultural experiences in Kandy

Heritage and landmarks

Experiences

  • Evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth
  • Cultural dance show

On the menuFood to try

  • Rice and curry
  • Kiribath
  • Wood apple juice
Outdoors

Outdoor activities in Kandy

Garden walk

Many activities are seasonal. Best time for Kandy: January to April. We check operating seasons for your dates.

Travel tips

Kandy travel tips

Visa and entry

Entry rules for Indian passport holders change, including visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa schemes, so confirm the current rules on the official government or embassy website for Sri Lanka before booking flights. Most countries require a passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date. We check the current requirements when we prepare your quote; we cannot guarantee visa approval.

Health and safety

Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation; healthcare abroad can be expensive. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription. For current safety advice, check the travel advisories published by the Government of India and the embassy in Sri Lanka.

Currency and tipping

The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). A 10% service charge is common; small tips for drivers and guides are expected.

Best time to visit

January to April. Dry season; Esala Perahera is in July or August.

Getting around

Private cars with drivers are the norm. The Kandy–Ella train is one of the world's most scenic rides.

Local etiquette

  • Dress modestly at temples, churches and mosques, and remove footwear where asked.
  • Ask before photographing people, and follow photography rules at religious sites and museums.
  • Cover shoulders and knees and remove hats at Buddhist temples.

What to pack

Pack a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and swimwear, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for religious sites, comfortable walking shoes and a universal travel adapter.

Phone and internet

Indian mobile operators sell international roaming packs, or you can buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival with your passport. Check that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM before you travel.

Budget

We don't publish fixed prices because the season, hotel category, flights and group size change the cost. Your written quote lists exactly what is included, so you can compare like for like.

FAQs

Kandy FAQs

What is Kandy famous for?
Kandy is known for Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake, Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
What is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to April. Dry season; Esala Perahera is in July or August.
How many days are enough for Kandy?
Plan 1–2 days to see the main sights without rushing. Our itineraries that include Kandy run from 5 to 11 days, usually combined with nearby places.
How do I reach Kandy?
Colombo (CMB), about 3 hours. Kandy station, scenic trains to Ella. About 3 hours from Colombo.
What currency is used in Kandy?
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). A 10% service charge is common; small tips for drivers and guides are expected.
What languages are spoken in Kandy?
Sinhala, Tamil, English.
What plug type does Sri Lanka use?
Types D, G and M · 230 V. Indian plugs do not fit, so carry a universal adapter.
Is tap water safe to drink in Sri Lanka?
Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.
What is the time difference between India and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is Same as India.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Rules for Indian passport holders vary and change, including visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa schemes. Check the official government or embassy website before you travel; we confirm the current rules when you book with us.
What are the emergency numbers in Sri Lanka?
119 (police), 1990 (ambulance).
How much does a Kandy tour package cost?
It depends on your travel month, hotel category, the number of travellers and whether flights are included, so we quote every trip individually. Share your dates and we send a day-by-day plan with a price on WhatsApp.
Can Nexara Holidays plan a Kandy trip from Chennai?
Yes. We plan trips from Chennai and other Indian cities, including flights, hotels, transfers and sightseeing.
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