Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day

Posted on by Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

If the question is, What are the Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day?, the answer can consist of many dozens of tourist attractions. However, how many of those touristic places can be visited depends on the time that you can dedicate to the city tour. below are the interesting places that can be visited in kandy in one day,

Table of Contents

About Kandy

Kandy’s status as the site associated with Buddha’s teachings is the primary factor influencing the decision of many tourists to make it the starting point of their Sri Lanka itinerary while exploring the island. Due to the fact that its culture, tradition, customs, and religious fervor distinguish this city in numerous ways, Kandy is included in the majority of journeys of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. One might inquire whether any other nation exhibits a greater degree of religious devotion than Sri Lanka.

Attachment to Buddha

Sri Lankans become increasingly in tune with their religions and traditions when economic development overshadows them. You can see that the temples are brimming with offerings and that people are extolling Buddha and his teaching. However, this article will not focus exclusively on religious sites in Kandy. Including religious landmarks, natural attractions, and man-made structures, these are five sites in Kandy that are ideal for couples to visit.

Historical and cultural significance of Kandy

Kandy, the cultural epicenter of Sri Lanka, is the holiest city in the country due to the Temple of the Tooth, which is a must-see for couples and anyone interested in learning about the country’s illustrious history. Kandy is a must-see destination for Sri Lankan tourists and is included in the majority of road excursions throughout the country. Kandy, which was the final capital of Sri Lanka, was replete with ceremonies, customs, and traditional arts and crafts.

Kandy is a city adorned with magnificent native Sri Lankan structures as well as numerous British-built edifices. Visitors to the city are adorably adorning the structure’s architectural merit. Kandy personifies the very nature of Sri Lanka. Due to the fact that each aspect of Sri Lankan culture and tradition is conspicuously present, Kandy is among the most frequented cities in the country.

Kandy boasts an extensive assemblage of Buddhist religious sites that could occupy an individual for several weeks. If you have an interest in Sri Lanka’s customs, ceremonies, culture, and tradition, then Kandy is the city that would satisfy your curiosity.

The principal urban center of the central province of Sri Lanka is Kandy. Kandy is likely the only metropolis on the island that exudes a tranquil and serene ambiance. The city presents a stark juxtaposition to bustling locales like Colombo.

Beautiful places in Kandy

The city has a unique blend of culture, nature, history, and modern life that tempts visitors to come back to Kandy. Beautiful tree-fringed roads, comfortable cool climate, colonial buildings, historical sites, bars, restaurants, and natural attractions are some of the favorites of the people who come to Kandy.

With its unique upcountry Sinhalese culture, Kandy has a large number of top-notch attractions, such as the tooth relic temple, Peradeniya botanical garden, and Pinnawala elephant orphanage. Kandy is centrally located on the island, hence, the city can be accessed from any part of the island without much effort.

Tourists who spend the holiday at beach resorts on the west coast, east coast, and south coasts, such as Bentota, Hikkaduwa, and Nilaweli, can easily explore Kandy on a day tour. Kandyan cultural shows will also be covered in a day tour from Bentota to Colombo.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day

Travel beyond the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka and Colombo on the west coast to learn about Kandy’s architecture, traditions and culture. The trip of Kandy is in the bucket list of most travelers, as it is a perfect opportunity to explore this fascinating city.

There’s more to Kandy’s colourful historical past than the large span of beautiful tea plantations with mountain peaks in its backdrop. Travel beyond Sri Lanka’s west coast to find out about this beautiful Sri Lankan city’s architecture, traditions and culture.

How many tourist places can I visit in one day?

The answer to this question depends on many factors, however, the starting location of your Kandy one-day tour is the main deciding factor. Depending on the starting point, you may be able to visit 5–10 main tourist places on this Sri Lanka 1 day tour.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day tour from Colombo

Kandy one-day tour Colombo is the most popular one day trip to Kandy. Perhaps, it is the most popular one day trip in Sri Lanka. The demand for this one day tour is very high, especially among foreign travellers. The main point included on this one day trips are,

  • Pinnawala elephant orpahange
  • Spice/herbal garden
  • Tooth relic temple
  • Royal botanical garden
  • Kandy Lake
  • Tea factory/Tea garden
  • Gem musem
  • Handicraft center
  • Highway Museum

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day tour from the west coast

A large number of foreign travellers choose the west coast of Sri Lanka as their base for their Sri Lanka trip. These beach holiday lovers stay in a beach resort during their holiday and venture on a few 1-day and 2-day trips to visit important tourist places. Kandy one day tour is one of the most popular among beach holiday lovers. This one day trip is very similar to the Kandy one day tour from Colombo and includes the same places as the Kandy trip from Colombo.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day tour from Kandy

Most travellers choose the beaches as their anchoring spot in Sri Lanka, while some other travelers choose cities like Colombo, Kandy and sigiriya as the base of their Sri Lanka trip. Venturing on a Kandy one -day trip from Kandy or nearby places gives you the best opportunity to see all major tourist places in Kandy. Compared to both Kandy trips discussed above, this one-day trip in Kandy gives you the opportunity to visit the places below with leisure.

  • Pinnawala elephant orpahange
  • Spice/herbal garden
  • Tooth relic temple
  • Royal botanical garden
  • Kandy Lake
  • Tea factory/Tea garden
  • Gem musem
  • Handicraft center

What are the most beautiful places to visit in one day?

If the question is, What are the Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day?, the answer can consist of many dozens of tourist attractions. However, how many of those touristic places can be visited depends on the time that you can dedicate to the city tour. below are the interesting places that can be visited in kandy in one day,

  • Tooth relic temple
  • Natha Devala
  • Tea factory and garden
  • Spice/herbal garden
  • Kandy Lake
  • Highway Museum
  • Victoria Dam
  • Royal botanical garden
  • Lankatilaka temple
  • Embelke temple
  • Kandy museum
  • Kandyan cultural show
  • Tea museum
  • Udawattakele sanctuary
  • Gadaladeniya, Embekke and Lanka tilaka temple
  • Kandyan cultural show
  • Highway Museum
  • Vicoria Dam
  • Udawattakele sanctuary

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: Udawattakele sanctuary

The Udawattakele sanctuary is a haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Designed for the Kandyan king and his palace, it had been the official pleasure garden of Kandyan King. Today the garden is still holding many important remnants of the pleasure garden.

Despite its historical importance and natural beauty, the park does not attract a large crowd. Udawattakele is not included in most Sri Lanka trip packages such as Sri Lanka 7 days tour and Sri Lanka 5 days trip. It is highly recommended to take a stroll across the park because it allows you to witness a large number of avian fauna species and many flora trees, plants and creepers native to the island.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: Kiri Muhuda

At the southern end of Kandy is the man-made Lake known as “Kiri Muhuda” (Milk see), which is another 5 places to visit in Kandy for couples. The Lake came into being under the rule of King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe (1798–1815), the last king of Sri Lanka. The lake was not originally planned as a part of the city and it was a result of the dam that was built across the paddy field between the king’s palace and Malwatta Maha Vihara, which is situated in the northern direction of the palace. It had been a difficult task to reach the temple from the palace due to the muddy surface, upon which the king had to walk.

In order to overcome such difficulties, a dam was built to help the king reach the temple easily over the muddy surface of the paddy field. In the subsequent rain, the paddy field went underwater due to the newly built dam. But flooded paddy field that was covered with muddy water added a gorgeous appearance to the city. Due to the white colorized water, it was named “Kiri Muhuda,” and the king decided to retain the water and make a lake, He immediately commanded his ministry to create a lake by removing the mud from the paddy field and filling the lake by redirecting streams around the city to the lake.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: Island Pavilion

Kandy Lake is located next to the Walukul bemma (the wall) of the temple of the tooth relic, towards the western side of the temple. The island, in the middle of the Kandy lake, is what is left of the old paddy field. Initially, it was the ground for the island pavilion of the king that was built in 1812 and housed the harem. During British rule, it was used as a store for weapons.

The fate of chief architecture

Later, the king sought the help of the chief architect, or “Mularachchiya” in order to develop the lake, further arousing the anger of noblemen against the Mularachchiya. Several days later, the dead body of Mularachchiya was floating on the waters of the lake. The king was very sad about the fate of the talented architects, but he was not able to find the criminals. Later, the king came to believe that he drowned alone because the lake’s designers had intended for him to commit a crime. Due to his plan, a large number of animals were killed as the lake was constructed and unseen forces made him drown himself according to the Karma (fate).

Since then, it has been believed that every year at least a person is drowned in the lake as a prophecy of a learned monk, who advised the king in state affairs. Even today, several such incidents are reported in the city and people thoroughly believe the prophecy. Even though the prophecy has not been able to keep the visitors away from the lake, at the western end of the lake is a boat dispatcher, where one can rent a boat for a ride in the lake. A large number of people are ready to take the risk and enjoy a boat ride on the beautiful lake. The promenade around the lake provides the possibility of a relaxing walk while enjoying the fauna and flora around the lake. The promenade is estimated to be around 3.5 km. The lake is estimated to be around 1.2 km in length, while the maximum is measured to be around 150m.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: Lankatilaka Temple

Lankatilaka is a popular attraction in the Kandy district of Kandy. The temple dates back to the Gampola period (14th century AD). King Buwanekabahu was reining the country during this period and one of his ministers, known as Senadhilankara, is considered to be the constructor of the temple. The present temple consists of 2 stories and is 80 feet high. According to historians, the temple had been bigger than modern temples in the past and consisted of 4 stories. A beautiful moonstone is caved at the entrance of the temple and it is carved onto the natural rock, where the temple stands.

The main entrance is decorated with a Makara Torana. The statues of Lankatilaka show a lot of similarities to Indian-styled statues. But the paintings show the characters of Kandyan-style paintings. The roof is covered with flat roofing tiles used in the Kandyan period. Even though there had been many large Buddha statues in the temple, today none of them are to be found in Lankatilaka. At present, only 4 small Buddha statues in meditation posture are to be seen in the temple. Lankatilaka was renovated under the reign of King Parakramabahu 6th, who ruled the country from Kotte. Lankatilaka is not just a temple but also an ancient construction with typical Sri Lankan arts, crafts and architecture.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: Victoria Dam

Victoria is an off-beaten-track attraction for tourists and one of the 5 places to visit in Kandy for couples. Victoria Dam, one of the biggest construction projects in modern Sri Lanka, is about 50 km east of Kandy City. It is located on the Kandy-Mahiyangana main road.  The dam is 122 meters in height and 520 meters long and stores the water in the Victoria reservoir. The water is directed through a tunnel about one and a half kilometers further down the river, where the force of moving water turns into electricity.

One-fourth of the electricity required for the island is generated here. The power generation project and the dam are part of the Mahaweli Development Project, the biggest development project on the island so far. Kotmale, Randenigala, and Rantabe are the other hydropower generation projects under the Mahaweli development project.

The Mahaweli development project was started in the 1970s. One main object of the development project was to generate hydroelectricity to meet the increasing electricity demand in the country. The second main object was to irrigate the lands in the dry zone and increase the agricultural products in the region. A canal system came with the project in order to spread the water throughout the dry zone.

Under the Mahaweli project, more than 100,000 families were resettled in the dry zone, enabling them to start new farmland. Today, nearly 17% of the rice required on the island is produced by the farmers in the region. The Mahaweli development project had been able to considerably increase the island’s GDP. The average income of the farmers in the areas covered by the Mahaweli project is more than double the income of the farmers in the other areas on the island.

The observation terrace commands a beautiful view of the Victoria Dam and the Victoria reservoir. It is open to the public, throughout the week, from 8 am to 6 pm. One can listen to lectures on hydroelectricity generation using water and the usage of water for various other purposes.

Highway museum Sri Lanka

The Road network of Sri Lanka is one of the most useful contributions to the country’s development from the British colonial era. Even though the High Way Museum was constructed in 1989; the construction of the Kandy-Colombo Road started in 1820 and opened to traffic in 1921 before it was graveled. It was connecting Colombo and Kandy enabling British planters to transport goods between the two destinations. Good communication between Colombo and Kandy was the highest priority during that period in order to attract British investors.

Being the best region for cultivating the main crop (Tea), British planters demanded a considerable good road network connecting the port of Colombo and their plantations in the mountains. Therefore, the convenient and prompt method of transportation between Colombo and Kandy was the need of the hour. Due to its high importance, British governors took prompt action in restoring and systematizing the road network, especially between Colombo and Kandy.

The highway museum is located in Mawanella on the way to Kandy from Colombo. It houses a large number of equipment and machines used for the construction of roads in the early days of the British colonial era. Most of these machines were imported from England and most of the machines are steam-powered. This valuable museum shows a model of Bogoda Bridge, a masterpiece of ancient Sinhalese engineers.

The museum is located at the 61st-milepost from Colombo on the A1 main road from Colombo to Kandy. There are another 5 places to visit in Kandy for couples. It is very convenient to visit due to its location, near the cross, where the A1 road crosses over the Upcountry railway track.

Tar rollers, weighing machines, steam Rollers, and Tar boilers are some of the noteworthy artifacts here. A steamroller is housed in the main building of the museum. The steamroller was imported in the early 1900s by the British. The roller, which can be found in the main building, was powered by elephants. A weighing machine was used to determine the amount of firewood used in the construction of the road. The tools, barrel of tar and several other artifacts dating back to the early British period are also housed in the museum building.

Governor Brownrigg planned the connection between Kandy and Colombo by a military road through the Kadugannawa Pass. Captain Dawson was the first engineer to supervise the construction of the road. Even though he started with the construction of the road, Mr. Dawson was not able to see the completion of the first highway in Sri Lanka; Captain Dawson passed away in 1829. Later, a monument was erected in Kadugannawa in honor of Captain Dawson.

The highway museum is a valuable attraction in Kandy for people who are interested in the history of the island. The machines and equipment in the museum are very rare specimens of antiques in the country. The museum is often visited by schoolchildren when they are on education tours and during the school holiday in Sri Lanka. The museum is open to the general public throughout the week and no entrance fee is levied.

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: Royal botanical garden

The royal botanical garden of Peradeniya is the biggest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, spreading over 147 acres. It is located next to the longest river of Sri Lanka, Mahaweli. It was started as the pleasure garden of Kandy and was limited to the royal dignitaries. Later, the botanical garden served as the nursery for cinchona plants. The Garden was transformed into a botanical garden under British administration in 1821, with the guidance of Alexandar Moon.

Peradeniya botanical garden has welcomed many thousand visitors over the last 700 years among its fragrant fruits, orchids, and bamboo alley. The botanical garden is located about 5 km from the city of Kandy and its proximity to Kandy makes the botanical garden a popular tourist site in the mountains.    

Kandy beautiful places to visit in one day: tooth relic temple

The temple of the tooth relic sits at the bank of Kandy lake, while in the backdrop of the temple is the Udawattakele sanctuary. The tooth relic temple is an ideal place to get rid of the hectic and noisy town. It is so calm and quiet in the temple, you may even forget that you are in a busy town like Kandy.

The temple served as the official residence of Kandy King at the beginning; later, it was converted to a sacred temple with the arrival of the tooth relic. The temple is an impressive feat of Sri Lankan design and, the temple makes a good landmark for navigating the city. The temple is open for visitors from dawn to dusk but it can be busy on weekends and full moon days.

The tooth relic temple is surrounded by three walls and a water ditch, much like the Sri Lankan forts built during ancient times. The temple nestled in the ancient part of the city, which is also categorized as a UNESCO world heritage site. The monks are present in the temple today, performing the daily rituals there.

7 best places for Sri Lanka cultural tour, sri lanka cultural places, the trip of Kandy

Kandyan Cultural show: upper lake

The upper lake dancing hall comes to life every day at 5:00 pm, during which energetic people move their hands, legs, hips, heads and entire body on par with the beat of the drum. While female dancers make various rhythmic moves according to the soothing music of the flute,. Kandy is the only one to witness the Kandy cultural show, which showcases typical Sri Lankan dancing forms and musical performances. There are few places, where you can witness the cultural show, however, all of them are located within easy reach of tooth relic temple.

Best for arts and crafts

The arts and crafts centre of Kandy has a large collection of artefacts, hand-made souvenirs, gems and jewellery, spices, tea, batik and various other items that are widely popular among travelers. Many hundred shops are tightly packed along the main road and offer typical Sri Lankan products.   

Where to stay, Kandy

The queen hotel is an iconic tourist hotel in Kandy, which owes its existence to English colonial rulers. The queen hotel was built about 180 years ago as the residence of the British governor. The hotel has been restored to a luxury hotel by adding modern facilities and amenities while maintaining the colonial characteristics of the building. The hotel commands a beautiful view over the important tourist places in Kandy, such as Tooth relic temple, Kandy lake, the catholic church and many other important tourist places in Kandy.

Despite its location close to Kandy city, the swiss hotel is wonderfully quiet. It is one of the oldest building in the city, with colonial splendour. The hotel has been expanded and upgraded under the present administration. Today, it serves a large number of travelers seeking luxurious accommodation in Kandy. The hotel is kitted out in European style and has a spa and outdoor pool.

Transport in Kandy

Kandy is accessible from all corner of Sri Lanka, due to its location in the middle of the country. Kandy is the hub of the Sri Lankan road network and rail transport also allows easy access to Kandy from Colombo and other mountain resorts such as Nuwara Eliya and Ella.  Air travel can also be used to reach Kandy from most major cities on the island, however, it can be an expensive option compared to other options. Usually, most Sri Lanka trip packages include Kandy as the base, while the guests explore tourist places in the mountains, therefore, most guests stay few nights in a Kandy hotel and plan daily excursions to nearby places.   

Hiring a taxi with a local guide is the most recommended method of travel in Kandy, which is safe, fast and gives you maximum privacy. Even though it may be a bit expensive compared to public transport, travelling by taxi is the best way to save time wasted on travel. Traveling by public transport sucks your time because they are behind schedule most of the time.  Fully packed buses and trains, especially during rush hour, make it a bit inconvenient and unsortable to travel with buses and trains.

Why do you take the trip of Kandy with serendipity?

Seerendipity Tour is an entirely locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Seerendipity Tours, and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka.

The best price guaranteed for you Kandy one day trip

When you book a tour with us, you directly book the tour with the local company, which means there are no middlemen and therefore you can guarantee the best price. Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see.

Plan your best Kandy one day trip with expert

Our staff makes a personalised programme for you, which you can change until you find the best package for you. You can also browse our existing tour packages for inspiration; all our ready-made tour packages are customizable and can be tailored to meet all your expectations. Write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com, tel. 0094-77-440977, WhatsApp 0094-77-4440977

Please support us

We have put a lot of time and effort into compiling this blog post. Please be kind enough to leave your very own comments.

About The Author

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

administrator

The focus of this site is Sri Lankan travel. We at Serendipity Tours (Private) Limited, attempting to impart our valuable experience as travellers who have explored most parts of the country over the last decade. We are helping our valuable readers plan their memorable Sri Lanka trip with our travel expertise and experiences. In case you require any additional information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at admin@seerendipitytours.com. In addition, we can plan your vacation package or any other Sri Lankan travel-related needs.

See author's posts