How To Spend 2 Days In Kandy, Sri Lanka

The last kingdom of Sri Lanka, Kandy prides itself in its unique traditions and culture. It is the capital of the country’s scenic central highlands. It is a great place for sightseeing, relaxing, and learning about local culture. Kandy is bound to be one of your must-visit places on the tropical island of Sri Lanka and given below are some of the most exciting things you can do during your two-day stay in the hill capital.

Where to stay

There are so many options for lodging when it comes to the historical city of Kandy. You can select a five-star hotel in the city itself or a little away from the central city. Or if you are on a budget, you can select a basic hotel with the most common amenities and or without breakfast. The best thing about accommodation in Kandy is that you can find accommodation in the middle of the city itself and you can wake up to the hustle and bustle of this city that was named a UNESCO heritage city.

What to do

The places to visit in Kandy are endless as the city itself has many different attractions and there are other places to visit and see, which are located in the vicinity of the city; however, your vacation is limited to two days in the Kandy city so you need to pick and choose carefully. On your first day, it is best to spend time within the city, explore like a local, walk around the city on foot, try some fresh fruits and treat your tastebuds to the delectable Soya Ice Cream, and head to the Kandyan Art for the evening filled with cultural events and performances. Some of the must-visit places in the Kandy city are the temple of the tooth relic, the Kandy National Museum, The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the War Cemetery, the Tea Museum, and Udawattakele Sanctuary. But apart from these, there is the Children’s Library, the Museum of the Dalada Maligawa, The View Point, and the Bahirawa Kanda temple located within the Kandy city limits. However, if you would like to make an effort to take some time out of the city on your second day, you can make a trip to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage to see the cute little babies and their families thriving under the care of loving humans, visit the free-range animals’ sanctuary and head back to visit the botanical gardens and head towards the Kandy lakeside for a dinner with a view of the city. Before driving back to Colombo, one shouldn’t forget to indulge in a tradition that runs back to the colonial days; high tea is a much-loved event in this part of the country and many hotels serve up delectable goodies and delicious cups of the finest Ceylon tea.

How to get about

Kandy is a small city unlike Colombo so you can explore the entire city centre on foot and this is exciting as you can see how the locals live, how the shops are opened for the day, and the city comes alive with locals, traffic, and even the bells of the kovils and temples. Kandy Escapes is a blog you can find details and descriptions of other visitors who have made their way to the beautiful city and enjoyed their stay. You can take tuk-tuks off the streets of Kandy if you are planning a little further than walking distance or if you wish to cover several places in the first morning such as the Dalada Maligawa, the National Museum, head to KCC or the Tea Museum for Lunch and then make your way to the Katharagama Devalaya and walk around the city to that soya centre like suggested earlier.