Kandy’s Cultural Treasures
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Kandy & Pooja ceremony
Today you’ll arrive in the cool green hills of Kandy where you’ll find plenty of fascinating sights just waiting to be explored. In the late afternoon, a refreshing breeze starts to roll in off the hills so it’s an ideal time to join the locals and take a stroll along the shores of the lake.
Every evening devotees flock in numbers for blessings at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This evening you can play a tiny part in this spiritual experience by placing flowers on the table and lighting your lamp and joss sticks at the altar of the temple. We suggest you wear white clothing, as this is the colour of purity. It’s also best to dress quite conservatively, and hats should be removed.
Day 2 – Kandy sightseeing & departure
After a restful night and a hearty breakfast, you’ll probably have enough energy to take a city tour today. First you’ll meet your driver and head off to explore the local sites. We’d really recommend visiting the Royal Botanical Garden, about 3.5 miles from the city centre and the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. You’ll stroll through the ornate temple rooms, learning about the ancient tales of how Buddha’s tooth came to be here. Once you’re done sightseeing, you’ll journey onwards to your next destination.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Kandy’s Cultural Treasures - In Style
For this bite-sized trip we have an alternative option available for your accommodation. Our In Style version is something a bit more special or unique but still with lots of local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your accommodation for this bite-sized trip select our In Style option below.
Life amongst the Rice Paddies
For a real immersion into rural Sri Lankan life we can arrange for you to stay in an eco-lodge in the village of Digana – around one hour from Kandy – surrounded by rice paddies and forest.
Owner Nihal set up the eco lodge alongside his Dutch wife, Nel in order to give something back to the villagers. They’ve worked alongside the local community every step of the way to ensure that everything they do benefits those who need it. They employ only local staff from the villages and in his spare time Nihal gives free English classes. The lodge is basic and rustic but this is a unique experience focusing on sustainable tourism.
