116km from Colombo, Kandy is the main city in the centre of the island. Curled around its artificial lake and surrounded by beautiful mountains, its charm in undeniable.
116km from Colombo, Kandy is the main city in the centre of the island. Curled around its artificial lake and surrounded by beautiful mountains, its charm in undeniable.
My suggestion
Whilst you're walking around the lake, don't neglect to follow the little monks who will invite you to come and explore their school. If you leave a donation, don't give it to the children, but instead to the teachers.
Anonymous traveller
Seasoned Traveller
4
Temples, an old colonial city, a royal garden and a lake - all nestled in the mountains. There are so many reasons to visit that you cannot avoid a stop in Kandy during your trip to Sri Lanka.
My suggestion
Choose accommodation in the heights of the city, in the Hantana quarter, for example. You will feel calmer and will enjoy an unbeatable view of Kandy and the surrounding valleys.
Romain Beuvart
Seasoned Traveller
4
As an old colonial city (Portuguese, Dutch, then British), this city in the mountains was awarded UNESCO world heritage status in 1988.
My suggestion
Travel by foot or by tuk-tuk towards the white Buddha in the Bahiravokanda Vihara temple. It is impressive enough as it is, but also offers a spectacular view of the whole city and the lake.
Fans of the outdoors and of walking will be enchanted by Sri Lanka which has one of the biggest diversities in the world in terms of preserved natural spaces. From the top of a mountain peak reaching over 2000 metres high to the wild plains covered in jungle, go off to explore in the heart of the country's national parks.
Ella is one of the most charming mountain stopovers in Sri Lanka. Not so much the village itself as its surroundings. Ella has one main road where you find most of the village's activities. In less than 10 minutes you are in the heart of Sri Lanka's mountains, surrounded by nature and in the middle of the tea plantations.
Whether you are passionate about history or nature you can't help but be charmed by Sigiriya and its surroundings. You'll climb back into time and history as you climb the steps of the Lion Rock. At the end of the day, enjoy the sunset over the magnificent countryside of the plains.
A lots less busy than the beaches in the south, the east coast of Sri Lanka guarantees you a stay off the beaten path. Long beaches that are almost empty most of the year, and an island where you can swim with sharks.