Why You'll Love Kandy Kandy was the final stronghold of Sri Lanka's kings before British annexation in 1815, and it still feels distinct from the coast — a lake-ringed city in the hills, home to the country's most important Buddhist shrine and the starting point for the famous train ride into tea country.
Houses what's believed to be a tooth relic of the Buddha, the most venerated Buddhist site in Sri Lanka — full details in the Temple of the Tooth guide.
An artificial lake built in 1807 right in the city centre, popular for an evening walk around its promenade.
The scenic Kandy-to-Ella train line begins here, climbing through tea estates and cloud forest toward Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
Beyond the Temple of the Tooth, add Peradeniya Botanical Garden and an evening Kandyan dance show. Kandy's sacred city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
