Things to do in  Kandy

The most famous sight is the 16th century Temple of the Tooth. It houses a casket purportedly holding a relic of Buddha's tooth. In a twice daily ceremony, the casket is paraded around the temple. Kandy also has a well-known World War II war cemetery and an excellent botanical garden.

Begin at the Temple of the Tooth to watch the morning ceremony, where a casket purportedly holding a relic of Buddha's tooth is paraded through the temple. Then, it’s a short hop to the botanical gardens, Peradeniya. At night, watch a Kandyan dance performance. The outfits and headpieces are opulent.

The Esala Perahera, or Festival of the Tooth, is Kandy's biggest festival. Every August, the city comes alive in color and music as Kandyans pay homage to Lord Buddha. Every terrace and rooftop become a place to sit and watch the parades of painted elephants, Kandyan dancing, and fire dancing.

Sri Lanka is incredibly biodiverse, particularly in terms of birdlife. The Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, within the city itself, is a twitcher's paradise, with more than 80 different species. Kandy’s food markets are also well worth a trip (try the Central Market), and you’ll likely taste delicacies you never knew existed.

Plan at least two days to experience the Temple of the Tooth, see a Kandyan dance performance, and visit a nearby rubber, tea, or spice plantations. Visitors going south by train should know that the onward journey starts early in the morning, so there's no sightseeing on checkout day.

There are direct trains linking the city with Colombo, the island’s capital, but the train for which Kandy is known is the iconic blue locomotive that winds its way for six hours through tea country to reach Ella. It’s a popular route, so book tickets in advance.