How to Reach Kandy—The Beautiful Hill Capital of Sri Lanka

Charles R. Benedict, View point of Kandy, CC BY-SA 4.0 

Kandy is located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It was the last kingdom of the island nation and still retains many old customs and traditions. The area is home to several historical sites as well as the iconic Temple of the Tooth Relic housed in the former royal palace. Getting to Kandy from Colombo, the commercial capital, is part of the thrill as you will see in this article on how to reach Kandy. 

Get to Kandy by Train

 Train travel in Sri Lanka is very diverse with connections to many parts of the island. The route from Colombo to Kandy is especially scenic; all train rides to the highlands are popular as the routes take passengers across fertile lands, green hills, silvery waterfalls, and lush tea estates. Cheap and comfortable inter-city trains ply from Colombo and Badulla to Kandy. You can book first-, second- or third-class tickets as well as space in the observation carriage, which is perfect for sightseeing along the way. Choose from air-conditioned compartments to the inexpensive third-class options, which may get crowded at times. Book online and you can enjoy a hassle-free transition to your carriage once you get to the station. Once you get to Kandy, there is a range of things to experience from visiting the sacred Dalada Maligawa, home to a tooth relic of the Buddha, to relaxing at the famous Peradeniya Gardens; get a full scope of all attractions in Kandy by exploring Kandy Escapes and other similar sites with plenty of helpful blogs on places to visit in Kandy. 

Drive to Kandy

 The drive up the winding roads into the highlands of Sri Lanka is a rewarding experience. You can hire a car with a driver and undertake the journey with a more laid-back vibe. Driving means you get to make stops along the way, and that is part of the experience when exploring the rural areas of Sri Lanka. Along the way are little kiosks selling drinks of refreshing king coconut (which you drink straight out of the nut), small huts selling black tea with sweet pieces of jaggery, and roti shops where you can enjoy the meal on the roadside out of your parked vehicle with a chance to chat to the locals. It’s all very immersive and one of the best experiences to learn about the lifestyles of the villagers. A drive to Kandy from Colombo takes around three to three and a half hours but depends on how much time you spend stopping along the way, and there are plenty of excuses to stop too. Some of the attractions you enjoy when driving is spotting the iconic Bible Rock and Samanala Kanda and passing through the Kadugannawa tunnel which is hewn out of a rock; the tunnel is by-passed these days due to safety reasons, but even if you do take the alternate road, you can still get a view of the tunnel. Apart from cars, spacious van hires too are available in case you have a large crowd travelling. 

Fly to Kandy

Domestic flights can be booked directly from the international airport in Katunayake upon arrival. Flights are offered by domestic air operators and cut down travel time drastically; ideal if you are in a hurry to check into your hotel in Kandy. Domestic air taxis are inexpensive modes of travel and help you to cut out time spent in traffic. They are not as interactive as car travel but are equally rewarding if you decide to fly during the day.