Kandy is a key cultural and religious center and well worth a daytrip (or more) during your Sri Lanka holiday.

The arrival to Kandy by Uber is as simple as it gets, and along the way, you are rewarded with impressive landscape views as you drive through the mountainous roads of central Sri Lanka.

Kandy Lake is a small lake located in the city center, and it also helps you navigate the area. The lake, along with its small island “Diyathilaka Mandapa Island,” emphasizes the peacefulness that surrounds Buddhism in general and Kandy specifically.

The must-see during your daytrip to Kandy is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). This temple houses the lower left canine tooth of Siddharta Gautama, often referred to as the Buddha. Needless to say, the Sacred Tooth Relic attracts many Buddhists as part of a spiritual journey. However, people from any religion are welcome, as long as you respect the temple, monks, and people praying there.

Several Golden metal plates around the altar of the Relic display the fascinating story of how the relic ended up in Sri Dalada Maligawa. Additionally, the temple displays many ancient documents, books, and ornaments, which are also very interesting to see.

Every day around 8:00 pm, the temple hosts a Buddhist ceremony, which is definitely worth witnessing. However, we preferred to watch from a safe distance in order not to disturb anyone participating in the ceremony.

Another must-see on your day trip to Kandy is the traditional dance show at the Kandyan Dance – Red Cross Society Hall. Every day from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, locals perform traditional songs, dances, and acrobatics. The entry fee is small, and when we attended, there were many empty seats, so there’s no need to book tickets in advance.

The dance show features different acrobatics, dances, and singing performances that highlight the various cultural influences in Kandy. The show also provides printed information about each performance, which helps you understand their meaning.

Our hotel was the Lakewood Residence, a small, cozy hotel with a direct view of Kandy Lake and lots of wooden interior designs. The hotel included an international breakfast, which was extensive, and it also had a swimming pool.