7 Most Instagrammable Spots in Kandy, Sri Lanka's Hill Capital

Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lanka's ancient kings before British annexation in 1815, sits in a bowl of hills around an artificial lake, its skyline dominated by temple roofs rather than the high-rises of Colombo. Compact enough to cover on foot, it packs a UNESCO-listed temple, botanical gardens and hillside viewpoints into a single day's walk. Here are seven of its most photographed corners.

1. Sri Dalada Maligawa

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, said to house a tooth of the Buddha, is Kandy's central landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, its white walls, moat and gilded roof making it the obvious first stop for most visitors.

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2. Kandy Lake

Built in 1807 by the last king of Kandy, the lake's walking path and small island are a reliable spot for a reflection shot of the temple and the surrounding hills, particularly in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon.

3. Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

A short drive from the centre, the Peradeniya gardens hold one of Asia's most complete orchid collections, a giant Javan fig tree with a canopy wide enough to shelter dozens of visitors at once, and an avenue of royal palms planted in the nineteenth century.

4. Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha statue

A large white Buddha statue on a hillside above the city gives one of Kandy's widest viewpoints, taking in the lake, the temple and the surrounding hills in a single frame, especially at sunset.

5. Kandy View Point

A less-visited hillside terrace on the city's outskirts offers a quieter alternative angle over the lake and rooftops, popular with visitors looking to avoid the crowds at the Buddha statue viewpoint.

6. The hill country's tea estates

Kandy sits at the northern edge of Sri Lanka's central tea country, and a short trip into the surrounding hills reaches working tea estates with the terraced green slopes the region is known for, well before the more famous plantations further south around Nuwara Eliya.

7. A Kandyan dance performance

Evening cultural shows around the city stage traditional Kandyan dance and drumming, performances built on movements historically tied to temple ritual, and are widely used by visitors as a colourful, low-effort evening frame.

Traveller tips

• Kandy is roughly three hours by road or scenic rail from Colombo; the train ride itself is one of Sri Lanka's better-known routes.
• Modest dress (shoulders and knees covered) is required inside the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
• The Peradeniya gardens are best visited on a weekday morning to avoid local weekend crowds.
• July's Esala Perahera festival, when the temple's relic is paraded through the streets, is spectacular but brings the city's largest crowds and highest hotel rates of the year.