Quick answer
A Kandy day trip from Colombo leaves around 6.30 am for the roughly three to 3.5 hour drive, or takes the early train, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for the morning puja, walk Kandy Lake, then spend the afternoon at Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens before returning in the late afternoon. It is a long day, and an overnight stay adds the evening puja.
Key takeaways
- Kandy is roughly three to 3.5 hours from Colombo by road and 2.5 to 3 hours by train.
- The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic holds pujas at dawn, around midday and in the early evening.
- Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens lies roughly 6 km from central Kandy and needs two to three hours.
- A day trip involves roughly six to seven hours of travel in total.
- Staying overnight lets you see the evening puja, which is the most atmospheric.
The Kandy day trip at a glance
The Kandy day trip from Colombo is a long day of roughly six to seven hours of travel and five to six hours in Kandy. It works best with an early start and a return after the evening traffic, or with the train one way and the car the other.
Kandy was the last royal capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic holds Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic and draws pilgrims from across the island.
A day trip suits travellers based in Colombo who cannot spare a night. Those with an extra night should stay in Kandy for the evening puja and the hills at dawn.
- →6.30 am: leave Colombo by car, or take the early train.
- →Late morning: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the lake.
- →Afternoon: Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens.
- →Late afternoon: return to Colombo.
Getting there: car or train
The car is the most flexible way to do a Kandy day trip, taking roughly three to 3.5 hours each way via Kegalle and the Kadugannawa pass. Leave around 6.30 am to beat traffic leaving Colombo. Sections of the Central Expressway may shorten the drive as they open; check the current route.
The train from Colombo Fort takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours and climbs the Kadugannawa incline through paddy fields and hills. Book reserved seats where possible, travel light and never lean out of the doors.
A good combination is the morning train up and the car back, so you see the scenery and return flexibly.
- →Car: roughly three to 3.5 hours each way.
- →Train: roughly 2.5 to 3 hours each way.
- →Combination: train up, car back.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the heart of the Kandy day trip. Arrive for the midday puja or simply visit in the late morning, when drums sound and offerings of flowers are carried to the inner chamber. Allow roughly 45 minutes to an hour.
Wear light clothing covering shoulders and knees, ideally white, and remove shoes at the counter outside. Photography is allowed in most areas but not of the inner chamber with flash.
Kandy Lake, built in 1807 beside the temple, makes a gentle walk afterwards, and the Kandy market and the old British garrison cemetery are nearby.
- →Allow 45 minutes to an hour inside the temple.
- →Socks help on hot stone floors.
- →Walk the lake loop, roughly 3 km.
Peradeniya and the afternoon
Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens lies roughly 6 km from central Kandy, on the way back towards Colombo, so it fits naturally into the afternoon. The avenue of royal palms, the giant Javan fig, the orchid house and the spice garden take roughly two to three hours.
Leave Peradeniya by roughly 3.30 pm to return to Colombo by around 7 pm. With a late evening return, add a tea factory or a short visit to the Embekka Devale's carved wooden pillars.
When to stay a night instead
Stay a night in Kandy instead of a day trip if you can, because the evening puja is the most atmospheric of the day, and Kandy's hills are lovely at dawn. A night also removes three hours of driving from one day.
During the Kandy Esala Perahera, usually in July or August with dates shifting each year with the lunar calendar, the processions happen at night, so an overnight stay is essential. Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange either the day trip or an overnight version with a driver.
- →Evening puja: needs an overnight stay.
- →Esala Perahera: book Kandy rooms months ahead.
- →Tea country: add a night to reach Nuwara Eliya.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Kandy day trip from Colombo worth it?
A Kandy day trip from Colombo is worth it if you cannot spare a night, because the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Peradeniya gardens are among Sri Lanka's highlights. It is a long day, with roughly six to seven hours of travel, so an overnight stay is better if possible.
How long does it take from Colombo to Kandy?
Colombo to Kandy takes roughly three to 3.5 hours by road, depending on traffic, or roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by train from Colombo Fort. From the airport, allow roughly three to four hours by road. New expressway sections may shorten the drive as they open.
What is the best way to do a Kandy day trip?
The best way to do a Kandy day trip is the early train up from Colombo Fort, for the scenery of the Kadugannawa incline, and a car back for flexibility. Leave around 6.30 am and return after the evening traffic, around 7 pm.
Can I see the evening puja on a day trip?
Seeing the evening puja on a day trip from Colombo means returning around 10 pm, which is tiring. Most day-trippers see the midday ceremony instead. If the evening puja matters to you, stay a night in Kandy and return the next morning.
What should I wear to the Temple of the Tooth?
Wear light clothing covering shoulders and knees, ideally white, when visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Remove shoes and hats before entering. A sarong or scarf in your bag solves most dress problems. Socks help on hot stone floors.
Is Peradeniya worth visiting on a day trip?
Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens is worth visiting on a day trip because it lies on the way back towards Colombo, roughly 6 km from Kandy. Its royal palm avenue, giant Javan fig and orchid house take two to three hours. Go in the afternoon after the temple.
Can I do Kandy and Sigiriya in one day from Colombo?
Kandy and Sigiriya in one day from Colombo is not realistic, because the round trip would take roughly ten to twelve hours of driving. Choose one for a day trip, or stay a night in each on a three-day trip.