National Museum of Kandy

Housed in a former palace building of the last Kandyan king within the Royal Palace complex, this museum showcases Kandyan-era artefacts including royal regalia, ceremonial weapons, jewellery, and traditional crafts. It provides valuable historical context to the Kandyan Kingdom and complements a visit to the neighbouring Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Kandy, especially paired with nearby International Buddhist Centre.

Visitors wander through a series of rooms in a historic wooden palace building, viewing glass cases of royal jewellery, ceremonial swords, ivory carvings, and old photographs documenting Kandyan royal life.

It offers a deeper understanding of the Kandyan Kingdom's history and royal culture, adding context to the temples and palaces you'll see elsewhere in the city. It is not the first thing you should see in Kandy, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. It pairs naturally with International Buddhist Centre and Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - together they fill a solid half-day. Mornings are quieter if you want to take your time.

It is one entry in our list of things to do in Kandy. The Kandy guide covers transport, costs and when to go.

We plan trips to Kandy and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.