Best Temples - Kandy - practical advice with names and honest picks.
This guide covers 6 temples and ancient sites in and around Kandy: Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue, International Buddhist Centre, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Embekke Devalaya and Lankatilaka Vihara and others. There are also 8 tours and activities you can book. They are compared further down. The months to plan around are July. If you only have time for one, make it Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue: elevated perspective over Kandy city and lake, plus insight into contemporary Buddhist practice.
This guide covers 6 temples and ancient sites in and around Kandy: Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue, International Buddhist Centre, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Embekke Devalaya and Lankatilaka Vihara and others. There are also 8 tours and activities you can book. They are compared further down. The months to plan around are July. If you only have time for one, make it Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue: elevated perspective over Kandy city and lake, plus insight into contemporary Buddhist practice.
Temples and sites to visit
Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
This 88-foot white seated Buddha sits on a hill above Kandy, facing the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, and was completed in 1992 as part of a modern temple. From the grounds you look across the lake, the temple roofs and the Hanthana range.
Opening hours and how to get there are on the Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue page.
International Buddhist Centre
This modern Buddhist study centre houses a meditation hall, library, and teaching spaces where international students learn Buddhist philosophy alongside Sri Lankan monks. The centre operates as both an educational institution and active monastery, offering insights into contemporary Buddhist scholarship and practise rather than historical artifacts.
Full details: International Buddhist Centre.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist temple holds what tradition says is the left canine tooth of the Buddha, in a golden-roofed complex beside Kandy Lake. Walk barefoot through marble corridors lined with Buddhist paintings, and join the queue of devotees carrying lotus flowers towards the golden shrine.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic page has directions, hours and photos.
Embekke Devalaya
A village shrine to the god Kataragama, southwest of Kandy, famous for the carved wooden pillars of its drummers' hall. Every pillar and beam is cut with swans, dancers, wrestlers, soldiers on horseback and hybrid creatures, and tradition says some of the woodwork came from a royal hall at Gampola.
Opening hours and how to get there are on the Embekke Devalaya page.
Lankatilaka Vihara
A 14th-century temple built on top of a great rock outcrop southwest of Kandy, reached by a flight of steps. A dramatic hilltop temple with medieval murals, away from the crowds of central Kandy.
Full details: Lankatilaka Vihara.
Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya
A 14th-century stone temple on a flat rock southwest of Kandy, built with strong South Indian influences. It is the quietest of the three Gampola-era temples visitors combine in a half-day loop.
The Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya page has directions, hours and photos.
Guided cultural tours
Best Cultural Tours in Kandy compares these 5 in detail.
| Option | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sacred City Heritage Walk | 3 hours | visitors wanting comprehensive Buddhist temple experience |
| Royal Kandy Walking Tour | 2.5 hours | travellers interested in traditional crafts and royal history |
| Buddhist Temple Circuit | 4 hours | temple enthusiasts and architecture lovers |
| Kandy Evening Cultural Experience | 3.5 hours | visitors wanting evening entertainment with cultural depth |
| Colonial Kandy Architecture Tour | 2 hours | architecture enthusiasts and history buffs |
Best Traditional Dance Performances in Kandy compares these 3 in detail.
| Option | Price | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kandyan Cultural Centre Evening Show | - | 1 hour | first-time visitors wanting comprehensive cultural introduction |
| Red Cross Society Cultural Show | - | 1 hour | budget travellers supporting local community |
| Temple of Tooth Evening Ceremony | Free | 45 minutes | spiritual experience seekers and authentic cultural immersion |
Before you go
- Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue: Dress modestly covering shoulders and knees as it's an active temple.
- International Buddhist Centre: Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering buildings.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: Dress modestly covering shoulders and knees, and remove shoes at the entrance (sarongs are often available to borrow).
- Embekke Devalaya: Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove your shoes before the shrine.
- Lankatilaka Vihara: Dress modestly and take your shoes off before the steps - the stone can be hot by midday.
- Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya: Dress modestly and remove your shoes at the door - the rock beneath the temple can be hot at midday.
More on Kandy
The Kandy overview has costs, areas and transport in one place. The Kandy travel guide is the longer read.
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.