Around Kandy
Kandy beyond the show: temple, lake, tea and hills
The dance show is one evening of a bigger hill-country trip. Here's how it fits with the Temple of the Tooth, the tea country, the train and the gardens.
Check dates and availability ↗The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Kandy's essential sight is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which houses a tooth said to be the Buddha's and is among the most sacred Buddhist sites anywhere. Its daily puja ceremonies, with drumming and the opening of the relic chamber, are the atmospheric heart of a Kandy visit, and some visitors pair it with an evening show. Modest dress is required.
Kandy Lake and the old town
The city centres on Kandy Lake, an artificial lake built by the last Kandyan king, ringed by a walkable path and overlooked by the temple. The compact old town around it — markets, colonial-era buildings, viewpoints over the city — rewards a slow wander, and the lakeside is a pleasant place to bookend an evening at the show or the temple.
Tea country and the hill-country train
Kandy is the doorway to Sri Lanka's tea country. From here the famous hill-country railway climbs through Nuwara Eliya to Ella, past emerald plantations and waterfalls, on what's often called one of the world's most scenic train rides. Many travellers use Kandy as the start of that upland journey, with the dance show and temple as the city portion before heading higher into the hills.
Gardens and elephants nearby
Just outside the city, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya are among Asia's finest, and the surrounding region offers elephant experiences and spice gardens. These make easy daytime pairings with an evening show in town, rounding out a Kandy stop with a mix of nature, culture and the city's sacred core.
Building a trip around it
A common shape is a couple of days in and around Kandy — the temple, the lake, the dance show, the gardens — before taking the train up into the tea country. The show, being central, early and nightly, slots into whichever evening suits without dictating the rest of the plan. The show, the city tours and the day trips out of town are all separate GetYourGuide bookings, each with its own price and cancellation terms laid out before you pay.