5 THINGS TO DO IN KANDY + WHERE TO EAT

Kandy is a beautiful, historical town in Sri Lanka. Only a few hours from the international airport in Colombo, it is a perfect destination for those only spending a short visit in this island country.

TO DO :

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic : golden-roofed Temple houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha.

Walk around Kandy Lake : a sunset walk around the lake is peaceful and a charming way to end the day!

Visit the Ceylon Tea Museum : the museum occupies the 1925-vintage Hantane Tea Factory where you can learn the entire process and enjoy a nice cuppa Ceylon at the end.

Udawattakelle Sanctuary : take a hike through this forest on the north side of the lake and admire the huge hardwood trees and giant bamboo, loads of birdwatching and of course, an abundance of adorable monkeys.

Millennium Elephant Foundation : MEF cares for captive elephants and offers a unique experience with them…there’s a lot of negative criticism on the internet about the organization but it’s really important to ask questions and really stay long enough here to understand what is going on. The foundation works really hard to promote elephant walks as well as feedings and baths to raise enough money to support the operation — however, many people still come and insist on elephant rides and they do allow for this because it brings in money. There is also a lot of talk about the chains the elephants wear but they assure the weight of these is very minimal and it keeps visitors safe as the elephants are transitioning to the free range area. MEF allows for visitors to join their volunteer program and actually spend the night which really allows for an insight into their operation and the progress they are making.