Getting Around In Kandy – Hill Capital, Cultural Hub!

Coming from the commercial capital, Colombo you will drive along the main Colombo-Kandy road. And once you pass the Peradeniya Bridge you enter the city of Kandy. Head over to the Heerassagala Junction to find the main shopping hub of Kandy which is near Kingswood College in the Mulgampola area. As you continue deeper into the city, you will come upon the historical Kandy Lake, and in front of it is the Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Maligawa.
The atmosphere around the lake, in comparison to the exciting hustle and bustle of the Kandy city centre, is calm and quiet. Soft breezes waft across the waters and you can use the footpath for a stroll. The area around the temple is part of the old city, comprising of the royal palace in which the temple is located.

The Kandy City Centre is defined from where the old clock tower stands, it is the same area where the main bus and train station is located. Your long-distance bus or train will arrive at this station. Which is also the point to catch buses or trains to other parts of the island. While many travellers arrive at the Kandy city centre, most choose to find accommodation in the suburbs. Thus, making ample use of Kandy's pretty surroundings, made up of rolling hills and silvery waterfalls. Many resorts in the hill capital like Hunas Falls, located in the backwoods, offer one a chance to rejuvenate mind body and soul. Kandy hotels are loved by locals too who visit the hills on weekend breaks. Due to the city's popularity hotels in Kandy cater to varied budgets and some of the best hotel deals in Sri Lanka are available at Kandy's popular hotels.

The biggest mall in Kandy is the KCC (Kandy City Centre), not really the city centre but a mall so named where you can shop for branded goods. The place is home to the islands popular department stores like Softlogic (agent for Samsung in Sri Lanka), Odel (branded fashion ware), Future World (agent for Apple in Sri Lanka) and WAD de Silva (branded watches etc.). There is also a Baskin Robbins and Burger King, amongst others, for grabbing a quick bite.
About 1.5kms from the Kandy train station is the Arpico Supermarket, situated on the Peradeniya Road. There you can purchase your groceries and other household items. You can get there via bus from the city centre or by hailing a tuk-tuk or trishaw as they are sometimes called. The fare is quite minimal for short-distance drives.
Also, on the Peradeniya Road is the famous 'kotuwe kade' kade meaning shop in Sinhala. This budget shop is ideal for picking up cheap household items as well as, inexpensive electronics.

There are two bus stations in Kandy. One at the Clock Tower and one at the Goods Shed. The latter is the main bus station for long-distance routes, while from near the Clock Tower you can catch a bus to other areas within Kandy.

Kandy too is serviced by PickMe and Uber. The islands premier taxi service which you can hail by downloading the apps on your smartphone. There are tuk-tuks parked near the train station too. Always make sure to hail a tuk-tuk with a meter.
Enjoy discovering Kandy!