Il tuo soggiorno — hemerald hotel
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La proprietà — hemerald hotel
The Hemerald Hotel sits on a quiet slope above Kandy Lake, its white facade and dark-tiled roof blending into the hillside. Inside, the lobby is compact and wood-panelled, with a constant drift of incense and the low chatter from the small café. It’s a solid three-star choice for travellers who want reliable air-conditioning, clean rooms, and a short walk to the Temple of the Tooth without paying the Lake Club premium. The rooftop restaurant gives you a decent curry buffet and a view of the town’s temple spires pushing through the valley trees.
Cronache di Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, falling to the British only in 1815 after the Kandyan Convention. The city grew around the sacred Temple of the Tooth, which has housed a relic of the Buddha since the 4th century AD. Under colonial rule, the British laid out the lake (artificial, 1807) and built the neo-baroque Queen’s Hotel on the old palace site. Today Kandy is both a pilgrimage centre and a Unesco World Heritage site, with a streetscape of red-tiled roofs, colonial clock towers, and hillsides crowded with tea bushes and mahogany trees. A middle-class Sri Lankan family will still call it a day out, eating short eats at the lakefront and catching a drumming ceremony at the temple.
Il momento migliore per visitare
Guida completa di Kandy →I migliori mesi
August and January: after the south-west monsoon fades, skies are clearer and the town less humid; January also avoids the December holiday crowds but retains good weather for temple walking.
Peak / Festival Surge
July–August and December–January. July brings the Esala Perahera, a ten-day festival of fire-dancers, whip-crackers, and costumed elephants that packs the streets. Hotels triple their rates and book out months ahead. If you’re not perahera-bound, avoid it — you’ll pay peak prices for gridlocked traffic.
Stagione di spalla
March–April and September–October. These months see lower rainfall than the worst of the monsoon, room rates drop 25–40%, and the temple crowds thin out. April’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year can cause short closures but also street food stalls.
Meteo e imballaggio
Kandy sits at 500m so evenings are noticeably cooler than the coast — you’ll feel the hill-country chill after sundown. Pack a light waterproof jacket or a fleece; an umbrella is non-negotiable even in the ‘dry’ months because of the lake’s microclimate.
Briefing della città — Kandy
- The Kandy–Colombo main road (A1) has ongoing bridge repairs near Peradeniya, adding 30–45 minutes to transfers; allow extra time for airport pickups.
- The Temple of the Tooth now requires online booking for the daily puja (dawn and noon) — walk-ups are often turned away; book at least 48 hours ahead.
- Kandy’s town hall has been pedestrianising a section of Temple Street on weekend evenings, creating a small walking zone with stalls and live local music.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to hemerald hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on the middle floors (3rd to 5th) facing the rear garden or the courtyard away from the main road. These offer a balance of quiet and decent natural light.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (especially near the lobby and breakfast area) and any room advertised as facing the street on the lower two floors — Kandy's main road traffic can be persistent from early morning.
Best views
Rooms at the back (garden-facing) on upper floors offer a view over the hotel's small garden and possibly distant hills. The street-facing side gives you a look at local life but comes with noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 through 5 are the quietest, as they are far enough from street-level noise and from any rooftop machinery.
🔊 Noise notes
Kandy's roads are narrow and busy with tuk-tuks, buses, and horns; the hotel sits on a main artery so street noise is a factor on the front side. Breakfast prep starts around 6:30am — kitchen noise may carry to lower rear rooms.
Insider tips
1. If you drive, park in the hotel's small lot (not on the street) as spaces are limited and Kandy traffic makes roadside parking a hassle. 2. Request a room with a window that opens — some rooms might have sealed windows depending on the floor.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
strutture alberghiere — hemerald hotel
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed adequate for browsing and email. No paid tier. Requires room-number login.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital PressReader access on lobby tablet; no physical newspapers. No notable heritage quirks – modern building.
Standard check-in 14:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag-drop available from 10:00. Late check-out until 14:00 costs 50% of nightly rate; after 14:00 full night charge.
Free storage at front desk for day use; no charge for same-day left luggage.
Step-free entrance from street; lift to all floors; no wheelchair-accessible rooms. Narrow doorways in standard rooms.
On-site parking free for guests – 12 spaces, first-come-first-served. Nearest public car park at Kandy Railway Station (500 m away) costs LKR 100 per night. No EV charging.
Tasse, imposte e depositi
City / tourist tax: 10% service charge and 2% tourism levy added to bill; no separate nightly city tax
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay charged at booking; a refundable USD 50 (or equivalent LKR) card hold at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary vicino
- Mosque: Katukele Jumma Masjid (858 m · ~11 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sambodhi Viharaya (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Bahirawakanada Temple (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Lighthouse Church (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Stile di vita e ricreazione locale
ODEL Mall Kandy — 918 m · ~11 min walk
Torrington Public Park — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
Hindu Cultural Center — 896 m · ~11 min walk
5 minuti di radio essenziali
Nearest — 648 m · ~8 min walk
Venus — 668 m · ~8 min walk
Sri SKS — 957 m · ~12 min walk
Kandy South Depot. — 918 m · ~11 min walk
Moneta e moneta
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Use official money changers in Kandy city centre for decent rates; avoid airport and tourist bureaux, which give poor rates.
Cards accepted in mid-range and up hotels and restaurants; smaller shops, street stalls, and tuk-tuks cash only.
Not expected but appreciated; round up in restaurants, 50-100 LKR for bags at hotels, a small tip (50-200 LKR) for a good tuk-tuk ride.
Mangiare, fare shopping e viaggiare su un budget
Cheap car hire →Small local coffee stall or bakery, 100-150 LKR for a plain black tea or instant coffee.
Rice and curry set at a local eatery, 300-500 LKR.
Kottu roti or a rice dish from a local restaurant, 400-600 LKR for a main.
Around the Kandy Clock Tower and along DS Senanayake Veediya street for roti, samosas, and fruit.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super outlets are common in central Kandy.
Mainly markets: Kandy Town Hall area and the art market for cotton clothes, sarongs, and batik.
Local bus within city (around 20 LKR single), tuk-tuk for short trips (100-200 LKR). From airport: public bus to Kandy (about 150-300 LKR) is cheapest.
Eat at local rice-and-curry joints instead of tourist restaurants; negotiate tuk-tuk fares before getting in; buy bottled water at supermarkets not hotels.
Emergency Contacts
KandyFor general emergencies in Kandy, dial 1990 (Tourist Police) from any phone. For assistance, contact the Kandy Police Station at +94 81 222 2261. Keep these numbers to hand. Also ask your hotel to confirm local contacts for medical help – they often know the best doctors.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Kandy, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at hemerald hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 648 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Venus — 668 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Girare intorno
Kandy Railway Station → Gampola Railway Station (2 km walk to hotel)
💡 Buy a second-class ticket for 30 LKR to guarantee a seat. The train winds through the Mahaweli River valley—sit on the left side for best views. From Gampola station, walk or take a tuk-tuk (150 LKR) uphill to the rest house.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) → Kandy city centre (Clock Tower stop), then onward bus to Gampola
💡 Take bus 187 from airport to Colombo Fort (100 LKR, 45 min), then a Kandy-bound bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha. The Gampola bus from Kandy’s Clock Tower is frequent but packed; sit if you can—it’s a 40-min ride.
Kandy (Goods Shed Bus Stand) → Gampola town centre (10 min walk to hotel)
💡 Catch bus #634 or any bus marked 'Gampola' from the Goods Shed—avoid private minibuses that charge double. Get off just past the Gampola clock tower and walk up the hill; the rest house is on your left.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) → Gampola Rest House, Kandy
💡 Pre-book with a driver from Kandy to avoid Colombo drivers who don't know the winding Gampola roads. Expect to pay 7000–9000 LKR; bargain hard if booking at the airport.
Domande frequenti
What are the best rooms at hemerald hotel?
Request rooms on the middle floors (3rd to 5th) facing the rear garden or the courtyard away from the main road. These offer a balance of quiet and decent natural light.
Which rooms should I avoid at hemerald hotel?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (especially near the lobby and breakfast area) and any room advertised as facing the street on the lower two floors — Kandy's main road traffic can be persistent from early morning.
Is hemerald hotel noisy?
Kandy's roads are narrow and busy with tuk-tuks, buses, and horns; the hotel sits on a main artery so street noise is a factor on the front side. Breakfast prep starts around 6:30am — kitchen noise may carry to lower rear rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at hemerald hotel?
Rooms at the back (garden-facing) on upper floors offer a view over the hotel's small garden and possibly distant hills. The street-facing side gives you a look at local life but comes with noise.
What are insider tips for staying at hemerald hotel?
1. If you drive, park in the hotel's small lot (not on the street) as spaces are limited and Kandy traffic makes roadside parking a hassle. 2. Request a room with a window that opens — some rooms might have sealed windows depending on the floor.
What time is check-in at hemerald hotel?
Check-in at hemerald hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does hemerald hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed adequate for browsing and email. No paid tier. Requires room-number login.
Is there a city or tourist tax at hemerald hotel?
10% service charge and 2% tourism levy added to bill; no separate nightly city tax
Where can I eat cheaply near hemerald hotel?
Rice and curry set at a local eatery, 300-500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from hemerald hotel?
Local bus within city (around 20 LKR single), tuk-tuk for short trips (100-200 LKR). From airport: public bus to Kandy (about 150-300 LKR) is cheapest.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
August and January: after the south-west monsoon fades, skies are clearer and the town less humid; January also avoids the December holiday crowds but retains good weather for temple walking.
Principali attrazioni a Kandy
💡 Walk anticlockwise for the best sunset views over the temple. Go early morning (before 7am) to see monitor lizards swimming and monks doing their rounds.
💡 Go at sunrise (6am) for clear views before the haze rolls in. You can also walk up from the city in 25 minutes – the path starts near the Kandy Lake car park. Take water.
💡 The museum is small and takes only 45 minutes. The best items are the golden throne and the ivory–embedded swords. Skip if you're short on time – it's basic and dimly lit.
💡 Visit after 5pm for the daily puja ceremony – fewer crowds and the golden roof shines in evening light. Entrance is cheaper if you skip the museum add-on.
💡 Buy only a basic entry ticket – ignore the extras for the orchid house. Visit on a weekday morning to avoid Sri Lankan school groups. Take mosquito repellent.