Your stay — 1923 Old House Hostel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Kandy.
The Property — 1923 Old House Hostel
This is a colonial-era bungalow turned hostel, so the lobby feels like a creaky wooden parlour from the 1920s – ceiling fans, old floor tiles and a slight scent of tea. It’s basic but charming: dorms and private rooms share cold-water bathrooms and a common balcony overlooking Kandy’s rooftops. Suits backpackers and budget travellers who want character over comfort, not families or business guests.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, holding out against Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisers until 1815. The city’s layout still circles the artificial lake built by the last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, and the Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) remains the spiritual core, housing a relic of the Buddha. British annexation brought tea plantations and a grid of hillside streets, but the old quarter keeps its medieval feel with a market, temple drumming and constant scent of frangipani. Today Kandy is the second city of Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a pilgrimage hub that mixes Buddhist devotion with tourist traffic.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January to February: dry, cool nights (18°C) and clear views of the hills; crowds are moderate because the big festivals are over. August also works for the Esala Perahera energy, but expect rain.
Peak / festival surge
July to August: the Esala Perahera (July/August) pulls huge domestic and foreign crowds. Hotel prices double, and advance booking is essential. The city chokes with processions, drumming and road closures.
Budget shoulder season
March-April and November: fewer tourists, cheaper rooms (often 30-40% off peak), and still decent weather – though you might get afternoon thunderstorms. Good for a quiet visit.
Weather & packing
Kandy sits 500m up, so evenings can be cool (down to 18°C) even in July – pack a light jumper. Rain is likely year-round; a compact umbrella or a waterproof jacket is non-negotiable.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The main Kandy railway station is undergoing platform upgrades until late 2026 – expect 10-20 minute delays on the Colombo line.
- A new entrance fee (around $10 USD) was introduced for the Temple of the Tooth in late 2025; check if it’s still in place.
- The Kandy City Centre shopping mall reopened after renovations in March 2026, adding a food court and a rooftop view of the lake.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to 1923 Old House Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (2nd or 3rd) facing away from Vihara Mawatha. These are quieter and likely get more light and a sliver of lake or hill views over the rooftops.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms or those facing the front street (Vihara Mawatha). Street noise from motorbikes and tuk-tuks can be constant, and the ground floor may feel damp and dark in the old house.
Best views
From upper floors at the back, you might see the Kandy Lake or hills, but the main view is of the neighbourhood's tiled roofs and greenery. Front rooms see Vihara Mawatha and the Temple of the Tooth area.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest, being further from street-level bustle and common areas. No lift means fewer people pass by these rooms.
🔊 Noise notes
Vihara Mawatha is a busy road leading to the Temple of the Tooth. Morning chanting from the temple can travel, and tuk-tuk horns are frequent. The old building's wooden floors may also transmit footfall from above.
Insider tips
1) No lift here, so ask for a lower upper floor (2nd) if you have heavy luggage. 2) Bring earplugs for the street noise and morning temple sounds — it's part of the experience but can wake light sleepers.
- 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
Hotel Facilities — 1923 Old House Hostel
Free Wi-Fi in common areas (cafe/lobby), speeds around 5 Mbps; no login needed. No in-room Wi-Fi.
No lift. Four floors accessible only by stairs.
No newspaper or digital news service. Building is a renovated 1920s colonial house with original wooden staircases.
Check-in from 13:00; early bag drop available at no charge. Late check-out until 12:00 for LKR 1,500. Check-out by 10:00.
Free baggage storage after checkout until 18:00 on request
No step-free access; entrance has a small staircase, and all rooms are upstairs. Not wheelchair accessible.
No on-site parking. Public car park on Temple Street (5-minute walk) costs LKR 300 per night; no EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% service charge added to room rate; no separate city tax
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required for standard bookings; a refundable cash deposit of LKR 5,000 at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Lighthouse Church (378 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Seventh Day Adventist Church (492 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Katukele Jumma Masjid (524 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: Small temple (574 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
ODEL Mall Kandy — 888 m · ~11 min walk
Gem & Mineral Museum — 2.0 km · ~26 min walk
Regal Cinema — 347 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Commercial Bank — 515 m · ~6 min walk
Royal Pharmacy — 429 m · ~5 min walk
Kandy South Depot. — 715 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Change money at private banks or authorised money changers in Kandy city centre for decent rates; avoid airport counters and tourist-area bureaux which offer poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets, but smaller shops, street food stalls and tuk-tuks are cash-only; contactless is patchy even where cards work.
Restaurants: optional 10% service charge often added; if not, round up or leave 100–200 LKR. Taxis/tuk-tuks: round up the fare, or 50–100 LKR for good service. Hotel staff: 100–200 LKR for bellhops/cleaning.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small black tea from a local kade (cafe) costs around 30–50 LKR; filter coffee at a street stall is about 50–80 LKR.
A rice-and-curry plate from a local eatery costs 250–400 LKR; a kottu roti from a roadside stall is around 350–500 LKR.
A main of coconut roti with dhal or a simple noodle dish from a local restaurant runs 400–600 LKR.
Look for kade stalls around the Kandy bus station, market area and Temple of the Tooth vicinity—especially for samosas, vadai and string hoppers.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are the budget supermarket chains common in Kandy and nearby.
Kandy's central market area along S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Mawatha sells cheap textiles, sarongs and casual wear; for more variety, the mall near the Clock Tower has a few budget clothing stores.
Local buses within Kandy cost around 20–50 LKR per ride; the cheapest way from Bandaranaike International Airport is the public bus to Kandy (about 300–500 LKR, 3 hours).
Eat at local rice-and-curry joints away from tourist hubs; negotiate tuk-tuk fares beforehand or use bus routes; buy bottled water and snacks at supermarkets instead of hotel minibars.
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 1923 Old House Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Commercial Bank — 515 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Royal Pharmacy — 429 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
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.
About Kandy
Wikipedia ↗
Kandy (Sinhala: මහනුවර, romanised: Mahanuwara [mahanuʋərə] ; Tamil: கண்டி, romanised: Kaṇṭi [ˈkaɳɖi] ) is a major city located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of h...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at 1923 Old House Hostel?
Request a room on the upper floors (2nd or 3rd) facing away from Vihara Mawatha. These are quieter and likely get more light and a sliver of lake or hill views over the rooftops.
Which rooms should I avoid at 1923 Old House Hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms or those facing the front street (Vihara Mawatha). Street noise from motorbikes and tuk-tuks can be constant, and the ground floor may feel damp and dark in the old house.
Is 1923 Old House Hostel noisy?
Vihara Mawatha is a busy road leading to the Temple of the Tooth. Morning chanting from the temple can travel, and tuk-tuk horns are frequent. The old building's wooden floors may also transmit footfall from above.
Which rooms have the best views at 1923 Old House Hostel?
From upper floors at the back, you might see the Kandy Lake or hills, but the main view is of the neighbourhood's tiled roofs and greenery. Front rooms see Vihara Mawatha and the Temple of the Tooth area.
What are insider tips for staying at 1923 Old House Hostel?
1) No lift here, so ask for a lower upper floor (2nd) if you have heavy luggage. 2) Bring earplugs for the street noise and morning temple sounds — it's part of the experience but can wake light sleepers.
What time is check-in at 1923 Old House Hostel?
Check-in at 1923 Old House Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does 1923 Old House Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in common areas (cafe/lobby), speeds around 5 Mbps; no login needed. No in-room Wi-Fi.
Is there a city or tourist tax at 1923 Old House Hostel?
10% service charge added to room rate; no separate city tax
Where can I eat cheaply near 1923 Old House Hostel?
A rice-and-curry plate from a local eatery costs 250–400 LKR; a kottu roti from a roadside stall is around 350–500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from 1923 Old House Hostel?
Local buses within Kandy cost around 20–50 LKR per ride; the cheapest way from Bandaranaike International Airport is the public bus to Kandy (about 300–500 LKR, 3 hours).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to February: dry, cool nights (18°C) and clear views of the hills; crowds are moderate because the big festivals are over. August also works for the Esala Perahera energy, but expect rain.
Top Attractions in 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.