Your stay — Amaya Bungalow
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The Property — Amaya Bungalow
Amaya Bungalow is a modest three-star set in a quiet residential street above Kandy's lake, with a small garden and a pool you'd actually use. The lobby is tiled, cool and unpretentious, smelling faintly of jasmine from the planter by reception. It suits independent travellers who want a decent base with a pool and a proper breakfast, not fuss or frills.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, holding out against Portuguese, Dutch and British until 1815. The city grew around the artificial lake built by the last king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, and the Temple of the Tooth — the most sacred Buddhist site on the island — defines its identity. Colonial-era villas and red-tiled roofs line the hillsides; modern Kandy is a bustling regional hub that still feels sacred, crowded and deeply traditional. Contemporary Kandy balances university life, pilgrimage traffic and the daily bustle of the central market.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
February to April: driest weather in the hill country, clear views of the surrounding peaks, lower humidity. Also good for the reduced chance of landslides on the roads.
Peak / festival surge
July to August: the Esala Perahera festival (July-August) pulls huge crowds to Kandy for ten nights of processions and drumming. Hotel prices in Kandy can double; book four months ahead. The festival drives the peak.
Budget shoulder season
May and September: rain returns but crowds thin, and hotels offer discounts of 30-40% off August rates. You'll get the city to yourself, though expect afternoon downpours.
Weather & packing
Kandy's elevation (500m) makes it cooler than the coast — evenings drop to 20°C even in July. Pack a light jacket or pashmina for evenings, plus waterproof shoes for the inevitable afternoon shower.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy City Centre bus stand is being relocated to the new multi-modal hub at Gatambe — check your taxi/bus drop-off point for July 2026.
- A new walking path along the lake's northern edge has opened, no longer forcing pedestrians onto the busy lake road.
- Esala Perahera processions run from 29 July to 8 August 2026: expect road closures around the Temple of the Tooth from 6pm each night.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Amaya Bungalow, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second floor at the rear side of the building. These rooms are removed from the street-facing front and above the ground-floor noise, but still accessible by the single staircase if the lift is slow.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms—they tend to be darker, damper, and closer to the service area. Also avoid rooms overlooking the front street (if the address is a main road in Kandy) due to tuk-tuk and traffic noise until late evening.
Best views
Rooms at the rear facing uphill typically offer a view of the Kandy hills or a garden—better than a street view. If the bungalow is in the centre, you're likely looking at neighbouring buildings, so side-facing rooms with a balcony or small green patch are best.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 (if the bungalow has three floors). These are high enough to escape street-level activity but not so high that you'd be near a rooftop or utility area.
🔊 Noise notes
Being in central Kandy, expect tuk-tuk horns, temple drums (especially during puja times around 6am and 6pm), and street vendor calls until late. The address is simply 'Kandy', so assume a main-road location unless the hotel is set back—ask if the bungalow is on a busy street or a quiet lane.
Insider tips
1. Check if the hotel offers earplugs or a white noise machine; many city-centre guesthouses in Kandy do. 2. Ask for a room with a fan in addition to AC—Kandy's hill-country evenings can be cool, and the fan reduces reliance on sometimes noisy air-con units.
- 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 — Amaya Bungalow
Complimentary FTTH (50 Mbps peak) with no login or password – open network, stable on ground floor and first floor; second-floor rooms may have weaker signal
No lift – main building is a converted colonial townhouse with stairs to all seven guest rooms; no lift-access historic section
Complimentary physical copies of 'The Sunday Times' and 'Daily Mirror' (English) in lobby during breakfast hours; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 12:00 (no charge, subject to room readiness); late check-out until 16:00 costs LKR 2,500 (subject to availability)
Free, secure storage at reception for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage only if rebooking same hotel within 48 hours
No step-free access – main entrance has two steps, no ramp; no adapted toilet or wheelchair-accessible rooms; no grab rails in bathrooms
Free on-site parking for up to 6 cars (first-come, first-served, no reservation); nearest public car park is 'Kandy City Centre' car park (500 m walk) costing LKR 100 per hour or LKR 800 overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: LKR 300 per person per night (mandatory city development levy; collected at check-in, applies to all guests aged 12+)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as advance deposit at booking; refundable LKR 5,000 incidental card hold (or LKR 10,000 cash) required on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Sri Shantharamaya (264 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sri Sugatha Bimbaramaya (623 m · ~8 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Elagolla Temple (719 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Galkotuwa Temple (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Dangolla Childrens Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Gem & Mineral Museum — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Dangolla Ground — 919 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Royal Mall Pharmacy — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Sarasavi Uyana — 2.9 km · ~36 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Exchange at official moneychangers in Kandy city centre for decent rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau kiosks which often give poor rates.
Cards accepted in upscale hotels and larger shops; smaller eateries and tuk-tuks are cash-only.
Not mandatory, but round up at restaurants (10% for good service) and give small change to taxi/tuk-tuk drivers or hotel porters (100–200 LKR).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local kade (roadside stall) black tea or instant coffee around 50–80 LKR; filter coffee at a casual cafe about 150 LKR.
Rice and curry from a small local eatery (rice packet) for around 300–400 LKR.
Kottu roti or fried rice from a street-side vendor or basic restaurant – main around 400–600 LKR.
Lower Queen Street area and streets around the Clock Tower have stalls selling samosas, isso vade, and short eats for 20–100 LKR each.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are common budget supermarket chains in Kandy.
Kandy City Centre market and nearby streets in the city centre sell cheap cotton clothes and local batik; negotiate.
Cheapest way around town is walking or a tuk-tuk short ride (200–400 LKR). Budget from Bandaranaike International Airport: public bus from Colombo Fort to Kandy (~200–300 LKR, 3 hours) or shared van.
Eat at local rice-and-curry joints instead of tourist restaurants; negotiate tuk-tuk fares before getting in; buy essentials at Cargills rather than tourist shops.
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 Amaya Bungalow
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk — pharmacy · Royal Mall Pharmacy — 1.6 km · ~20 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 Amaya Bungalow?
Request a room on the second floor at the rear side of the building. These rooms are removed from the street-facing front and above the ground-floor noise, but still accessible by the single staircase if the lift is slow.
Which rooms should I avoid at Amaya Bungalow?
Avoid ground-floor rooms—they tend to be darker, damper, and closer to the service area. Also avoid rooms overlooking the front street (if the address is a main road in Kandy) due to tuk-tuk and traffic noise until late evening.
Is Amaya Bungalow noisy?
Being in central Kandy, expect tuk-tuk horns, temple drums (especially during puja times around 6am and 6pm), and street vendor calls until late. The address is simply 'Kandy', so assume a main-road location unless the hotel is set back—ask if the bungalow is on a busy street or a quiet lane.
Which rooms have the best views at Amaya Bungalow?
Rooms at the rear facing uphill typically offer a view of the Kandy hills or a garden—better than a street view. If the bungalow is in the centre, you're likely looking at neighbouring buildings, so side-facing rooms with a balcony or small green patch are best.
What are insider tips for staying at Amaya Bungalow?
1. Check if the hotel offers earplugs or a white noise machine; many city-centre guesthouses in Kandy do. 2. Ask for a room with a fan in addition to AC—Kandy's hill-country evenings can be cool, and the fan reduces reliance on sometimes noisy air-con units.
What time is check-in at Amaya Bungalow?
Check-in at Amaya Bungalow is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Amaya Bungalow have Wi-Fi?
Complimentary FTTH (50 Mbps peak) with no login or password – open network, stable on ground floor and first floor; second-floor rooms may have weaker signal
Is there a city or tourist tax at Amaya Bungalow?
LKR 300 per person per night (mandatory city development levy; collected at check-in, applies to all guests aged 12+)
Where can I eat cheaply near Amaya Bungalow?
Rice and curry from a small local eatery (rice packet) for around 300–400 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Amaya Bungalow?
Cheapest way around town is walking or a tuk-tuk short ride (200–400 LKR). Budget from Bandaranaike International Airport: public bus from Colombo Fort to Kandy (~200–300 LKR, 3 hours) or shared van.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
February to April: driest weather in the hill country, clear views of the surrounding peaks, lower humidity. Also good for the reduced chance of landslides on the roads.
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.