Your stay — Azalea Hostel
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The Property — Azalea Hostel
Azalea Hostel sits in a quiet residential lane off Kandy's main road, a clean white manor with a verandah and small garden. It's a budget-friendly base with private rooms and dorms aimed at backpackers and solo travellers who want a sociable atmosphere without party noise. The lobby feels like a friendly living room: mismatched sofas, noticeboards of local tours, and staff brewing Ceylon tea. It suits anyone who values location, price, and chat over luxury.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, remaining independent under the Kandyan Convention until 1815. Its focal point is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa), rebuilt several times after Portuguese and Dutch attacks. The city grew around the artificial lake built by the last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, in 1807. Today it's a UNESCO World Heritage city and a cultural hub, blending colonial-era architecture, busy markets, and tropical hillsides.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January–February and August: dry weather for exploring the lake and temple, and relatively few tourists compared to April.
Peak / festival surge
July/August sees the Esala Perahera festival (dates vary by moon, but peak falls in July–August 2026). The city floods with pilgrims and tourists; hotel prices double or triple. Book Azalea months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May–June and September–October bring lower prices, lighter crowds, and still decent weather, though expect some rain.
Weather & packing
Kandy is warm year-round (24–30°C) but sits at 465m, so evenings can get cool and misty. Pack a light rain jacket and a scarf for evenings or temple visits.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- Kandy's main bus station has relocated to a new terminal at Gatambe (2 km south), causing confusion for arrivals — ask the hostel for tuk-tuk directions.
- The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic now requires online booking for non-locals during peak periods; check availability for July 2026.
- Road widening on Colombo–Kandy highway continues, causing delays — allow an extra hour if coming by road from Colombo.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Azalea Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first or second floor facing away from the street. The building has no lift, so lower floors save you carrying bags up stairs. The quieter side reduces road noise from Kandy’s busy streets.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the reception or common areas, as they can be noisy from foot traffic and front desk activity. Also skip top-floor rooms if you have heavy luggage, since there’s no lift.
Best views
Facing away from the main street towards the garden or hillside may offer a view of Kandy’s greenery, but the hostel’s urban setting means views are limited.
Quietest floors
Floors 1 and 2 are the quietest, as they are above street-level noise but still easy to reach without a lift.
🔊 Noise notes
Kandy’s streets are busy with tuk-tuks, buses, and pedestrians. The hostel’s location on a main road means street noise can be significant, especially in front-facing rooms. No lift means you’ll hear guests on stairs.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on the first floor back side when booking to minimise both street noise and stair climbing. 2. If arriving by train, the hostel is a short tuk-tuk ride from Kandy station, so negotiate the fare beforehand (around 150–200 LKR).
- 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 — Azalea Hostel
Free WiFi is available throughout. Speed is suitable for browsing and messaging; streaming may buffer during peak evening hours. No login required.
No lift. The hostel has two floors connected by stairs only.
No newspapers or digital news service. The building is a modern guesthouse with a compact garden terrace.
Standard check-in from 14:00 to 22:00. Early bag drop is free if room is not ready. Late check-out until 12:00 costs LKR 1000; after 12:00 another night is charged.
Free luggage storage available at reception on check-in and check-out days.
No step-free access. The entrance has a step, and all rooms are upstairs. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
No on-site parking. Free street parking is available on Saranankara Road, but spaces fill by late afternoon. The nearest paid car park is at the Kandy Railway Station (LKR 200 per night, 10 min walk). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charge is taken as a non-refundable deposit at booking. A refundable card hold of LKR 2000 for incidentals is placed at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Jamiul Khairath Jummah Masjid Mahaiyawa (346 m · ~4 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Sri Muthumariamman Temple (509 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Lighthouse Church (586 m · ~7 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Asgiri Maha Viharaya (633 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Torrington Public Park — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Kandyan Art Association — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
Vidyartha College Sports Complex — 2.0 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
NSB — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Nihals medical — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Sri SKS — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Mahaiyawa — 438 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
ATMs are the easiest way to get rupees; avoid the airport counters and hotels — they give poor rates. Most town-centre ATMs work with foreign cards.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in mid-range hotels and larger supermarkets, but cash is king in local shops, restaurants and tuk-tuks. Contactless is rare outside big chains.
Round up the bill or leave 5-10% at nicer restaurants. Tuk-tuk drivers don't expect a tip but round up to the nearest 50 rupees. Hotel staff appreciate 100-200 rupees for extra service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Short black at a local bakery or tea shop — roughly 150–300 LKR.
Rice and curry at a local eatery — around 350–500 LKR.
Kottu roti from a street stall or small restaurant — about 400–600 LKR for a main.
The area around the clock tower and Kandy market has stalls selling samosas, vadai and fruit — very cheap, 50–200 LKR per item.
Cargills Food City and Keells are the main supermarkets in this area.
Bargain for everyday clothes and sarongs at Kandy central market — stalls near the clock tower are best.
City buses cost 30–60 LKR per ride — the cheapest way around. From the airport (Colombo) take the public bus to Kandy for about 500 LKR, not a private taxi.
Eat where locals queue for rice and curry — it's half the price of tourist-facing places. Always agree a tuk-tuk fare before getting in; insist on meter or start bargaining at 30% below their first price. Buy bottled water and snacks at Cargills, not at temple stalls.
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 Azalea Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NSB — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk — pharmacy · Nihals medical — 1.4 km · ~17 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 Azalea Hostel?
Request a room on the first or second floor facing away from the street. The building has no lift, so lower floors save you carrying bags up stairs. The quieter side reduces road noise from Kandy’s busy streets.
Which rooms should I avoid at Azalea Hostel?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the reception or common areas, as they can be noisy from foot traffic and front desk activity. Also skip top-floor rooms if you have heavy luggage, since there’s no lift.
Is Azalea Hostel noisy?
Kandy’s streets are busy with tuk-tuks, buses, and pedestrians. The hostel’s location on a main road means street noise can be significant, especially in front-facing rooms. No lift means you’ll hear guests on stairs.
Which rooms have the best views at Azalea Hostel?
Facing away from the main street towards the garden or hillside may offer a view of Kandy’s greenery, but the hostel’s urban setting means views are limited.
What are insider tips for staying at Azalea Hostel?
1. Ask for a room on the first floor back side when booking to minimise both street noise and stair climbing. 2. If arriving by train, the hostel is a short tuk-tuk ride from Kandy station, so negotiate the fare beforehand (around 150–200 LKR).
What time is check-in at Azalea Hostel?
Check-in at Azalea Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Azalea Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi is available throughout. Speed is suitable for browsing and messaging; streaming may buffer during peak evening hours. No login required.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Azalea Hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Azalea Hostel?
Rice and curry at a local eatery — around 350–500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Azalea Hostel?
City buses cost 30–60 LKR per ride — the cheapest way around. From the airport (Colombo) take the public bus to Kandy for about 500 LKR, not a private taxi.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January–February and August: dry weather for exploring the lake and temple, and relatively few tourists compared to April.
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.