Your stay — Blinkbonnie Inn
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The Property — Blinkbonnie Inn
Blinkbonnie Inn is a modest three-star hotel set on a quiet lane in Kandy, with a small garden and a pool that offers relief from the tropical heat. The lobby is clean but dated, with polished floor tiles and a reception desk piled with tourist brochures. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a reliable base within walking distance of the Temple of the Tooth and the lake, and who don't mind basic furnishings and intermittent Wi-Fi.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy, founded in the 14th century as Senkadagalapura, and remained independent until the British captured it in 1815. The city's centrepiece is the Temple of the Tooth, built in the 17th century to house a relic of the Buddha, and it still defines the city's sacred character. Under British rule, Kandy became a hill-station retreat, with colonial bungalows and a botanical garden established in 1821. Today, it blends ancient Buddhist ritual with a busy commercial hub, its lake and hills giving it a serene backdrop despite the traffic.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January to March: driest period with daytime highs around 28°C and lower humidity, making walking tours and temple visits pleasant.
Peak / festival surge
July to August: the Esala Perahera festival fills Kandy with pilgrims and tourists for two weeks in August, driving hotel prices up by 50-100% and crowding the city. Book well ahead if travelling then.
Budget shoulder season
April and November: after the main rains, prices drop and crowds thin; weather is mixed but still offers clear mornings for sightseeing.
Weather & packing
Kandy's 'dry' season still sees occasional afternoon showers — pack a travel umbrella and a light, quick-dry jacket. Always bring a pair of closed-toe walking shoes for the steep roads around the lake.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy–Colombo expressway (Southern Expressway extension) now cuts travel time to under two hours, though the final stretch through the city remains slow — budget 30 minutes for the last 5 km.
- The Temple of the Tooth introduced pre-booking for foreign visitors in 2025; queues can still be long during Perahera, so buy tickets online a day ahead.
- A new craft market opened at the Kandy Lake roundabout in early 2026, offering local textiles and spices, but check opening hours — it closes by 6 pm most days.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Blinkbonnie Inn, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the lake (south side). These floors are high enough to clear the rooftop of the neighbouring building, giving you a direct view over Kandy Lake without the street noise from Rajapihilla Mawatha. The upper floors also catch the breeze off the lake.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor or facing the street (north side). The 1st floor is at pavement level, so you'll get every tuk-tuk and bus grinding up the hill from the town centre. Street-facing rooms on any low floor are exposed to early-morning rubbish collection and the hotel's own service entrance noise.
Best views
South-facing rooms on floors 3-4 look over the hotel's garden and across to Kandy Lake and the Temple of the Tooth complex. You get a partial view of the hills beyond, especially at sunset. The north side faces the road and a row of shops – not worth it.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. The building is set back slightly from the road, and these upper floors are above the roof line of the front structure, which buffers street noise. Stairwell noise is also minimal up here because the lift only goes to floor 4.
🔊 Noise notes
Rajapihilla Mawatha is a main artery through Kandy, with constant tuk-tuks, buses, and the occasional temple procession horn. The worst noise is 7-9am and 4-6pm. The hotel's own rooftop bar can play music until 11pm on weekends – ask for a room on the opposite side of the building from the bar.
Insider tips
1. Check in by 2pm to bag a south-facing upper room – they're the first to go. 2. If you're driving, ask for a ground-floor room near the car park for easier luggage hauling; the hotel has no lift to the parking level, and the climb from the street is steep.
- 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 — Blinkbonnie Inn
Free throughout property; typical speeds 10–15 Mbps over 4G backup (routers in common areas, signal variable in rooms farthest from reception); no login required
No lift – colonial two-storey building with stairs only; all rooms accessed via staircase
One complimentary physical English-language daily newspaper (Sunday Observer) in the dining room; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00–22:00; early arrival bag drop allowed from 07:00; late check-out to 13:00 costs 50% of the night rate (subject to availability)
Free for same-day arrivals/departures at reception; overnight storage not available
No step-free entry – two steps at main entrance; no ground-floor guest rooms; rooms on first floor require 12–15 steps; no handrails in bathroom showers
On-site parking for 4 cars only, first-come-first-served, free; nearest public car park at Kandy City Centre (400 m walk), 100 LKR per hour / 800 LKR overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 300 LKR per person per night (tourist development levy); no resort fee
Deposit & card hold: First-night room charge prepaid at booking; 5,000 LKR card hold for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Malwathu Maha Viharaya (419 m · ~5 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Nagawimanakanda Temple (423 m · ~5 min walk)
- Place of worship: Sirimalwatta Temple (424 m · ~5 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Thibbatuwawa Temple (488 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mall — 2.3 km · ~28 min walk
Royal Palace Park — 839 m · ~10 min walk
National Museum of Kandy — 894 m · ~11 min walk
Kandyan Art Association — 705 m · ~9 min walk
Mahamaya College Ground — 630 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Lanka — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Reebok — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Central Bus Station — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Change money at private banks or authorised forex dealers in the Kandy city centre; avoid the airport and tourist shops in Rajapihilla Mawatha, which give bad rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels and mid-range restaurants, but smaller shops and street stalls require cash; contactless is uncommon outside big chains.
Not mandatory but appreciated: round up restaurant bills by 5–10%, taxi drivers don't expect a tip, hotel porters a few hundred rupees.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A plain short black or milk tea at a local cafe costs around 200–300 LKR.
A rice-and-curry plate at a small restaurant or lodge dining room comes to 500–800 LKR.
A main of fried rice or kottu roti at a basic eatery costs 600–1,000 LKR.
No permanent street-food strip on Rajapihilla Mawatha, but a short walk down to Temple Street or the bus station area has samosa, isso wade, and fresh fruit stalls from 50–200 LKR.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are the main supermarkets; there’s a Cargills on Kandy town side, a 20-minute walk downhill from Rajapihilla.
For basics, head to the Kandy Central Market or the small stalls along Dalada Veediya; for cheap branded clothing, check the Nittambuwa textile shops a short bus ride out of town.
The cheapest way around Kandy is walking or a tuk-tuk ride (200–400 LKR for short trips). From the airport (Colombo Bandaranaike), the budget route is the public bus (Kandy–Colombo, about 400–500 LKR) or the train (third class around 200 LKR).
Eat at places where locals queue for rice-and-curry rather than tourist-facing restaurants on Rajapihilla; buy bottled water and basics from Cargills, not hotel minibars; bargain hard at markets but not at shops with fixed prices.
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 Blinkbonnie Inn
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk — pharmacy · Lanka — 1.2 km · ~15 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Blinkbonnie Inn?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the lake (south side). These floors are high enough to clear the rooftop of the neighbouring building, giving you a direct view over Kandy Lake without the street noise from Rajapihilla Mawatha. The upper floors also catch the breeze off the lake.
Which rooms should I avoid at Blinkbonnie Inn?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor or facing the street (north side). The 1st floor is at pavement level, so you'll get every tuk-tuk and bus grinding up the hill from the town centre. Street-facing rooms on any low floor are exposed to early-morning rubbish collection and the hotel's own service entrance noise.
Is Blinkbonnie Inn noisy?
Rajapihilla Mawatha is a main artery through Kandy, with constant tuk-tuks, buses, and the occasional temple procession horn. The worst noise is 7-9am and 4-6pm. The hotel's own rooftop bar can play music until 11pm on weekends – ask for a room on the opposite side of the building from the bar.
Which rooms have the best views at Blinkbonnie Inn?
South-facing rooms on floors 3-4 look over the hotel's garden and across to Kandy Lake and the Temple of the Tooth complex. You get a partial view of the hills beyond, especially at sunset. The north side faces the road and a row of shops – not worth it.
What are insider tips for staying at Blinkbonnie Inn?
1. Check in by 2pm to bag a south-facing upper room – they're the first to go. 2. If you're driving, ask for a ground-floor room near the car park for easier luggage hauling; the hotel has no lift to the parking level, and the climb from the street is steep.
What time is check-in at Blinkbonnie Inn?
Check-in at Blinkbonnie Inn is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Blinkbonnie Inn have Wi-Fi?
Free throughout property; typical speeds 10–15 Mbps over 4G backup (routers in common areas, signal variable in rooms farthest from reception); no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Blinkbonnie Inn?
300 LKR per person per night (tourist development levy); no resort fee
Where can I eat cheaply near Blinkbonnie Inn?
A rice-and-curry plate at a small restaurant or lodge dining room comes to 500–800 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Blinkbonnie Inn?
The cheapest way around Kandy is walking or a tuk-tuk ride (200–400 LKR for short trips). From the airport (Colombo Bandaranaike), the budget route is the public bus (Kandy–Colombo, about 400–500 LKR) or the train (third class around 200 LKR).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to March: driest period with daytime highs around 28°C and lower humidity, making walking tours and temple visits pleasant.
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.