🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri Lanka
Forest Glen Guesthouse
📍 Kandy
Your stay — Forest Glen Guesthouse
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The Property — Forest Glen Guesthouse
Forest Glen Guesthouse is a modest three-star place set on a steep hillside above Kandy lake, with the feel of a quiet, slightly faded colonial-era family home. The lobby is small and tiled, with a warm wood reception desk and a framed photo of old Kandy; you smell tea and gardenia. It suits budget-conscious independent travellers and couples who want solid cleanliness, a good hill-view breakfast terrace, and don't mind a steep walk home.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy grew around the sacred Temple of the Tooth in the 14th century and became the last independent Sinhalese kingdom's capital, resisting Portuguese, Dutch and early British rule until 1815. The city's architecture mixes colonial-era bungalows and temples in the Kandyan Revival style, with red-tiled roofs and verandahs. After the British took control they built the artificial lake in 1807 and laid out the town grid, but the temple complex remains the spiritual and political heart. Today Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage city, still dominated by the tooth relic and the annual Esala Perahera procession, and its cultural identity remains fiercely Buddhist and royal in tone.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January to March: dry, sunny and cool, with clear views of the hills and mild crowds before the April festival season.
Peak / festival surge
July to August (especially late July into early August) is the Esala Perahera period – the city explodes with processions, dancers and pilgrims. Hotel prices triple, advance booking essential months ahead. The festival drives all demand.
Budget shoulder season
October and November: after the northeast monsoon and before the high season crowds. Discounts of 30–40% on standard room rates, still reasonably dry weather, and far fewer tourists.
Weather & packing
Kandy's microclimate means you can get rain any day even in the dry season; a sudden downpour can last 20 minutes or two hours. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and quick-dry walking shoes – not an umbrella, which gets tangled in tuk-tuks and temple queues.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy–Colombo expressway (A1 extension) opened fully last year, cutting travel time from Colombo to around 2 hours – book a private car or bus rather than the old road.
- The Temple of the Tooth now requires online ticket booking 48 hours in advance during festival periods; walk-up tickets may not be available in July.
- Several new pedestrian-only zones have been introduced around the lake from 6pm during Perahera season, so allow extra time to walk to the guesthouse.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Forest Glen Guesthouse, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing away from Kandy town centre, ideally towards the hills. These are quieter and likely to have better air circulation.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or those directly facing the main road into Kandy. Street noise can be intrusive, especially during morning and evening traffic.
Best views
Rooms facing away from the road may offer glimpses of the surrounding hills or Kandy Lake in the distance, but avoid expecting a clear view from a 3-star guesthouse.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest, as they are further from street level and any common areas on lower floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Kandy's main road traffic (buses, tuk-tuks) generates steady noise until late evening. Also, nearby temples may broadcast morning prayers from loudspeakers around 5am.
Insider tips
1. Request a room at check-in that is on the same floor as the dining area if you have mobility concerns — no lift means stairs-only access. 2. For a quieter night, ask for a room at the back when booking, and bring earplugs just in case.
- 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 — Forest Glen Guesthouse
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 5–10 Mbps down; no login required but reconnects after 30 mins idle
No lift – two-storey colonial villa with stairs only; ground-floor rooms accessible for light luggage
Complimentary digital access to Daily FT and Sunday Observer via lobby iPad; no physical papers
Check-in 14:00–22:00; early bag drop free if room ready; late check-out Rs 1,500 until 12:00 after 12:00 full night rate
Free storage at reception for day guests and after check-out
Step-free entrance from street but ramp is steep; first-floor rooms require stairs; no wheelchair-accessible toilets
On-site parking for 4 cars free on a first-come basis; nearest public car park at Temple of the Tooth (Rs 1,000/night, 800 m walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 13.5% government tax plus 2% city levy per night; total ~Rs 600–800 for a double room
Deposit & card hold: 25% advance deposit due via bank transfer or booking agent; Rs 2,000 incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Adahanamaluwa Gedige Vihara (200 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Trinity College Church (262 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Rama Viharaya (334 m · ~4 min walk)
- Place of worship: Meera Maccam Jummah Masjid (363 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mall — 2.6 km · ~32 min walk
Torrington Public Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Kandyan Art Association — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
NSB — 656 m · ~8 min walk
Nihals medical — 651 m · ~8 min walk
New Pris — 647 m · ~8 min walk
Asgiriya — 428 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Use official bank exchange counters or authorised money changers in Kandy city centre; avoid airport and tourist-area bureaux for poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants; local shops and street stalls are cash-only; contactless rare outside malls.
Not mandatory but appreciated: 10% at nicer restaurants only if service charge not added; round up taxi fare; 100–200 LKR for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Lankan coffee or tea from a roadside kiosk or street stall, about 50–80 LKR.
Rice and curry or kottu from a local eatery, around 300–500 LKR.
Main dish from a casual dosa or biryani place, about 400–600 LKR.
Food stalls near the Kandy Clock Tower or along Dalada Veediya offer samosas, vada and fresh fruit for 20–100 LKR each.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are common budget supermarkets in Kandy.
Main Street (Dalada Veediya) and Kandy City Centre market have affordable fabric and ready-made clothing; bargaining expected.
Local bus within Kandy, 20–50 LKR per ride; from Colombo airport take an express bus to Kandy (approx 600–800 LKR) instead of a taxi.
Eat at local rice-and-curry joints not tourist cafes; buy water and snacks at supermarkets not hotels; use buses over tuk-tuks for longer distances.
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 Forest Glen Guesthouse
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NSB — 656 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Nihals medical — 651 m · ~8 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 Forest Glen Guesthouse?
Request rooms on upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing away from Kandy town centre, ideally towards the hills. These are quieter and likely to have better air circulation.
Which rooms should I avoid at Forest Glen Guesthouse?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or those directly facing the main road into Kandy. Street noise can be intrusive, especially during morning and evening traffic.
Is Forest Glen Guesthouse noisy?
Kandy's main road traffic (buses, tuk-tuks) generates steady noise until late evening. Also, nearby temples may broadcast morning prayers from loudspeakers around 5am.
Which rooms have the best views at Forest Glen Guesthouse?
Rooms facing away from the road may offer glimpses of the surrounding hills or Kandy Lake in the distance, but avoid expecting a clear view from a 3-star guesthouse.
What are insider tips for staying at Forest Glen Guesthouse?
1. Request a room at check-in that is on the same floor as the dining area if you have mobility concerns — no lift means stairs-only access. 2. For a quieter night, ask for a room at the back when booking, and bring earplugs just in case.
What time is check-in at Forest Glen Guesthouse?
Check-in at Forest Glen Guesthouse is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Forest Glen Guesthouse have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 5–10 Mbps down; no login required but reconnects after 30 mins idle
Is there a city or tourist tax at Forest Glen Guesthouse?
13.5% government tax plus 2% city levy per night; total ~Rs 600–800 for a double room
Where can I eat cheaply near Forest Glen Guesthouse?
Rice and curry or kottu from a local eatery, around 300–500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Forest Glen Guesthouse?
Local bus within Kandy, 20–50 LKR per ride; from Colombo airport take an express bus to Kandy (approx 600–800 LKR) instead of a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to March: dry, sunny and cool, with clear views of the hills and mild crowds before the April festival season.
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.