🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri Lanka
Funk Bunk Tourist Inn
📍 96/21F, Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy, 20000
Your stay — Funk Bunk Tourist Inn
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 — Funk Bunk Tourist Inn
Funk Bunk is a no-frills Kandy hostel dressed like a roadside motel — bright, loud murals on the outside, basic dorms and private rooms inside. It has a small communal kitchen, a rooftop terrace overlooking the hills, and a bar that stays open late. The lobby feels like a backpacker pit stop: reggae playing, a noticeboard full of tuk-tuk tour offers, and a faint smell of curry from the street kitchen next door. Suits budget travellers, solo riders on the Colombo–Kandy bus, anyone wanting quick access to the Temple of the Tooth without paying for a view.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy grew around a 15th-century fortress built by the Kingdom of Kandy, the last independent Sinhalese kingdom before British colonization in 1815. The city’s defining feature is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, said to house a canine tooth of the Buddha, which has made it a pilgrimage centre for centuries. The British replaced the moats and walls with a lake and parks, and added colonial bungalows, the railway station and the hill-country train line that still snakes up from Colombo. Today Kandy is both a UNESCO World Heritage city and the administrative capital of the Central Province, balancing a steady flow of pilgrims with tourists rushing through on the Kandy–Ella route. The city keeps its old courtly traditions alive through the annual Esala Perahera, a ten-day procession of dancers, drummers and elephants held in July–August.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January and February: dry, sunny days, clear views of the Knuckles Range, and light crowds after the Christmas rush. September also works: post-monsoon, cooler, quieter.
Peak / festival surge
July to August: the Esala Perahera festival draws tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists; hotel prices double, and city traffic is gridlocked from 5pm. Book rooms months ahead or pay a premium for any three-star.
Budget shoulder season
May and November: these are monsoon months with daily downpours, but budgets get half-price rooms and the temples empty out. Pack rain gear and you'll have the lake front almost to yourself.
Weather & packing
Kandy sits at 500m elevation, so it is cooler than the coast but still sticky; expect 22–28°C year-round with sudden showers. Pack a light rain jacket plus quick-dry trousers — the humidity will wreck cotton in three hours.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy–Colombo main road (A1) has new bus lanes that have reduced travel time to about 2.5 hours, but the bus station itself is undergoing renovation — expect dust and confusion finding the right platform.
- Temple of the Tooth now requires all visitors to wear long trousers and covered shoulders; sarongs are available at the entrance but cost 300 LKR.
- Several new guesthouses and cafés have opened along Bahirawakanda Road, including a rooftop restaurant with good views of the Buddha statue that's cheaper than the hotel restaurants in town.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Funk Bunk Tourist Inn, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request upper floors (3rd and above) facing the rear garden, away from Rajapihilla Mawatha. These rooms avoid street noise and benefit from views over the hillside.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the entrance or lobby — noise from reception and passing guests is common. Also avoid rooms facing Rajapihilla Mawatha directly; that road carries tuk-tuks and buses from early morning.
Best views
Rooms at the rear (hill-facing) offer views over Kandy’s wooded hillsides. Front rooms look onto Rajapihilla Mawatha and neighbouring houses — less interesting.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are quietest — above the street and lobby, away from any ground-level common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Rajapihilla Mawatha is a main route into central Kandy — tuk-tuks, motorbikes and buses run from 5am to late evening. The hotel may have a shared kitchen or common terrace that can be noisy at mealtimes.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on the Rajapihilla side only if you want to watch street life; earplugs are essential. 2. The hotel has no parking listed — if driving, ask ahead where you can leave a car, as Rajapihilla Mawatha has limited kerb space.
- 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 — Funk Bunk Tourist Inn
Free basic 10 Mbps per device; paid upgrade LKR 800 for 50 Mbps throughout stay
No lift – four floors accessed by stairs only
Complimentary digital access to Daily FT news; no physical newspapers
Standard 14:00 – 22:00; early bag drop from 10:00 if room ready; late checkout fee LKR 2,500 until 16:00
Free for day of check-out until 20:00; charge LKR 500 thereafter
No step-free access; ground floor has a small step; no accessible bathrooms
No on-site parking; street parking restricted. Nearest public car park (Kandy City Centre) LKR 150 per hour; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: LKR 500 per room per night, included in the rate
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; LKR 5,000 incidental hold on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Monastery Of Blessed Sacrament Fathers (824 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Saint Mary's Church (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Bodhirukkaramaya (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Thilanka Hotel (1.4 km · ~18 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
National Museum of Kandy — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
Kandy Lake Club — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
E.L. Senanayake Children's Park — 786 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Central Bus Station — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Exchange money at banks or authorised money changers in Kandy town for the best rates; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Cards are accepted in hotels, mid-range restaurants, and larger shops in the city; smaller eateries and tuk-tuks prefer cash. Contactless is becoming common in supermarkets.
Not required but appreciated: leave 10% at nicer restaurants if no service charge, round up taxi fares, and tip hotel porters 100-200 LKR.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side stall or local bakery tea — a plain tea or simple black coffee costs around 30-50 LKR.
Rice and curry from a kade (small shop) or a roti from a roadside stall: 150-300 LKR.
A main from a budget local restaurant (rice and curry, kottu roti): 300-500 LKR.
Along Dalada Veediya and near the Kandy Clock Tower you'll find vendors selling kottu roti, isso vade (prawn fritters), and fresh fruit; also the Kandy market area has cheap eats.
Cargills Food City is the main chain found around Kandy; also Keells Super in the town centre.
Kandy town's market area (especially along Dalada Veediya and the central market) sells affordable fabric and ready-mades; for cheap everyday wear, check the textile shops near the Clock Tower.
Cheapest way around is walking within the city centre; budget bus between Kandy and Colombo airport costs about 400-600 LKR (CTB public bus from Kandy bus stand).
Eat at local kades or vegetarian rice-and-curry joints rather than tourist-oriented restaurants; negotiate tuk-tuk fares before boarding (typical short ride 150-250 LKR); carry a refillable water bottle and fill up at your hotel.
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 Funk Bunk Tourist Inn
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
Request upper floors (3rd and above) facing the rear garden, away from Rajapihilla Mawatha. These rooms avoid street noise and benefit from views over the hillside.
Which rooms should I avoid at Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the entrance or lobby — noise from reception and passing guests is common. Also avoid rooms facing Rajapihilla Mawatha directly; that road carries tuk-tuks and buses from early morning.
Is Funk Bunk Tourist Inn noisy?
Rajapihilla Mawatha is a main route into central Kandy — tuk-tuks, motorbikes and buses run from 5am to late evening. The hotel may have a shared kitchen or common terrace that can be noisy at mealtimes.
Which rooms have the best views at Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
Rooms at the rear (hill-facing) offer views over Kandy’s wooded hillsides. Front rooms look onto Rajapihilla Mawatha and neighbouring houses — less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
1. Ask for a room on the Rajapihilla side only if you want to watch street life; earplugs are essential. 2. The hotel has no parking listed — if driving, ask ahead where you can leave a car, as Rajapihilla Mawatha has limited kerb space.
What time is check-in at Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
Check-in at Funk Bunk Tourist Inn is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Funk Bunk Tourist Inn have Wi-Fi?
Free basic 10 Mbps per device; paid upgrade LKR 800 for 50 Mbps throughout stay
Is there a city or tourist tax at Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
LKR 500 per room per night, included in the rate
Where can I eat cheaply near Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
Rice and curry from a kade (small shop) or a roti from a roadside stall: 150-300 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Funk Bunk Tourist Inn?
Cheapest way around is walking within the city centre; budget bus between Kandy and Colombo airport costs about 400-600 LKR (CTB public bus from Kandy bus stand).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January and February: dry, sunny days, clear views of the Knuckles Range, and light crowds after the Christmas rush. September also works: post-monsoon, cooler, quieter.
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.