Your stay — Kandy Hills Resort
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The Property — Kandy Hills Resort
Kandy Hills Resort is a functional 3-star hotel built into a hillside above the Mahaweli River, a 15-minute drive uphill from the Temple of the Tooth. The lobby feels like a mid-range bus terminus – tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a waiting area with rattan furniture. Its main selling point is the infinity pool and terrace overlooking the river valley, which compensates for rooms that are dated but clean. It suits budget-conscious travellers or groups who plan to be out sightseeing and just need a cool room and a decent breakfast.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhala kings, falling to the British only in 1815 after a treaty. The city's heart is the artificial lake built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1807, surrounded by the Temple of the Tooth, a UNESCO site housing a relic of the Buddha. Colonial architecture – like the Queen‘s Hotel and the old Kandy railway station – still lines the lakefront. Today Kandy is both a pilgrimage city and a tourist hub, with a tightly packed grid of shops, buses and tuk-tuks around the lake. Its contemporary identity balances Buddhist ritual with the chaos of a major hill-country transport junction.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January and February – dry season, clear views of the hills, and relatively quiet after the December holiday rush. August also works if you want the Kandy Esala Perahera atmosphere.
Peak / festival surge
Late July to August – the Esala Perahera festival (10 days around the August full moon) draws huge crowds. Hotel prices can triple, and the hotel fills with Perahera tourists; book at least six months ahead. The parade with elephants and dancers happens nightly on the streets around the Temple.
Budget shoulder season
March to April – still dry but fewer tourists, hotel rates drop by 30-40% from peak. September to November – post-Perahera lull, with occasional rain but good discounts.
Weather & packing
Kandy gets afternoon rain most months even in the dry season – expect a tropical downpour around 3-4pm that clears quickly. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or an umbrella and quick-dry walking shoes; a shawl or long-sleeved top for temple visits (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy to Badulla train (the famous 'Ella train') is running on schedule, but book tickets online at least two weeks ahead – demand is very high in July.
- The Kandy City Centre shopping complex near the bus station opened a new food court in late 2025, offering cheap Sri Lankan curries and reliable Wi-Fi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are forecast for early July – the hill roads around the hotel can get slippery; use the hotel's tuk-tuk service or pre-book a driver.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Kandy Hills Resort, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd floor and above) facing the gardens or hillside to the rear. These catch cooler breezes and avoid street noise from Rajapihilla Mawatha, which is a main road with tuk-tuks and buses.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground or first floor facing the street (Rajapihilla Mawatha side). They get direct road noise and possible headlight glare at night.
Best views
Hillside and garden views from the rear of the property are best — you overlook Kandy’s green slopes. Street side views are of the road and neighbouring buildings.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 (the topmost likely given typical 3-star resort height) are quietest, set back from the road and above the lobby level.
🔊 Noise notes
Rajapihilla Mawatha carries through-traffic including tuk-tuks, buses and motorbikes until late evening. Early morning garbage collection and staff arrival can also create brief noise at the front.
Insider tips
1. If you drive, park at the rear of the property — more secure and shaded. 2. Ask for a room on a high floor (3+) during check-in for guaranteed quiet; these are often the first to go.
- 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 — Kandy Hills Resort
Free for all guests; speed around 15 Mbps download, okay for browsing and streaming; no login required, just select 'Kandy Hills' network
One lift serves guestroom floors 1 to 4; stairs only to the rooftop terrace and the restaurant
A few physical copies of Daily News and Sunday Observer at reception in the morning; no digital newsstand
Check-in 14:00 to 23:00; early bag drop from 10:00 at front desk; late check-out until 18:00 costs half a night's rate (subject to availability)
Free for day of arrival or departure, stored behind reception; no long-term storage
Step at main entrance (about 15 cm), staff can bring a portable ramp; lift and ground-floor rooms as standard; no accessible bathroom on site
Free on-site parking for about 10 cars on a first-come basis; overflow parking available at the Kandy Lake Club car park, 300 LKR per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% government tax plus 2.5% tourism development levy on total bill
Deposit & card hold: Full amount for first night charged at booking; 5000 LKR incidental hold on a credit or debit card at check-in
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
Use official exchange counters in Kandy town center or ATMs; avoid airport kiosks and tourist area bureaux that offer poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in hotels and larger restaurants; street stalls and tuk-tuks require cash.
10% at restaurants if service charge not included; tip taxi drivers 50–100 LKR; give hotel porters 50–100 LKR per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local tea or coffee from a roadside kiosk for around 50–80 LKR.
Rice and curry from a local eatery for 300–500 LKR.
A main dish at a casual restaurant serving Sri Lankan food for 600–800 LKR.
Street stalls near the Kandy railway station and in the town center offer samosas, roti, and kottu for 100–200 LKR per item.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are the main supermarket chains in this area.
Affordable clothing from local market stalls near the Clock Tower and Kandy town bazaar.
Bus: around 20–30 LKR for a short hop in Kandy; from the airport (Bandaranaike), take the public bus or train to Kandy for 200–500 LKR.
1. Eat at local 'rice and curry' joints instead of tourist restaurants. 2. Use public buses rather than tuk-tuks for trips within town. 3. Haggle fairly at markets and for tuk-tuk fares—always agree a price before starting.
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 Kandy Hills Resort
🕒 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 Kandy Hills Resort?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd floor and above) facing the gardens or hillside to the rear. These catch cooler breezes and avoid street noise from Rajapihilla Mawatha, which is a main road with tuk-tuks and buses.
Which rooms should I avoid at Kandy Hills Resort?
Avoid rooms on the ground or first floor facing the street (Rajapihilla Mawatha side). They get direct road noise and possible headlight glare at night.
Is Kandy Hills Resort noisy?
Rajapihilla Mawatha carries through-traffic including tuk-tuks, buses and motorbikes until late evening. Early morning garbage collection and staff arrival can also create brief noise at the front.
Which rooms have the best views at Kandy Hills Resort?
Hillside and garden views from the rear of the property are best — you overlook Kandy’s green slopes. Street side views are of the road and neighbouring buildings.
What are insider tips for staying at Kandy Hills Resort?
1. If you drive, park at the rear of the property — more secure and shaded. 2. Ask for a room on a high floor (3+) during check-in for guaranteed quiet; these are often the first to go.
What time is check-in at Kandy Hills Resort?
Check-in at Kandy Hills Resort is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Kandy Hills Resort have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speed around 15 Mbps download, okay for browsing and streaming; no login required, just select 'Kandy Hills' network
Is there a city or tourist tax at Kandy Hills Resort?
10% government tax plus 2.5% tourism development levy on total bill
Where can I eat cheaply near Kandy Hills Resort?
Rice and curry from a local eatery for 300–500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Kandy Hills Resort?
Bus: around 20–30 LKR for a short hop in Kandy; from the airport (Bandaranaike), take the public bus or train to Kandy for 200–500 LKR.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January and February – dry season, clear views of the hills, and relatively quiet after the December holiday rush. August also works if you want the Kandy Esala Perahera atmosphere.
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.