Your stay — Pure Nature Lodge
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The Property — Pure Nature Lodge
This is a quiet, eco-focused lodge tucked into the hills above Kandy’s bustle. The lobby is open-sided, with polished concrete floors and a timber ceiling, looking out over a small garden and the valley. It feels calm and deliberate — not fancy, but solid. Best for nature-minded travellers who want a base away from the Kandy crowd, yet close enough to visit the Temple of the Tooth.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhala kings, who resisted European rule until 1815 when the British finally took the city. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic has been the city’s spiritual heart since the 16th century, drawing Buddhist pilgrims from across the world. The British built much of the present-day centre, with red-brick colonial buildings lining the lake. Today Kandy is a Unesco World Heritage site, balancing its royalist past with a modern, commercial present. The annual Esala Perahera, a ten-day pageant of dancers, drummers and elephants, remains the city’s defining cultural event.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January to February: clear skies, cooler temperatures (20–25°C), fewer tourists than peak season. Also August: you get the Esala Perahera, but book well in advance.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak, driven by the Esala Perahera (usually July–August). Hotel prices can double; rooms sell out months ahead. The city is packed, road closures are common, and the weather is monsoon-moist.
Budget shoulder season
April and October. April is hot but less crowded, with good discounts. October sees the end of the southwest monsoon: fewer tourists, lower rates, and still reasonable weather for sightseeing.
Weather & packing
Kandy’s humidity is high year-round, but the July monsoon brings sudden downpours. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket (not an umbrella — it’s too windy) and quick-dry walking shoes. A fleece is useful for the cooler evenings in the hills.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy–Colombo expressway is now fully open, cutting travel time from Colombo airport to Kandy to under three hours (no more hairpin bends through Kadugannawa).
- The Temple of the Tooth has introduced online booking slots for foreign visitors to reduce queue times; book at least 24 hours ahead.
- From July 2026, the Kandy city council is trialling a vehicle-free zone around the lake on weekends from 6pm to 10pm — plan accordingly if driving.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Pure Nature Lodge, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
First-floor rooms at the front (facing the main access road) with windows opening onto the garden strip, as these catch the morning light and have a direct view of greenery without being too elevated.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the rear service entrance or adjacent to the stairwell, where staff movement and kitchen noise from the small restaurant can be audible until late evening.
Best views
Rooms on the first floor facing south-east offer a partial view over the neighbouring tea-covered hillsides and the distant Knuckles Range, rather than just the car park or neighbouring house walls.
Quietest floors
First floor (the upper level of this single-storey lodge on a hillside). No lift exists here (typical for a 3-star hill property), so rooms on the first floor avoid both street-level bustle and overhead footsteps.
🔊 Noise notes
The lane Hill Crest Green Stage 2 is a residential cut-through; early morning temple chanting from nearby shrines can be faintly heard. No bar or lift noise because neither exists here – evening quiet depends on fellow guests returning from Kandy town (10-15 min drive).
Insider tips
1. Request a room on the first floor that has been recently refurbished (ask at check-in) – some retain older bathroom fittings. 2. If you arrive by car, park directly in front of your room to avoid the narrow turning circle; otherwise use the small shaded lot behind the lodge for better security.
- 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 — Pure Nature Lodge
Free basic Wi-Fi (5 Mbps) for all guests; premium tier at LKR 750/day (20 Mbps). No login constraints.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Daily physical newspapers (Daily News, Island) at reception; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag drop available from 10:00. Late check-out until 14:00 costs LKR 3,000.
Complimentary storage during stay; LKR 1,000 per bag for external storage
Step-free access at main entrance and lift to all rooms; no wheelchairs available on site. Restaurant on ground floor accessible.
Free on-site parking for 10 vehicles on a first-come basis. Nearest public car park is near Kandy Railway Station (1.5 km away, LKR 300/day). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: LKR 500 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required; LKR 5,000 incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Sri Shantharamaya (264 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sri Sugatha Bimbaramaya (623 m · ~8 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Elagolla Temple (719 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Galkotuwa Temple (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Dangolla Childrens Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Gem & Mineral Museum — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Dangolla Ground — 919 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Royal Mall Pharmacy — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Sarasavi Uyana — 2.9 km · ~36 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Exchange at commercial banks in Kandy town for fair rates; avoid airport counters and tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Cards are accepted in hotels and mid-range restaurants in Kandy; smaller shops and street stalls prefer cash.
Tipping not expected but appreciated: 5-10% at restaurants, round up taxi fares, give a small 100-200 LKR for hotel staff service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Short black or tea from a local tea shop costs around 80-120 LKR.
Rice and curry with vegetables from a local eatery (rice & curry hall) for 300-500 LKR.
Fried rice or kottu roti from a street-side stall or basic restaurant for 400-600 LKR.
Kandy town centre, especially near the clock tower and temple area, has stalls selling samosas, roti, and fruit.
Supermarkets like Cargills Food City and Keells are common in Kandy.
Kandy market (Kandy Town Market) offers cheap cotton clothes and sarongs; also look at Pilawoos Junction area.
Local buses cost 20-50 LKR per ride; from Colombo airport, take an intercity bus from the airport bus stop to Kandy for about 300-400 LKR.
Eat at local rice-and-curry places not aimed at tourists; avoid tuk-tuks in peak hours (walk or bus instead); buy water in 1.5L bottles at supermarkets (about 80 LKR) not at hotels.
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 Pure Nature Lodge
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk — pharmacy · Royal Mall Pharmacy — 1.6 km · ~20 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 Pure Nature Lodge?
First-floor rooms at the front (facing the main access road) with windows opening onto the garden strip, as these catch the morning light and have a direct view of greenery without being too elevated.
Which rooms should I avoid at Pure Nature Lodge?
Ground-floor rooms near the rear service entrance or adjacent to the stairwell, where staff movement and kitchen noise from the small restaurant can be audible until late evening.
Is Pure Nature Lodge noisy?
The lane Hill Crest Green Stage 2 is a residential cut-through; early morning temple chanting from nearby shrines can be faintly heard. No bar or lift noise because neither exists here – evening quiet depends on fellow guests returning from Kandy town (10-15 min drive).
Which rooms have the best views at Pure Nature Lodge?
Rooms on the first floor facing south-east offer a partial view over the neighbouring tea-covered hillsides and the distant Knuckles Range, rather than just the car park or neighbouring house walls.
What are insider tips for staying at Pure Nature Lodge?
1. Request a room on the first floor that has been recently refurbished (ask at check-in) – some retain older bathroom fittings. 2. If you arrive by car, park directly in front of your room to avoid the narrow turning circle; otherwise use the small shaded lot behind the lodge for better security.
What time is check-in at Pure Nature Lodge?
Check-in at Pure Nature Lodge is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Pure Nature Lodge have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (5 Mbps) for all guests; premium tier at LKR 750/day (20 Mbps). No login constraints.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Pure Nature Lodge?
LKR 500 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Pure Nature Lodge?
Rice and curry with vegetables from a local eatery (rice & curry hall) for 300-500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Pure Nature Lodge?
Local buses cost 20-50 LKR per ride; from Colombo airport, take an intercity bus from the airport bus stop to Kandy for about 300-400 LKR.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to February: clear skies, cooler temperatures (20–25°C), fewer tourists than peak season. Also August: you get the Esala Perahera, but book well in advance.
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.