🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri Lanka
Secret View Kandy
📍 100/8, Kandy View Garden Road, Kandy
Your stay — Secret View Kandy
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 — Secret View Kandy
Secret View Kandy sits high on a hillside off Anniewatta Road, a modest three-star property that relies on its balcony vistas over the lake and the Dalada Maligawa roof. The lobby is functional rather than grand, with polished tiles and a small reception desk, but the moment you step out to the terrace the city opens up below. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a room with a view rather than boutique service, and who don't mind a steep walk back up from town.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy grew as the last royal capital of the Sinhalese kingdom, protected by mountains until the British took it in 1815. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, rebuilt several times after fires and bombings, remains the city's spiritual and political core. Colonial-era bungalows and churches cluster around the lake, built by the British after the 1815 Kandyan Convention. Today the city balances a UNESCO-listed old centre with a busy commercial hub, its streets jammed with tuk-tuks and spice shops. The annual Esala Perahera in July and August still draws massive crowds, linking modern Kandy to its medieval pageantry.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January and February for clear skies, low humidity and calm lake views, plus reduced crowds before the main festival season
Peak / festival surge
July and August, when the Esala Perahera fills the city with processions, elephants and tens of thousands of visitors – hotel prices can double, and Secret View often sells out two months ahead
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer fewer tourists and lighter rains before the southwest monsoon, with room rates 20-30% lower than peak season
Weather & packing
Kandy sits at 500m elevation so evenings can be 5-8°C cooler than Colombo, with sudden afternoon downpours even in 'dry' months. Pack a light rain jacket and a warm layer for evening temple visits.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy Lake walking path collapsed during heavy rains in November 2025 and remains partially closed; check current status before planning a stroll around the perimeter
- A new flyover at the Peradeniya junction, begun in 2024, is causing traffic delays on the Colombo-Kandy main road – budget an extra 30 minutes for airport transfers
- The 2026 Esala Perahera runs from July 18 to August 18, so your July 2 stay falls just before the main processions – expect early crowd buildup and higher room rates from July 10 onwards
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Secret View Kandy, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request an upper-floor room at the side of the building facing away from Kandy View Garden Road. With no lift mentioned, the top floors (3rd and above) are furthest from street noise and offer better cross-ventilation. If the hotel has a rear wing, rooms facing the garden/hillside are quieter than front-facing ones.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those at the front near the street. Also avoid rooms directly above the reception or kitchen area, as these pick up operational noise from staff and guests.
Best views
The address is on a view road, so rooms at the rear or top may catch glimpses of the Kandy hills or lake. Front-facing rooms overlook the street and neighbouring buildings – not scenic.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and above (with the top floor being the best option).
🔊 Noise notes
The road is a narrow residential lane, but Kandy View Garden Road can be busy with tuk-tuks and motorbikes. Morning garbage collection or school drop-off noise is possible. No lift means footfall on stairs is audible from adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. If arriving on a weekend, request a back-facing room early – these fill first with locals wanting quiet. 2. There’s no lift, so ask for a room on floor 2 or 3 if stairs are a concern; you get quieter sleep without the climb to the top.
- 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 — Secret View Kandy
Free WiFi throughout; sufficient for browsing and video calls but not for heavy downloads (typical 5–10 Mbps; no login required, no device limit)
No lift. All rooms on upper floors via stairs (three floors total)
A few physical newspapers (Daily Mirror, Sunday Observer) in the lobby lounge; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag drop from 10:00 free. Late check-out until 13:00 for LKR 3,000, after that charged half day
Free luggage storage at reception, no time limit
Step access at entrance (two steps). No wheelchair ramp or adapted rooms; no lift. Not suitable for guests with mobility issues
No on-site parking. Street parking limited. Closest paid lot at Kandy City Centre (5-min walk): LKR 200 per night (7 PM–7 AM). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax in Kandy; 15% VAT included in rates for non-residents)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; a refundable LKR 5,000 hold on card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Katukele Jumma Masjid (858 m · ~11 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sambodhi Viharaya (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Bahirawakanada Temple (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Lighthouse Church (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
ODEL Mall Kandy — 918 m · ~11 min walk
Torrington Public Park — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
Hindu Cultural Center — 896 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 648 m · ~8 min walk
Venus — 668 m · ~8 min walk
Sri SKS — 957 m · ~12 min walk
Kandy South Depot. — 918 m · ~11 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Authorised moneychangers in Kandy town give better rates than hotels; avoid the airport counters for anything beyond a small amount.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in larger hotels, restaurants and shops; smaller places and tuk-tuks are cash only.
Not expected but appreciated; leave 10% at nicer restaurants, round up taxi fares, and a 100–200 LKR note for hotel staff who help with bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A short black or filter coffee at a local 'kade' style place: around 150–200 LKR.
A rice-and-curry plate at a small local eatery: about 350–500 LKR.
Kottu roti or a curry with rice at a simple restaurant: around 400–600 LKR for a main.
Street food stalls around Kandy Clock Tower and the market sell samosas, vadai and fruit for 50–150 LKR.
Supermarkets like Cargills Food City and Keells are common in Kandy town, a short tuk-tuk ride away.
For everyday clothes, Kandy Market (also called the Central Market) has cheap fabrics and casual wear.
Local buses in Kandy cost around 30–60 LKR per trip; from Bandaranaike International Airport to Kandy, take an SLTB bus (about 500–600 LKR) or share a van for about 1,000 LKR per person.
Eat at places where locals eat – the price difference is huge. Negotiate tuk-tuk fares before getting in. Buy drinking water in 1.5-litre bottles from supermarkets rather than in tourist areas.
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 Secret View Kandy
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 648 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Venus — 668 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Secret View Kandy?
Request an upper-floor room at the side of the building facing away from Kandy View Garden Road. With no lift mentioned, the top floors (3rd and above) are furthest from street noise and offer better cross-ventilation. If the hotel has a rear wing, rooms facing the garden/hillside are quieter than front-facing ones.
Which rooms should I avoid at Secret View Kandy?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those at the front near the street. Also avoid rooms directly above the reception or kitchen area, as these pick up operational noise from staff and guests.
Is Secret View Kandy noisy?
The road is a narrow residential lane, but Kandy View Garden Road can be busy with tuk-tuks and motorbikes. Morning garbage collection or school drop-off noise is possible. No lift means footfall on stairs is audible from adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Secret View Kandy?
The address is on a view road, so rooms at the rear or top may catch glimpses of the Kandy hills or lake. Front-facing rooms overlook the street and neighbouring buildings – not scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at Secret View Kandy?
1. If arriving on a weekend, request a back-facing room early – these fill first with locals wanting quiet. 2. There’s no lift, so ask for a room on floor 2 or 3 if stairs are a concern; you get quieter sleep without the climb to the top.
What time is check-in at Secret View Kandy?
Check-in at Secret View Kandy is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Secret View Kandy have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; sufficient for browsing and video calls but not for heavy downloads (typical 5–10 Mbps; no login required, no device limit)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Secret View Kandy?
None (no city tax in Kandy; 15% VAT included in rates for non-residents)
Where can I eat cheaply near Secret View Kandy?
A rice-and-curry plate at a small local eatery: about 350–500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Secret View Kandy?
Local buses in Kandy cost around 30–60 LKR per trip; from Bandaranaike International Airport to Kandy, take an SLTB bus (about 500–600 LKR) or share a van for about 1,000 LKR per person.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January and February for clear skies, low humidity and calm lake views, plus reduced crowds before the main 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.