Your stay — Sheraton Cottage
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The Property — Sheraton Cottage
The Sheraton Cottage in Kandy feels like a colonial-era guesthouse that has settled into comfortable middle age. Its lobby has polished hardwood floors, ceiling fans, and a faint scent of tea – a calm retreat from the honking tuk-tuks outside. The USP is location: it’s a short, shady walk to the Temple of the Tooth and the lake. This suits independent travellers who want a solid, clean base in the city centre without frills or noise.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhala kings, remaining independent under the Kandyan Convention until 1815, when the British took control and the kingdom fell. The city’s architectural identity blends colonial-era bungalows with traditional Kandyan temple architecture, notably the octagonal Pattirippuwa and the white-domed Dalada Maligawa. The Temple of the Tooth, housing a relic of the Buddha, has been the sacred core since the 16th century. Today Kandy is a Unesco World Heritage site and a nerve centre of Buddhist culture, with a annual Esala Perahera that draws pilgrims and tourists alike. Its contemporary identity is a busy, hilly market city where the lake and hills remain the quiet anchors.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January and February: dry, sunny weather and low humidity, with crowds manageable after the December peak. March also works – still mostly dry before the monsoon builds.
Peak / festival surge
Peak month is July-August, driven by the Kandy Esala Perahera festival (late July to early August). Hotel prices can triple; the Sheraton Cottage will be booked solid months ahead. The roads around the Temple are closed for processions, so expect chaos and plan walking routes.
Budget shoulder season
Best budget shoulder months are April and October. April brings the Sinhala New Year (mid-month) but the weather is still mostly dry, and crowds are light. October is the tail of the southwest monsoon – some rain but far fewer tourists, with discounts up to 40% on rooms.
Weather & packing
Kandy’s high altitude gives it mild temperatures (20–28°C) year-round but sudden downpours are common even in the 'dry' season. Pack a light rain jacket or compact umbrella and a sarong (for temple dress codes: long trousers and covered shoulders for men, knees and shoulders covered for women).
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy city council has completed road widening on Colombo Street, reducing traffic jams near the railway station – but construction barriers are still up along some pavements, so wear sturdy shoes.
- A new pedestrian-only zone has been introduced along the lakeside path from the Temple to the Queens Hotel, open weekends and festival days – good for a quiet evening walk.
- The Esala Perahera 2026 runs from 23 July to 1 August – if you’re staying 18–19 July, you’ll be in town just before the main processions start, so expect road closures and a surge of rehearsals/tourist arrivals from 20 July.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Sheraton Cottage, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the top floor (third or fourth) at the rear of the property. These rooms face away from the main road and get less foot traffic from reception and the stairs (no lift data provided, so likely walk-up).
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the entrance or stairwell. The address 'Kandy' means it's in a busy, sometimes loud area: ground floor will catch street noise and lobby bustle. Also avoid rooms directly above the common areas (if any) or next to the only stairwell.
Best views
The best view is probably from upper-floor rooms at the front, but these face the street. If you want a quieter view, request a room at the back: you might get a garden or hillside vista instead of traffic.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are typically the quietest in a walk-up 3-star cottage hotel. Fewer guests pass by and less noise from the street filters up.
🔊 Noise notes
Kandy is a compact city with narrow streets, high foot traffic, and early-morning temple bells. Tuk-tuks and buses run from 5am to late evening. The hotel's position on a street means constant vehicle noise, especially during peak hours (7-9am, 4-7pm).
Insider tips
1. Since no lift is confirmed, pack light and request a lower floor if you have mobility issues — but accept the noise trade-off. 2. Ask for a room at the back at check-in: even if you booked a front room, the staff may accommodate a change if the hotel isn't full. 3. Bring earplugs; Kandy is noisy at night from street dogs and occasional temple chanting.
- 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 — Sheraton Cottage
Free WiFi throughout property; speed around 10 Mbps download. No login required, just connect and accept terms.
No passenger lift. Two-storey building with stairs only; no handicap access to upper floor.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Small library with Sri Lankan travel guides and local history books.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 12:00 costs LKR 3,500; after 12:00 charged half-day rate.
Free luggage storage at reception for same-day arrivals and departures.
No step-free entry; one step at main entrance. Ground-floor room available but bathroom threshold has 3 cm lip. No wheelchair-accessible toilets.
On-site parking free of charge; 8 spaces first-come-first-served. Nearest public car park is Kandy Municipal Car Park (500 m walk, LKR 200 per hour). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; LKR 5,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Jamiul Khairath Jummah Masjid Mahaiyawa (346 m · ~4 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Sri Muthumariamman Temple (509 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Lighthouse Church (586 m · ~7 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Asgiri Maha Viharaya (633 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Torrington Public Park — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Kandyan Art Association — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
Vidyartha College Sports Complex — 2.0 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
NSB — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Nihals medical — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Sri SKS — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Mahaiyawa — 438 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Change money at banks or authorised Forex counters in town; avoid airport or hotel desks for poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted at hotels, mid-range restaurants and larger shops; cash needed for street food, buses and small vendors.
Not expected, but leaving small change (100–200 LKR) for good service in restaurants or a round-up for taxis is common; hotel porters may get 100–300 LKR.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Short black at a local café, roughly 150–250 LKR.
Rice and curry from a small eatery, about 400–600 LKR.
Local main like kottu roti or hoppers, around 500–800 LKR.
Kandy's market area and roads near the clock tower have stalls selling samosas, roti and fresh fruit — look for busy vendors for turnover.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are the main budget supermarket chains in Kandy.
Bazaar area and Kandy City Centre mall have affordable high-street clothing; for traditional items, try the market stalls near the lake.
Local bus within Kandy costs 30–50 LKR per ride; from airport (CMB) take a government bus (route 1 via Peradeniya, about 200–400 LKR).
Eat at small rice-and-curry joints for the best value; use local buses rather than tuk-tuks for short trips; buy bottled water and snacks at supermarkets, not tourist stalls.
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 Sheraton Cottage
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NSB — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk — pharmacy · Nihals medical — 1.4 km · ~17 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 Sheraton Cottage?
Request a room on the top floor (third or fourth) at the rear of the property. These rooms face away from the main road and get less foot traffic from reception and the stairs (no lift data provided, so likely walk-up).
Which rooms should I avoid at Sheraton Cottage?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the entrance or stairwell. The address 'Kandy' means it's in a busy, sometimes loud area: ground floor will catch street noise and lobby bustle. Also avoid rooms directly above the common areas (if any) or next to the only stairwell.
Is Sheraton Cottage noisy?
Kandy is a compact city with narrow streets, high foot traffic, and early-morning temple bells. Tuk-tuks and buses run from 5am to late evening. The hotel's position on a street means constant vehicle noise, especially during peak hours (7-9am, 4-7pm).
Which rooms have the best views at Sheraton Cottage?
The best view is probably from upper-floor rooms at the front, but these face the street. If you want a quieter view, request a room at the back: you might get a garden or hillside vista instead of traffic.
What are insider tips for staying at Sheraton Cottage?
1. Since no lift is confirmed, pack light and request a lower floor if you have mobility issues — but accept the noise trade-off. 2. Ask for a room at the back at check-in: even if you booked a front room, the staff may accommodate a change if the hotel isn't full. 3. Bring earplugs; Kandy is noisy at night from street dogs and occasional temple chanting.
What time is check-in at Sheraton Cottage?
Check-in at Sheraton Cottage is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Sheraton Cottage have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout property; speed around 10 Mbps download. No login required, just connect and accept terms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Sheraton Cottage?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Sheraton Cottage?
Rice and curry from a small eatery, about 400–600 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Sheraton Cottage?
Local bus within Kandy costs 30–50 LKR per ride; from airport (CMB) take a government bus (route 1 via Peradeniya, about 200–400 LKR).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January and February: dry, sunny weather and low humidity, with crowds manageable after the December peak. March also works – still mostly dry before the monsoon builds.
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.