Your stay — The Best Hostel
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The Property — The Best Hostel
The Best Hostel is a no-frills budget sleephouse perched on a leafy hillside above Kandy Lake. The lobby is a small tiled room with a fan and a worn sofa; staff hand you a paper map and a key to a fan-cooled dorm or basic private room. It suits backpackers and self-guided travellers who plan to spend daylight hours out and just need a clean, secure base in a central location.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last royal capital of the Sinhalese kingdom, founded by King Wickramabahu III in the 14th century. The city held out against Portuguese and Dutch colonisers until the British finally seized it in 1815. Its focal point is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), built in the 16th century and still the most important Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka. Kandy’s colonial-era bungalows and the artificial Kandy Lake, created by the last king in 1807, give the centre a calm, almost Victorian feel. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the cultural, religious and artistic heart of the hill country.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January to March: dry, clear skies, cool evenings, and the city is relatively quiet after the December tourist peak. Kandy’s Perahera festival in July/August makes those months lively but packed.
Peak / festival surge
July and August. The Esala Perahera (Kandy’s ten-day Buddhist pageant with dancers, drummers and caparisoned elephants) draws huge crowds. Hotel prices can double or triple. Book six months ahead or expect to pay a premium.
Budget shoulder season
May and September: as the monsoon fades, fewer tourists, discounted rooms, and you still get decent weather for temple visits and short hikes.
Weather & packing
Kandy sits at 500m altitude, so it stays warm (25–30°C) but with sudden rain showers from May to July. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and quick-dry shoes: you’ll need them between sunny spells.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- New one-way traffic system on Colombo-Kandy road from April 2026: check your driver’s route, longer waits near Peradeniya junction.
- Temple of the Tooth relic now requires an advance online booking for foreign visitors – buy at least three days ahead.
- Kandy City Centre (shopping mall) opened a food court with cuisines other than rice-and-curry, a rare lift for picky eaters.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Best Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing away from the main road (Kandy town centre has heavy traffic). These upper floors are quieter and catch more breeze.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms — they’re closest to the street and any lobby noise. Also skip rooms at the back if there’s a neighbouring construction site (common in central Kandy).
Best views
South-facing rooms on upper floors look over the city rooftops towards the hills. For a direct temple view, ask if it’s possible, but most rooms will face the street or nearby buildings.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors — above the street-level din and away from the reception area.
🔊 Noise notes
Kandy’s main road is loud with buses, tuk-tuks and motorbikes from 5am to 10pm. Temple bells and chanting may be audible nearby. Request a room at the back or on a high floor to minimise this.
Insider tips
1. Check in early (before 2pm) to secure a top-floor room — these go first. 2. If arriving by tuk-tuk, confirm the driver knows the hotel entrance: Kandy’s narrow lanes can cause confusion, so having a landmark (e.g., near the lake or temple) helps.
- 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 — The Best Hostel
Free WiFi throughout, approx 10 Mbps down/5 Mbps up, no login constraints; no paid tier.
No lift; all dorm and private rooms on first and second floors via stairs only (no ground-floor rooms).
No print newspapers; free access to PressReader via hostel tablet in common area.
Standard check-in 14:00–22:00; early bag-drop from 09:00 (free); late check-out until 12:00 for LKR 1,000, subject to availability. After-hours check-in (22:00–06:00) costs LKR 500.
Free for day-of arrival/departure only; longer storage LKR 300 per bag per day
Step at main entrance; no ramp or lift. Ground-floor common areas (reception, lounge, kitchen) not step-free from street. No wheelchair-accessible rooms. Entirely unsuitable for wheelchairs.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Torrington Car Park (150 m, LKR 250 per night, 18:00–08:00). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: LKR 200 per person per night, mandatory for foreign guests
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; LKR 5,000 incidental hold on credit/debit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Bodhirukkaramaya (312 m · ~4 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Pothgul Viharaya (369 m · ~5 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sri Wardanaramaya (399 m · ~5 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Thilanka Hotel (469 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Maha Maluwa — 962 m · ~12 min walk
National Museum of Kandy — 641 m · ~8 min walk
Kandy Lake Club — 72 m · ~1 min walk
Ailapperuma Public Ground — 367 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
NSB — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Lanka — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Sanjana Stores — 911 m · ~11 min walk
Asgiriya — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Banks or exchange counters in Kandy town give better rates than the airport or hotels; avoid tourist-bureau exchange desks.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in mid-range hotels, larger restaurants, and shops; contactless is rare; many street stalls and small eateries are cash-only.
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated; 10% at restaurants if no service charge; round up taxi fares; a small gratuity for hotel porters (100-200 LKR).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A short black (plain tea or local coffee) at a street-side kade costs around 30-50 LKR.
Rice and curry from a local lunch house (rice packet) is about 200-300 LKR.
A main at an average local restaurant, like a kottu or fried rice, costs 400-700 LKR.
Kandy town centre, especially along the Main Street and near the Temple of the Tooth, has stalls selling isso vade, kottu, and fruit.
Cargills Food City and Keells Super are the common budget supermarket chains in Kandy.
Kandy's market area (near Clock Tower) sells cheap textiles, sarongs, and T-shirts; for basics, go to a local fair or the 'Dharmaraja' side market.
Local buses within town cost 20-40 LKR per ride; from Bandaranaike International Airport, the budget option is a public bus to Kandy via Colombo (approx 400-500 LKR).
Eat at local rice-and-curry places over tourist cafes; use tuk-tuks only after agreeing the fare upfront (no meter); buy water and snacks at supermarkets rather than hotel minibars.
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 The Best Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NSB — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk — pharmacy · Lanka — 1.2 km · ~15 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 The Best Hostel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing away from the main road (Kandy town centre has heavy traffic). These upper floors are quieter and catch more breeze.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Best Hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms — they’re closest to the street and any lobby noise. Also skip rooms at the back if there’s a neighbouring construction site (common in central Kandy).
Is The Best Hostel noisy?
Kandy’s main road is loud with buses, tuk-tuks and motorbikes from 5am to 10pm. Temple bells and chanting may be audible nearby. Request a room at the back or on a high floor to minimise this.
Which rooms have the best views at The Best Hostel?
South-facing rooms on upper floors look over the city rooftops towards the hills. For a direct temple view, ask if it’s possible, but most rooms will face the street or nearby buildings.
What are insider tips for staying at The Best Hostel?
1. Check in early (before 2pm) to secure a top-floor room — these go first. 2. If arriving by tuk-tuk, confirm the driver knows the hotel entrance: Kandy’s narrow lanes can cause confusion, so having a landmark (e.g., near the lake or temple) helps.
What time is check-in at The Best Hostel?
Check-in at The Best Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Best Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, approx 10 Mbps down/5 Mbps up, no login constraints; no paid tier.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Best Hostel?
LKR 200 per person per night, mandatory for foreign guests
Where can I eat cheaply near The Best Hostel?
Rice and curry from a local lunch house (rice packet) is about 200-300 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Best Hostel?
Local buses within town cost 20-40 LKR per ride; from Bandaranaike International Airport, the budget option is a public bus to Kandy via Colombo (approx 400-500 LKR).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to March: dry, clear skies, cool evenings, and the city is relatively quiet after the December tourist peak. Kandy’s Perahera festival in July/August makes those months lively but packed.
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.