A sua permanência — YMCA
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A propriedade — YMCA
The Kandy YMCA sits on a hill above the lake, a functional three-star with a bare-bones lobby of polished concrete and a noticeboard full of trekking offers. It’s no-frills but clean and central, aimed squarely at backpackers and budget travellers who want a cheap bed within walking distance of the Temple of the Tooth. What stands out is the rooftop — a simple terrace with a direct view of the lake and the temple roof, which you won’t get at many pricier places. It’s less a hotel and more a glorified hostel: expect shared bathrooms, thin walls, and a dining room that doubles as a common area.
Crónicas de Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhala kings, holding out against Portuguese, Dutch, and British until 1815. The city’s core is still the royal palace complex and the Temple of the Tooth, which houses a relic of the Buddha — the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka. The British eventually took it by treaty, not force, and laid out the lake and the grid of streets you see today. Modern Kandy is a busy market town and transport hub, crowded with shops, tuk-tuks, and pilgrims, with a conservative, devout atmosphere around the temple. The architecture is a jumble of colonial bungalows, concrete blocks, and ornate temple carvings, with no real high-rise to speak of.
Melhor época para visitar
Guia completo de Kandy →Melhores meses
January to March: clear skies, lower humidity, and temperatures around 25°C; crowds are moderate and conditions are good for hiking the nearby Knuckles range.
Peak / Festival Surge
July and August are the busiest months, driven by the Kandy Esala Perahera festival in July/August — ten nights of processions, dancers, and elephants. Hotel prices triple, and the YMCA fills up weeks ahead with domestic and international visitors wanting a budget spot near the route.
Orçamento da temporada
April and November see fewer tourists and cheaper rooms; the weather is rainier (inter-monsoon showers) but the gardens are lush, and you can often negotiate discounts at mid-range hotels.
Tempo e embalagem
Kandy’s elevation (500m) means evenings are cool enough for a light jacket even in July, but days are hot and humid. Pack a rain jacket or umbrella every month — the city gets rain year-round, often as short, heavy bursts after noon.
Livro City Briefing — Kandy
- The main road past the Temple of the Tooth is one-way from 7am to 7pm during the Esala Perahera (late July), with road closures at processional times; check the Kandy Municipal Council website for exact dates.
- The new Kandy Multi-Modal Transport Centre (opened 2023) has consolidated bus and train services on the east side of the lake, slightly reducing congestion near the Clock Tower.
- Several cafes and guesthouses on Anniewatta Road have closed in 2025-26 due to renovation around the Kandy Lake promenade; check availability before walking there for dinner.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to YMCA, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear courtyard away from the main road. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle but still within easy reach by stairs or lift, and the rear-facing rooms overlook the quieter garden area rather than Kandy’s busy thoroughfares.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and rooms facing the front street directly. Ground floor suffers from passing foot traffic and lobby noise; front-facing rooms get sound from both the road and the hotel’s entrance. Rooms near the lift shaft on any floor also pick up mechanical hum and late-night comings and goings.
Best views
The best view is likely from 4th- or 5th-floor rooms facing the rear or side, where you’ll see the hills of Kandy’s residential outskirts and possibly a glimpse of the lake. Front views are mostly road and low-rise buildings, nothing special.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest, as they’re above the main public areas and the restaurant, and far enough from the street to muffle traffic noise. The 5th floor may be quieter still but check whether the hotel’s rooftop bar or terrace (common in Kandy hillside properties) operates up there — if so, avoid it.
🔊 Noise notes
Kandy’s main roads carry constant tuk-tuk and bus noise from early morning until late evening. The YMCA’s location on a central street means traffic noise will be audible on the front side. Inside, the lift’s motor room (if on roof) can transmit vibration to top-floor rooms, and the dining hall may produce early morning clatter on lower floors.
Insider tips
1. If you’re arriving by car, the YMCA usually has limited off-street parking — ask to reserve a spot when booking, or park at the nearby Kandy railway station lot (a 5-minute walk). 2. The hotel’s café serves solid local breakfasts, but for a proper Kandy curry walk to the Devon Restaurant (10 mins) — much better value and not marketed to tourists.
- 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
Instalações do hotel — YMCA
Free WiFi in lobby and common areas; no in-room WiFi. Speed suitable for email and browsing, not streaming
No lift – 3-storey building, stairs only
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. None
Check-in 14:00–22:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag drop from 10:00. Late check-out fee Rs 1,500 per hour until 14:00
Free in secure luggage room before check-in and after check-out
No step-free access; entrance has 3 steps. No wheelchair-accessible rooms. Ground floor only reachable via stairs
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Kandy Multi-Storey Car Park at Kotugodella Veediya, Rs 200 per hour or Rs 1,000 overnight. No EV charging
Taxas, Taxas e Depósitos
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; Rs 5,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary nas proximidades
- Buddhist temple: Adahanamaluwa Gedige Vihara (200 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Trinity College Church (262 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Rama Viharaya (334 m · ~4 min walk)
- Place of worship: Meera Maccam Jummah Masjid (363 m · ~5 min walk)
Estilo de vida e recreação local
Mall — 2.6 km · ~32 min walk
Torrington Public Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Kandyan Art Association — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
5 minutos de rádio essencial
NSB — 656 m · ~8 min walk
Nihals medical — 651 m · ~8 min walk
New Pris — 647 m · ~8 min walk
Asgiriya — 428 m · ~5 min walk
Dinheiro e moeda
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Use ATMs in Kandy town for the best rates; avoid exchanging at the airport or tourist bureaux where rates are poor and fees high.
Credit/debit cards accepted in hotels, nicer restaurants, and bigger shops; street stalls and tuk-tuks are cash only.
Round up taxi fares or leave 10% in restaurants if no service charge; a small tip (100-200 LKR) for hotel staff is appreciated but not expected.
Comer, Comprar e Viajar em um Orçamento
Cheap car hire →Small cups of strong local-style coffee (kapi) from street stalls or kiosks cost around 50-80 LKR.
A rice-and-curry plate from a local eatery (rice & curry joint) runs about 300-500 LKR.
A main dish at a simple restaurant, such as kottu roti or string hoppers, costs around 400-700 LKR.
Around the Kandy Clock Tower and the bus station area you'll find vendors selling samosas, vadai, and roti for 20-100 LKR each.
Cargills Food City and Keells are common budget supermarket chains in Kandy for basics and snacks.
Market stalls near the Kandy Railway Station and along the main road stock affordable local clothes and textiles; haggling is expected.
The cheapest way around town is the public bus (around 20-30 LKR per trip); from the airport, take a shared bus or train via Colombo (budget about 300-500 LKR).
Eat at local rice-and-curry joints rather than tourist restaurants; drink tap water only if boiled/bottled (buy large 5L bottles for 150-200 LKR); use public buses instead of tuk-tuks for longer trips within town.
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 YMCA
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NSB — 656 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Nihals medical — 651 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Vindo ao redor
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.
Perguntas frequentes
What are the best rooms at YMCA?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear courtyard away from the main road. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle but still within easy reach by stairs or lift, and the rear-facing rooms overlook the quieter garden area rather than Kandy’s busy thoroughfares.
Which rooms should I avoid at YMCA?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and rooms facing the front street directly. Ground floor suffers from passing foot traffic and lobby noise; front-facing rooms get sound from both the road and the hotel’s entrance. Rooms near the lift shaft on any floor also pick up mechanical hum and late-night comings and goings.
Is YMCA noisy?
Kandy’s main roads carry constant tuk-tuk and bus noise from early morning until late evening. The YMCA’s location on a central street means traffic noise will be audible on the front side. Inside, the lift’s motor room (if on roof) can transmit vibration to top-floor rooms, and the dining hall may produce early morning clatter on lower floors.
Which rooms have the best views at YMCA?
The best view is likely from 4th- or 5th-floor rooms facing the rear or side, where you’ll see the hills of Kandy’s residential outskirts and possibly a glimpse of the lake. Front views are mostly road and low-rise buildings, nothing special.
What are insider tips for staying at YMCA?
1. If you’re arriving by car, the YMCA usually has limited off-street parking — ask to reserve a spot when booking, or park at the nearby Kandy railway station lot (a 5-minute walk). 2. The hotel’s café serves solid local breakfasts, but for a proper Kandy curry walk to the Devon Restaurant (10 mins) — much better value and not marketed to tourists.
What time is check-in at YMCA?
Check-in at YMCA is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does YMCA have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in lobby and common areas; no in-room WiFi. Speed suitable for email and browsing, not streaming
Is there a city or tourist tax at YMCA?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near YMCA?
A rice-and-curry plate from a local eatery (rice & curry joint) runs about 300-500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from YMCA?
The cheapest way around town is the public bus (around 20-30 LKR per trip); from the airport, take a shared bus or train via Colombo (budget about 300-500 LKR).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January to March: clear skies, lower humidity, and temperatures around 25°C; crowds are moderate and conditions are good for hiking the nearby Knuckles range.
Principais atrações em 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.