Kandy get in · How to get in Kandy
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How to get in Kandy
How to get in Kandy
Train (from Colombo) - Intercity express train are hassle free and scenic. Reservation are needed for these trains, it can be done just before the departure depending on the period but is best done in advance especially if you are traveling on a weekend or holiday. There is a great observation saloon (first class) in this particular train. Other trains are overly crowded and late. The trip from Colombo to Kandy costs 220 LKR in second class.
Taxi. If you're just arriving in Sri Lanka, heading for Kandy, you can hire a taxi from one of the stalls in the arrivals hall at Colombo airport for about R6000/-. The journey takes about 3 hours. This saves the hassle of going into Colombo, and is a lot quicker.
Bus from the airport. Take the free shuttle bus to the bus terminal, where the friendly locals will direct you to the bus to Kandy (3.5h, 110 LKR as of March 2011).
Hired mini-vans with a driver are available from Colombo through travel agencies and hotel concierges. The road to Kandy is astonishingly chaotic and frightening even for seasoned travelers. Be prepared for a long slow slog in traffic, or, if your driver decides to make the journey at a more practical speed, a hair-raising adventure replete with passing around blind corners and games of chicken with the ubiquitous intercity buses. A day trip from Mt.Lavinia to Kandy, including seeing the sights in Kandy, costs around LKR 10,000 [May 2011].
Intercity air-conditioned bus (from Colombo) is the next best option to the train. If you are female and traveling alone it is best to either sit next to another female or try to sit as close to the conductor as possible (i.e. up front) to avoid any unnecessary surprises.
Air Taxi (from Colombo) is the latest option to travel to Kandy. The De Havilland Twin Otter float planes operated by Sri Lankan Airlines leave Colombo at 9 a.m. (currently from Kelani River) and touch down at Mahaweli River in Polgolla, Kandy at 9.30 a.m. The travel time between Colombo and Kandy is just 30 minutes. It costs Rs. 4,900 for a one-way fare and Rs. 9,800 for a return fare.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Kandy
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Kandy - updated Apr 2024
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Kandy Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.