Kandy, Nuwara Eliya & Yala holidays

GMT +6 hours

Sinhalese. Tamil and English are also widely spoken, and newspapers are printed in all three languages.

Sri Lankan rupee

Ethnic disturbances rarely occur in tourist areas. We always follow Foreign Office advice on matters of security for British visitors, but crime against foreign visitors is virtually non-existent.

Kandy Lake
This stunning artificial lake was created back in 1807 by Kandy’s last king. Take a peaceful afternoon stroll around the lake or pay for a boat trip on its tranquil waters.

Temple of the Tooth
Sri Lanka’s most prized relic is enshrined in this temple. Legend says the sacred tooth of Buddha was snatched from the flames of his funeral pyre in 543BC and eventually ended up here. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered in the temple.

Kandyan dancing
Don’t miss the chance to see the famous Kandyan dancers perform. Performances dramatically end with a fire dance during which men walk on hot coals.

Botanical Gardens
Journey 6km outside Kandy to Sri Lanka’s largest botanical gardens, sprawling over 60 hectares. Wander down palm-lined avenues and admire the beautiful orchid house.

Yala National Park

This is Sri Lanka’s biggest national park and a fantastic location for spotting the elusive leopard, as well as elephants, bears, deer, monkeys, crocodiles and water birds.

Situlpahuwa Monastic Settlement

Situated in Ruhuna Yala National Park, this is the ancient site of a 2nd-century monastery that was once home to thousands of Buddhist monks. Admire imposing dagobas and fascinating rock carvings and inscriptions.

Bundala National Park

This park is a wonderful mix of coast, dry scrub-land and lagoons. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants, leopards, deer, bears, monkeys, crocodiles and a staggering 150 species of bird.

Yala Buffer Zone

After dusk animals including elephants, bears and leopards roam the park’s perimeter.

Kataragama

Visit this small pilgrimage town in the summer and you might catch the procession held here for two weeks in July/August, which ends with a fire-walking ceremony.

Mount Pedro

At 2524m, Mount Pedro is Sri Lanka’s highest mountain. As Nuwarra Eliya is already at a high altitude, it’s a fairly easy climb along well-marked paths to its summit.

Hakgala Gardens

These stunning botanical gardens are famous for their roses and ferns. Hakgala means ‘jaw rock’ – legend has it that the Hakgala rock was carried from the Himalayas by the monkey god in his jaw.

Horton Plains and World’s End

Take a day trip to Horton Plains and World’s End and explore this plateau, towering at over 2,000m. The grassy Plains sit 20km south of Nuwarra Eliya and are scattered with patches of forest. World’s End is one of Sri Lanka’s most breathtaking landmarks, where the southern Horton Plains end abruptly and drop down for 700m. Don’t bother visiting from April to September, though, as mist ruins the views.

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club

Considered one of Asia’s best golf courses, tee off on this 18-hole green. There’s a dress code - shoes, socks, a shirt and trousers or shorts – and you can hire clubs.

Labookellie Tea Factory

Tea is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest exports and the hill country is one big tea plantation. The Labookellie tea factory sits about 15km from Nuwarra Eliya. It’s renowned for its great quality tea, and you can take a guided tour and buy a box of tea to try at home.

March
The Great Night of Shiva
You might see Hindus holding sacred rituals at temples during this important Hindu festival, which celebrates the deity Lord Shiva’s birth and wedding anniversary.

April
Sri Lankan New Year
Everyone celebrates this non-religious festival, and the festivities include traditional games such as pillow-fighting and ‘hide the wig’.

May
Vesak Poya
This is the most important full moon for Buddhists, as it marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing. The island flickers with the light of delicate paper lanterns and clay coconut oil lamps.

July
Kandy Esala Perahera
This colourful two-week festival features a parade during which shrines and decorated elephants make their way to the sacred Temple of the Tooth.

September
The Lanka Challenge
This annual tuk-tuk rally’s south-west route passes through Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwarra Eliya and Colombo as hopefuls from all over the world compete to win a cash prize.

Kandy is well-known for its handicrafts, which make fantastic souvenirs of your time there. In central Kandy, barter for silver, antique jewellery, brass, wood carvings, gemstones and batiks.

10¾ hours

Tee off at nearby Victoria Golf & Country Resort. Or work up a sweat at your hotel, with tennis and squash at Earl’s Regency, table tennis and boating at Chaaya Citadel and tennis at Mahaweli Reach.

Food
Venturing out of your hotel, you’ll find restaurants and cafés serving traditional roti, Sri Lankan meat and fish curries and rice – but be mindful that local curries can be much spicier than those you’ll be served in a hotel.

Water
Don’t drink the tap water. Most hotels offer boiled and bottled water, so stick to this instead.

Dialling code
+94 81

Religion
Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.

National Museum
This fascinating museum once housed the Kandyan royal concubines, but now displays royal regalia and images showing life before Europeans arrived on the island.

Mahaweli Reach can arrange excursions to landmarks including Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Lankathilaka Rajamaha Temple, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Labookellie Tea Centre and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya.

From Chaaya Citadel you can trek in the Knuckles Mountains, walk ancient trails to temples and learn the art of Kandyan dancing.

Yala Village can arrange safaris and bird watching in Yala National Park, a trip to Situlpahuwa Monastic Settlement, an overnight safari in Bundala, a night safari in Yala Buffer Zone and leopard and bear trails.

Ceylon Tea Trails

Get stuck into mountain-biking and hiking, bird-watching, kayaking and white-water rafting. Climb Adam’s Peak and visit Kandy, Uda Walawe National Park and Horton Plains.

Heritance Tea Factory

Embark on a trek and go bird-watching and tea-plucking. You can also visit landmarks including St Clair's Falls, Mahakudugala Peak and Sita Eliya Temple.

Typically a 10% service charge is included in the bill, even in markets. If not, tip 10-15%.