Kandy occupies a special place in Sri Lanka’s geography and its cultural identity. Set among the hills of the central highlands, surrounded by tea plantations and tropical forest, and centred on a lake that literally mirrors the city’s temple rooftops at dusk, it provides a setting that feels truly romantic without any particular effort to be so. For couples visiting Sri Lanka, Kandy is the kind of destination that tends to exceed expectations quietly and completely.
A City Built Around Its Lake
Kandy Lake is right in the middle of the city, and it sets the scene for everything around it. Strolling along the lake path in the early morning or evening, with the Temple of the Tooth Relic on one side and the wooded hills on the other, is one of the most serene and beautiful things you can do in Sri Lanka.
Hill Country and the Surrounding Landscape
The landscape around Kandy is among the most beautiful in Sri Lanka. Tea plantations cover the hillsides, waterfalls drop through the forest, and the cool air at this altitude is a welcome contrast to the coastal heat. When you’re looking for the best honeymoon hotels in Kandy, staying in places that take advantage of their hilltop location adds to the romance of the stay. Theva Residency is a perfect example of this, offering villa accommodation nestled in the hillside above the city.
Evenings in Kandy
Kandy’s evenings have a particular quality that is difficult to describe. As the sun dips below the horizon, the temperature starts to cool down, the city settles into a peaceful silence, and the mix of delicious food, refreshing air, and a view of the lake or hills creates a truly special atmosphere. It is something that is hard to recreate and easy to savour.
The Temple and the Culture
The Temple of the Tooth Relic is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Asia and gives Kandy a cultural and spiritual weight that adds depth to a visit beyond the scenery alone. The evening puja ceremonies, accompanied by drumming and the scent of incense, are moving experiences that most visitors find stay with them long after leaving. Kandy’s cultural calendar also includes the Esala Perahera festival, one of the most spectacular processions in Asia, held annually in July or August.
