Kandy Prices

« Transportation in Sri Lanka (save for yourself) 📍
In any journey, transportation is essential. As my experience shows, there's an enormous variety of transport options in Sri Lanka, which makes getting around this country quite convenient (approx. 0.33 USD = 1 LKR).

1️⃣ Buses
Cost: 0.30 - 0.60 USD per city trip, 3 - 10 USD for intercity
Here, they go wherever you want. Although schedules may not be available, you can easily figure out which buses go where at the bus stops. I must say that buses are not the most pleasant type of transportation here; they can get quite crowded, but there’s a little life hack: many buses have signs N, S, A/C.
N - the lowest comfort class. Pure hell.
S - semi-luxury. A step up, with more comfortable seating than N.
A/C - deluxe, the most comfortable class, but they have limited availability and come with air conditioning.

2️⃣ Trains
Cost: from 3 USD for 50-60 km of travel
This is the most scenic form of transportation, but also the slowest. Although it’s a shame to miss out, the views are breathtaking (especially on the mountainous route from Ella to Kandy).
There are 3 classes in trains:
1st class - elite class with individual seating, but the doors are closed and you sit on the bench, dangling your feet, which isn’t comfortable. I don't recommend it.
2nd class - medium class, with fairly comfortable seats.
3rd class - the lowest class, primarily for locals.
You can easily find train schedules on the official website of Sri Lanka Railways.

3️⃣ Tuk-tuks
Cost: from 1.00 USD per city trip, 3.00 USD for intercity
Generally, it’s quite comfortable to ride in these three-wheeled bikes, although they tend to bounce and shake during turns, but it's a lot of fun 😄.
For me, this is a rather expensive form of transportation that doesn't leave a lasting impression, but it is the most comfortable one. 😋

4️⃣ Bike Rentals
Cost: from 2.10 USD per day
I love to ride with friends, but here the driving can be quite rough due to the aggressive bus drivers; the cost is higher than in other parts of Asia and there are no international driving regulations, which makes driving rather uncomfortable.

Of course, taxis are available here, but I personally haven’t used them, having relied on reputable services around. In general, my choice is buses (preferably A/C class) and trains. 😍 »

« We traveled to Kandi (Central Province, Sri Lanka) by train from Ella. Kandi is a major town, and its main attraction is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The history of the tooth is quite fascinating, as the temple holds a unique relic. According to legend, after the cremation of Buddha, four teeth were discovered and distributed across the world. One of them ended up in Kandi. The tooth is kept here in seven caskets. According to tradition, if the tooth were to be destroyed, the Buddhist faith in Sri Lanka would vanish. Sadly, there have been attempts to destroy the tooth, including an attempted bombing of the temple itself.

The entry fee is $10, and visitors must wear clothing that covers both shoulders and knees, regardless of gender. You can leave your shoes at a storage area for a nominal fee of around $1. For locals, this is considered a very sacred place, and from a tourist's perspective, it doesn't evoke particularly strong feelings. We were much more impressed by the larger-than-life Buddha statue located nearby. You can view it from any point in town and reach it via tuk-tuk or on foot. The entry fee is about $1.5. Additionally, there is a beautiful panorama that opens up from the hilltop for all visitors. ❤️ »

« Well, that's how it is))) The price for such a saree is $250, silk. »

« The train is super cool. The carriages are pretty clean, and the fare is only $1.60 (for 267 miles). They bring water and snacks (about $0.10 per pack) through the cabin, along with a bunch of other snacks. In short, life is good. 😊 »

« Feel like a king. We rented a house for $18 per night for four people from a Sri Lankan who is a chef and lives in Paris. The house costs 13,000,000 rupees, which is about $48,000 - almost a one-bedroom apartment in the city. »