Kandy Temple Run Tour

Highlights

• Embekke Devalaya,

• Temple of the Gadaladenia

• Lankatilaka Temple

• Degaldoruwa Temple

• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

This 10-hour private tour takes you to five of the best historic Buddhist Temples of Kandy, along with an optional gems and crafts tour. You will get to see the woodcarving wonder Embekke Temple; Gadaladeniya Vihara with its South Indian design; Lankatilaka Vihara with its epic architecture; Degaldoruwa Cave Temple with its beautiful Kandyan artwork; and most importantly The Temple of the Tooth Relic.

What You Can Expect

Your tour starts when you are picked up from your Kandy hotel at 8:00am. You will be first visiting Embekke Temple, getting there at 8:40am. The woodworking of Embekke is unique and perfectly done and several detailed woodcarving panels decorate the pillars, walls and roof. After going around Embekke Temple you will be leaving for Gadaladeniya Vihara at 9:10am.

You will get to Gadaladeniya by 9:30am. Gadaladeniya Temple was built just before Embekke in the early 14th century. It was the creation of a South Indian architect, and the magnificent giant golden Buddha statue, slightly worn but still visibly detailed sculptures and paintings and the interesting main stupa structure with its four satellite stupas are a historic feast for your eyes. You will finish viewing Gadaladeniya by 10:00am and leave for Lankatilaka Vihara.

You will get there by 10:40am. Lankatilaka Temple was built by the same king who built Gadaladeniya Temple during the same period. This temple too was the creation of another South Indian architect. The temple was built on uneven bedrock with a granite foundation. It originally had four stories, only some of
which are accessible today. The entire temple has a somewhat palace-like architecture, and the image house is especially beautiful. After viewing Lankatilaka you will be leaving at 11:30am for Degaldoruwa Cave Temple.

You will be getting to Degaldoruwa by 12:30pm. This temple was built in a cave dug into a large rock. Degaldoruwa Cave Temple is famed for its detailed Kandyan style paintings which were restored by the Italian expert Dr. Luciano Maranzi. See the colorful paintings on Buddhism in the Kandyan era, which cover the insides of the temple entirely. After seeing this awe-striking sight you will be moving back to Kandy City at 1:00pm.

You will be back in Kandy City by 1:30pm, where you will be taking a break of an hour to have lunch at a restaurant of your choice. After lunch you will be visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Temple of the Tooth at 2:30pm. The temple was once the royal palace complex. It houses what is believed to be the
sacred tooth relic of Buddha. The entire sprawling complex shows its royal roots with the white, gold and wooden architecture.

You will finish off the tour of the Temple of the Tooth Relic at 3:30pm. At this point you will have the option of returning to your hotel completing the tour or continuing on to an optional gems and crafts tour.

Additional Note

• Drive time may change due to unpredictable road traffic. Photography stops on the way can be arranged but within locations with reasonable parking areas.

What's Included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Service of an English-speaking chauffeur guide
• 1 Liter water bottle per person.

What's Excluded

• Entrance fees.
• Food and drinks.
• Personal expenses.
• Gratuities