One Day Itinerary: Colombo to Kandy

1. 8:00AM: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
   2 hours (55.6 km) from Colombo

   Watch baby elephants being fed with bottled milk and see them taking bath on the river. The elephant orphanage was established in 1975 to provide care for orphaned elephants found in the wild.

2. 11:00AM: Royal Botanic Gardens
   1 hour 20 minutes (38.5 km) from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

   Stroll through 147 acres of botanical gardens that include over 4,000 species of plants and trees. The gardens opened in 1821 to introduce new tropical crops such as tea, rubber, and sugarcane to the island.

3. 1:00PM: Lunch at Kandy Muslim Hotel
   25 minutes (6.3 km) from Royal Botanic Gardens

   Taste the famous biriyani at one of the oldest Muslim hotels in Kandy. The restaurant has been serving delicious meals for over 110 years.

4. 2:30PM: Temple of the Tooth Relic
   10 minutes (3.2 km) from Kandy Muslim Hotel

   Visit the most important Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka that houses the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. The temple was built in the 16th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. 4:00PM: Kandy Lake
   5 minutes (1.3 km) from Temple of the Tooth Relic

   Take a leisurely walk around the picturesque lake that was built in 1807 by the last king of Kandy. The lake is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.

Recommendations

Consider visiting the Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue for panoramic views of Kandy. If you have more time, take a day trip to Sigiriya Rock Fortress or Dambulla Cave Temple. To maximize your fun, hire a tuk-tuk driver to take you around the city, negotiate the price before starting your journey.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (2 hours, $20)
• Royal Botanic Gardens (1 hour 30 minutes, $15)
• Lunch at Kandy Muslim Hotel (1 hour, $10)
• Temple of the Tooth Relic (1 hour 30 minutes, $10)
• Kandy Lake (1 hour, free)
• Total Estimated Costs: $55