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NDYCultural Triangle Office ( map p 146 ; % 222
2661; 16 Deva vidiya; h8am-4.15pm) located in
a colonial building near the Temple of the Sacred
Tooth Relic. Sells the Cultural Triangle round-
trip tickets that cover many of the sites of the
Ancient Cities. Within Kandy the ticket covers
the four Hindu devales – Kataragama, Natha,
Pattini and vishnu – two monasteries (Asgiriya
and malwatte) and the National museum.
Tourist Information Office ( map p 146 ; % 222
2661; level 2, Kandy City Centre, Dalada vidiya;
h8.30am-4.15pm) The main tourist office can
dish up a lot of smiles but not so much infor-
mation. it’s inside the flash Kandy City Centre
shopping mall.
8 Getting There & Away
AIR
Cinnamon Air (%Colombo 011-247 5475; http://www.
cinnamonair.com) runs scheduled flights once
or twice daily to and from Colombo for US$172
one-way.
Sri Lankan Airlines ( map p 146 ; %223 2495; 17
Temple St; h8.15am-6pm mon-Fri, to 1pm Sat)
Ticket reservations can be made here.
BUS
Kandy has one main bus station (the manic
g oods Shed) and a series of bus stops near the
clock tower ( map p 146 ). The Goods Shed bus
station (m ap p 146 ) has long-distance buses,
while local buses, such as those to Peradeniya
(Rs 20), Ampitiya (Rs 17), matale (Rs 50) and
Kegalle (Rs 64), leave from near the clock tower.
However, some private intercity express buses
(to Negombo and Colombo, for example) leave
from Station Rd between the clock tower and the
train station. if you’re still confused, ask some-
one to point you the right way.
For Sigiriya you must change in Polonnaruwa
and for Dalhousie you normally have to go to
Hatton and change there. During pilgrimage
season, some buses run direct from Kandy. For
details of some of the buses from Kandy, see the
boxed table below.
TA XI
m any long-distance taxi drivers hang around the
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Your guest-
house or hotel can organise taxi tours, but you
may be able to get a cheaper deal if you organise
it through these guys. Cars can generally be
hired, with a driver and petrol, for approximately
Rs 6500 per day.
Some guesthouses advertise day trips to all
three Cultural Triangle destinations (Sigiriya,
Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa), but this is an
exhausting itinerary for both driver and passen-
gers, and one that encourages manic driving.
An overnight stay in Anuradhapura, Sigiriya or
Polonnaruwa is a saner and safer option.
Blue Haven Tours & Travels ( map p 146 ;
%077 737 2066; http://www.bluehaventours.com; 25
DS Senanayake St) is one of a number of car-hire
and tour companies. They charge US$50 per
day for a car and driver.TRAIN
Kandy is a major railway station. Tickets can be
bought and reserved up to 10 days in advance
at the station (open 5.30am to 6.30pm). Tickets
reserved in advance cost a set Rs 600 in second
class.
Seats are very popular in the 1st-class obser-
vation saloon on the Badulla-bound train. This
train originates in Colombo and after Kandy
stops in Hatton (near Adam’s Peak), Nanu Oya
(for Nuwara Eliya), Haputale, Ella and a number
of other Hill Country stations. Observation-class
tickets cost a set Rs 1000 for anywhere between
Kandy and Nanu Oya and Rs 1250 for any of the
stations east of there.
i f you are unable to reserve a seat at the ticket
window, enquire with the stationmaster, who can
sometimes release further seating for tourists.
Trains run to the following (prices are for
unreserved tickets):
Badulla 2nd/3rd class Rs 270/145
Bandarawela 2nd/3rd class Rs 230/125
Colombo 2nd/3rd class Rs 190/105
Ella 2nd/3rd class Rs 240/130
Haputale 2nd/3rd class Rs 210/115
Hatton 2nd/3rd class Rs 110/65
Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) 2nd/3rd class
Rs 160/90BUSES FROM KANDY
DESTINATION BUS STATION LUXURY FARE (RS) REGULAR FARE (RS) TIME (HOURS)
Anuradhapura goods Shed 360 190 3-4
Colombo Station Rd 240 155 3-4
Negombo Station Rd - 153 3-4
Nuwara Eliya goods Shed 220 120 2
Polonnaruwa goods Shed 272 180 3½
Ratnapura goods Shed - 173 6