Kandy city guide for a family - Temple of Tooth, Kandyan dance show, and what else is worth doing?

I have guided many families through Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth is one of my most frequently explained experiences. Here is the complete guide.

The Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa): the temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the most venerated object in Sri Lanka. The relic itself is kept inside a series of nested caskets and is not directly visible - what visitors see is the gilded relic chamber from a viewing gallery. The experience is most powerful during a puja (ritual offering ceremony), which happens three times daily: 5:30am, 9:30am, and 6:30pm. During puja the temple fills with music from traditional drums and horns, offerings of flowers are made, and the devotion of the pilgrims is genuinely moving. Attend the 9:30am puja for the most practical family timing.

For children aged 8 and 11: explain beforehand that they are visiting a place as sacred to Sri Lankan Buddhists as a major cathedral is to Christians. The ritual atmosphere, the flowers, the music, and the crowds of pilgrims in white are visually engaging for children who are prepared for what they are seeing. Maintain quiet inside the inner shrine areas. The museum section of the temple complex (included in entry) has displays of royal gifts and historical artefacts that genuinely interest older children.

Entry and dress: foreign adult entry LKR 1,500, children under 12 reduced rate (confirm at the gate). Shoulders and knees covered for everyone including children. Shoes removed at the inner entrance. Photography is permitted in outer areas but check signs in the inner shrine.

Is the Kandyan dance show worth it? The YMBA Cultural Show at Kandyan Arts Residency or the Sri Lanka Tourism show near the lake are the main options. These are staged performance shows (40-60 minutes) demonstrating traditional dances, fire walking, and acrobatics. For children aged 8 and 11, yes - the fire walking finale in particular is genuinely exciting and the performances are high quality. Cost around LKR 1,500-2,500 per adult, less for children. Shows typically at 5pm and 7pm.

Other activities with children:
Kandy Lake evening walk - completely safe, well-lit, local families doing the same thing. The cloud wall (white painted wall along the lakeside) and the small island in the middle create an atmospheric evening walk of about 45 minutes.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya - 6km from Kandy, covers 147 acres of beautifully maintained gardens including a giant bamboo section, an orchid house, and towering tropical trees. Children enjoy the open space and the flying foxes (large fruit bats) that roost in the fig trees. Entry LKR 2,000 for foreign adults, less for children. Allow 2-3 hours.

Food in Kandy: the Kandy Muslim Hotel on Dalada Veediya serves excellent rice and curry from about 11am at LKR 400-600 for a full plate. For a more comfortable family meal, the restaurants on the Kandy Lake View road above the lake have reliable food with a view.

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya: the train from Kandy to Nanu Oya (the station for Nuwara Eliya) takes about 3.5 hours on the hill country line. With children this is recommended over road - the mountain scenery through the tea estates is extraordinary and the train is comfortable in second class reserved seating. Book ahead at Kandy station.