3 Answers from travellers
Yes, you can absolutely purchase genuine traditional dancer costumes and masks. The best place in Kandy is the Kandyan Art Association and Cultural Centre located right next to the lake.
They sell incredibly high quality, artisan crafted metallic headdresses and brass jewelry exactly like the pieces worn by the performers in the evening cultural shows.
If you want authentic wooden devil masks, it is highly recommended to wait until you visit the southern coastal town of Ambalangoda, which is the historical epicenter of mask carving in Sri Lanka.
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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