How to get fromChennai to Kandyby bus, ferry, plane, taxi or train

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There are 5 ways to get from Chennai to Kandy by bus, ferry, plane, taxi, or train

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Bus, ferry
best
1. Take the bus from Thiruvanmiyur to Nagorebus
2. Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
3. Take the bus from Punnalaikkadduvan to Pettahbus
4. Take the bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal to Kandy Good Shed Bus Stationbus
22h 10m
Rs 26,746–28,683
Fly to Kandy
cheapest
1. Fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Kandy (KDW)plane MAA - KDW
16h 31m
Rs 26,583–94,455
Fly to Sigiriya Airport, taxi
1. Fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Sigiriya Airport (GIU)plane MAA - GIU
2. Take the taxi from Sigiriya Airport (GIU) to Kandytaxi
17h 37m
Rs 30,183–98,955
Fly to Hatton, train
1. Fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Hatton (NUF)plane MAA - NUF
2. Take the train from Hatton to Kandytrain
19h 34m
Rs 27,013–96,105
Fly to Jaffna, train
1. Fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Jaffna (JAF)plane MAA - JAF
2. Take the train from Chunnakam to Polgahawela Junctiontrain
3. Take the train from Polgahawela to Kandytrain
12h 46m
Rs 34,383–97,155

Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Kandy (KDW) flights

11Weekly Planes

13h 47mAverage Duration

Rs 25,097Cheapest Price

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Chennai to Kandy.

Launch map view

Distance: 975.6 km
Duration: 22h 10m

What companies run services between Chennai, India and Kandy, Sri Lanka?

SriLankan Airlines, Cinnamon Air, and IndiGo Airlines fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Kandy (KDW) twice daily.

Airlines

Train operators

Bus operators

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Kandy(opens in a new window), Sri Lanka(opens in a new window)

Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city is situated in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Historically the local Buddhist rulers resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial expansion and occupation.

Things to do in Kandy

Temple of the Tooth(Opens in a new window)

Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple.

Royal Botanical Gardens(Opens in a new window)

Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya are about 5.5 km to the west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It attracts 2 million visitors annually. It is near the Mahaweli River (the longest in Sri Lanka). It is renowned for its collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acre, at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall. It is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture.

Kandy Lake(Opens in a new window)

Kandy Lake (Sinhala: බෝගම්බර වැව/ කිරි මූද), also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk, is an artificial lake in the heart of the hill city of Kandy, Sri Lanka, built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe next to the Temple of the Tooth. Over the years, it was reduced in size. It is a protected lake, with fishing banned. There are many legends and folklore regarding the lake. One such is that the small island at its center was used by the king's helm for bathing and was connected to the palace by secret tunnel.

Kandy Clock Tower(Opens in a new window)

The Kandy Clock Tower is located in the centre of Kandy on the intersections of Sri Dalada Veediya, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Mawatha and Hiragedara Mawatha. A landmark of the city, the clock tower was built near to the Ismail Building in 1950 by Haji Mohamed Ismail as a monument and in memory of his son Mohamed Zacky Ismail, who lost his life in an accident in Kadugannawa in August, 1947.

Places to stay in Kandy

The Radh Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.8Fabulous

SWP Eco Lodge, Kandy(Opens in a new window)

9.2Superb

Villa Rosa(Opens in a new window)

9.3Superb

The Heavens Villa Kandy(Opens in a new window)

8.2Very Good

Rome2Rio makes travelling from Chennai to Kandy easy.

Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chennai to Kandy right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2Rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.