Kandy Lake is without question the epicenter of the town. Although Kandy is plagued by screeching diesel buses which cruise around the southern tip of the lake, these buses do not stop the leisurely strolls around the lakeside seats. The area near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the most pleasant area to walk around.

Often written as Udawatta Kele, Udawattakele Forest Reserve is an old forested hill ridge situated in Kandy City; it spans 104 hectares (257 acres) in size. During the time of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawattakele was referred too in Sinhalese as “Uda Wasala Watta” which translates to “the garden above the royal palace.” The sanctuary is well known for its ornithological diversity. The reserve is also rich in plant biodiversity, especially with the lianas, shrubs, and small trees. There are a number of colossal lianas. A variety of medium and small mammals that are common to Sri Lanka may be observed here. Some species of snakes and other kinds of reptiles can also be seen. Udawattakele was set aside as a forest reserve in 1856 and became a sanctuary in 1938.

Located close to Kandy city, on a hill lies the magnificent statue of Buddha which was constructed in 1972. It is two kilometers away from the Temple of The Tooth Relic nestled next to the Sri Maha Bodhi Temple at the top of Bahirawa Kanda hill. The white sculpture displays Buddha sitting in the Niddhi posture and can be seen from nearly every part of Kandy city. This statue which is 88 feet tall is among the tallest statues of Buddha in Sri Lanka.

Currently accessible to both locals and tourists, these magnificent gardens were once restricted to the Kandyan royal family. These gardens now hold the title as the largest botanical gardens found in Sri Lanka, thriving over 60 hectares. Among its many attractions is a splendiferous collection of orchids, an impressive avenue of royal palms, the peculiar and aptly named cannonball fruit tree, the astounding 40 meter tall Burma bamboo, and many other incredible plants. Another stunning attraction in Peradeniya is the colossal giant Javan fig tree, found on the great lawn, known for its overwhelming thick central trunk and umbrella shaped branch canopy. Peradeniya is located to the west of Kandy, about 6 kilometers from the city center.