Blue Pillars Kandy

Blue Pillars Kandy is a small boutique hotel of 11 rooms on the hillside of Asgiriya, in a quiet lane barely a kilometre from the centre of Kandy, with balconies looking out to the Knuckles and Hunnasgiriya mountains. It is a short walk from Asgiriya Maha Viharaya, one of the two great monasteries that guard the Tooth Relic.

What are the rooms like at Blue Pillars Kandy?

All 11 rooms are air-conditioned and non-smoking, with a private furnished balcony, a wardrobe, tea and coffee making facilities and free Wi-Fi. There are three categories:

• Deluxe Double Room – a queen-size bed for two.
• Deluxe Twin Room – the same standard of room with two single beds, for friends or colleagues travelling together.
• Deluxe Family Room – a queen-size bed and two single beds, for a family or group of up to four.

Room sizes are not published. If a balcony facing the mountains matters to you, say so when you enquire and we will ask the hotel to hold one of the rooms with the best outlook. Solo travellers can stay in a double or twin room on their own.

What is the food like?

The hotel has its own restaurant, with a rooftop dining area that looks out over the hills around the city. Room service is available round the clock, so a late arrival on the train need not mean going hungry.

What services does the hotel offer?

There is a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage for early arrivals and late departures, laundry and dry cleaning, and free parking on site (let the hotel know in advance if you are arriving by car). The hotel can also arrange an airport pick-up or drop-off.

What is near Blue Pillars Kandy?

The hotel is close to the old heart of the city. The Temple of the Tooth and Kandy Lake are each about 1.5 kilometres away in a straight line, and the forest paths of Udawatta Kele Sanctuary and the quiet lawns of the Commonwealth War Cemetery are close by. An evening performance at the Kandy cultural show is easy to fit in after a day of sightseeing, and the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya are about 5 kilometres away in a straight line. On a clear day the balconies frame the peaks of the Knuckles Range and Hunnasgiriya to the north-east and east, both good choices for a day of walking.

Can I arrive by train?

Yes. Kandy railway station, on the main line between Colombo and the hill country, is about 1 kilometre away in a straight line, and Mahaiyawa station is about the same distance. A tuk-tuk from either station is the easiest way up, or arrange a pick-up with the hotel or with us in advance.

How do I get from the airport to Blue Pillars Kandy?

The hotel is about 84 kilometres in a straight line from Bandaranaike International Airport, but the road winds up into the hills, so allow a good part of the day. The simplest way to arrive is a private transfer from Colombo airport to Blue Pillars Kandy, which takes you all the way to the door.

Who is Blue Pillars Kandy best suited to?

It suits independent travellers, couples and small families who want a simple, friendly base within easy reach of Kandy's temples, lake and station, with mountain views and a quiet night's sleep, rather than a resort with a pool. For more choice in the city see our places to stay in Kandy.