Kandy Esala Perahera
Discover Kandy Esala Perahera 2025, Sri Lanka’s sacred festival of the Tooth. Book seats, arrive by 5:30 PM & witness dancers, drummers, elephants & m...

Duration
1 Days
Group Size
Max 1
Languages
English
Age Range
01 - 80
Tour Highlights
Discover Kandy Esala Perahera in one day.
Travel & Arrival
Please arrive before 5:30 PM to avoid being blocked at checkpoints in the City.
Seat Booking
🗓️ Seat booking Duration: Please book at least 2–3 weeks in advance.
💸 Seat prices: start from $3 (Rs.1000)
📍 The best views: Found near Queen's Hotel, Pizza Hut restaurant, and Temple Street.
🧾 Seat booking option: Through us at Tourstro, you can book a seat that offers the best views.
Dress & Prepare
👗 Dress: Modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
🧣 What to bring: Bring a scarf if needed, and a bottle of water
📷 Photography: You are not permitted to use cameras with flashlights.
🍽️ Dinner: Have a light dinner at a restaurant near your location around 6:30 PM.
Parade schedule
- Kumbal Perahera: 30th of July 2025
- Kumbal Perahera: 31st of July 2025
- Kumbal Perahera: 01st of August 2025
- Kumbal Perahera: 02nd of August 2025
- Final Kumbal Perahera: 03rd of August 2025
- Randoli Perahera: 4th of August 2025
- Randoli Perahera: 5th of August 2025
- Randoli Perahera: 6th of August 2025
- Randoli Perahera: 7th of August 2025
- Final Randoli Perahera: 8th of August 2025
- Diya Kapeema (Water Cutting Ceremony): 9th of August 2025
- Dahawal Perahera (The Day Procession): 9th of August 2025
The Procession
🪑 Seating time: Be seated before 7:00 PM
🥁Start time: It begins at around 8:00 PM. (Please note that this is an approximate time.)
🐘 Sights: Traditional dancers, drummers, fireworks and sacred elephants
🕯️ Highlights: The casket containing the sacred relic is a prominent feature.
End of Perahera & Exit
🚶 Exit: Follow safety instructions when exiting your seat.
🚖 Transportation: Please note that your private driver is outside the restricted zone.
Tour Itinerary
Itinerary Overview
The Kandy Esala Perahera is a revered and extraordinary cultural procession in Sri Lanka, held to honour the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Due to the unparalleled splendour and sacredness of this procession, many international tourists also participate to experience this precious occasion live. Held every year between July and August, this procession is decorated with fireworks, traditional dancers, drummers, and majestic elephants dressed as wyverns. Here's how to enjoy the magnificent views of this sacred festival comfortably.
Visiting Kandy during the Perahera is an unforgettable experience — a night alive with tradition, lights, and rhythm. However, reaching the city can be difficult if you're staying outside. To avoid inconvenience, begin your journey around 2:00 PM. Road closures start at 5:30 PM, and traffic becomes intense soon after. After this time, the Perahera route is closed to vehicles, and you’ll need to walk into the city. Attempting to enter after 5:30 PM is not advised due to the crowds and restrictions. Both locals and foreign guests will fill the streets to witness the spectacle. Get a comfortable and safe seat along the route with a good view, contact us through Tourstro, a travel agency. Prices and seat options depend on the location and available facilities. Then you can choose a seat of your choice at a price you like. This Esala Perahera is a very sacred event. Therefore, it is good to be careful about your attire before attending the event. So, please ensure you dress modestly and then proceed. Additionally, since each of these peraheras lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours, it is worthwhile to have a dress that you can comfortably wear for that long. Then you can enjoy the beautiful view of this perahera in comfort and modesty. The other main thing is to leave after the ceremony. This stage of the Perahera can test your patience and planning. Because the crowd is so large, everyone is ready to go home after the perahera is over. Then the road is full of people. So let the emergency people escape first, and then you go out calmly and patiently. The procession, filled with twinkling lights, rhythmic drumming, dancers, and elephants, is truly magical. As you enjoy this religious festival, the beauty of the night will be etched in your heart without you even realising it.
What's Included
What's Included
Tour Pricing
Starting from
$4
per person
Group Pricing
$4
$6
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