Around Kandy
The lush countryside around Kandy is dotted with small Buddhist and Hindu shrines and temples, while just off the Colombo highway, the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is well worth stopping at on the way to or from the coast. A small donation (usually anything from 20 to 100 repuees) is required to visit the temples.

Embekke Devale
About 6km (4miles) southwest of Peradeniya and 3km (2miles) east of the main road to Nuwara Eliya, around 13km (8miles from the centre of Kandy, this small Buddhist temple dates from the 14th century and is graced by wooden columns elaborately sculpted with birds, dancers, acrobats and wrestlers. Open during daylight hours.

Lankatilake Temple
Just under 2km (1.5miles) on foot north of the Embekke Temple (the last stretch is an energetic ascent of steps cut into the crag on which the temple stands) the Lankatilake Temple is predominantly a Hindu place of workship but also has Buddhist frescoes, a Buddha image, and stone elephant carvings. Open during day light hours only.

Gadaldeniye Temple
Approximately 3km (2miles) on foot or by bus north of Lankatilake and 1km (0.6miles) south of the main Colombo road, this is a mainly Buddhist temple with a Hindu shrine attached. It contains some interesting Buddha Image and Frescoes from the 14th Century open during daylight hours.s