Kandy Weather in November

November: wet days

November feels warm, damp and often cloudy in Kandy. Rain falls on 25 days, with high humidity, so even a short walk can feel sticky. Showers may interrupt sightseeing, but they don't usually make the whole day a washout.

Plan indoor stops around the Temple of the Tooth and Kandy's museums, then fit lakeside walks or a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya between showers. Udawattakele Forest Reserve is lovely, but its paths can turn slippery; skip a long walk there after heavy rain. The view from the Bahirawakanda Buddha statue can also disappear into cloud.

Festivals and crowds

Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, sometimes falls in November. Dates change each year, but Kandy's Hindu community marks it with prayers and lamps. November's full-moon Poya day is a Buddhist holiday, when many locals visit temples.

November is wetter and quieter than February, Kandy's best month overall. You'll generally find fewer visitors than in the drier high season, and accommodation can cost less. Don't expect empty streets, though: local holidays and weekend visits can still bring crowds around the lake and Temple of the Tooth.

If you hate crowds, visit the temple outside the busiest prayer times.

Make rain work for you

Keep your plans flexible. A rainy spell is a good time to linger over a rice-and-curry lunch or browse the market near the clock tower. For a drier break, take the train from Kandy to Peradeniya and visit the botanical gardens when the rain eases.

At the Temple of the Tooth, leave wet shoes at the entrance and keep a small umbrella handy for the walk around Kandy Lake. The temple has dress rules, so cover your shoulders and knees. Don't count on a clear mountain view; November gets only about three hours of sun a day.