A hillside hostel in Kandy with panoramic views of Kandy Lake and the surrounding hills. Offers dormitory and private rooms, a garden terrace, and free bicycle hire.
Secret Garden Hostel sits at 16 Rajapihilla Mawatha, a quiet road tracing the southern shore of Kandy Lake, roughly 1 kilometre west of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). The hostel occupies a converted hillside house, and its elevated position delivers unobstructed views of the lake and the forested ridges that encircle Kandy. Kandy train station is approximately 1.5 km away, and the central bus station is a similar distance, keeping connections to Colombo, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and the hill-country tea towns within easy reach.
The building has a stepped garden layout that makes good use of the slope: a terrace at the top catches both the breeze and the panorama, while lower levels hold the dormitory and private rooms. The atmosphere is quiet and sociable — more morning coffee overlooking the water than a party hostel — and attracts a steady mix of solo travellers and couples on budget itineraries through the Cultural Triangle.
Accommodation ranges from shared dormitory beds to private rooms, some with en-suite bathrooms and some with shared facilities. Air conditioning is available in certain rooms; ceiling fans cover others. Free Wi-Fi reaches all common areas and most rooms.
The hostel does not operate a restaurant, but a shared kitchen allows guests to self-cater, and several local eateries serving rice-and-curry and short-eats line the lake road within a five-minute walk. Breakfast is not included in room rates.
There is no spa, pool, or fitness facility on the premises. The standout leisure amenity is complimentary bicycle hire, well suited to the flat circuit of Kandy Lake and the approach roads leading into the Udawattakele Forest Reserve. The front-desk team speaks English and can assist with tuk-tuk arrangements and day-trip planning to nearby sites. The hostel suits independent budget travellers rather than families seeking resort facilities or business guests requiring meeting space.
Amenities
- free wifi
- garden terrace
- bicycle hire
- shared kitchen
- air conditioning
- lake views
Location
16 Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy 20000
7.2906, 80.6337 View on map
Highlights
- Hillside location on Rajapihilla Mawatha with panoramic views of Kandy Lake and surrounding forested ridges
- Free bicycle hire for exploring the Kandy Lake circuit and Udawattakele Forest Reserve
- Walking distance (roughly 1 km) to the Temple of the Tooth Relic along the lake-shore path
- Shared kitchen enables self-catering, keeping costs low for extended stays
- Garden terrace with unobstructed lake and hill views — best experienced at dusk
Tips for visiting
- Book private rooms with lake views well in advance during peak season (December to March) — they fill quickly.
- Take the free bicycles out early morning for the Kandy Lake circuit before vehicle traffic builds on the surrounding roads.
- Rajapihilla Mawatha is a narrow one-way lane; ask hostel staff for the clearest tuk-tuk pickup point to avoid confusion on arrival.
- Several local rice-and-curry restaurants are within a five-minute walk along the lake road — cheaper and more authentic than tourist-facing spots near the Temple of the Tooth.