Empire Hotel, Kandy

The Empire Hotel is a colonial-era building on Temple Street featuring three white stone arches and an open verandah with cast iron railings. It contains 14 rooms with shared bathrooms and a street-facing café on the ground floor serving local refreshments.

The structure began as a coffee factory in 1857 before being converted to a hotel when the Fernando family took ownership in 1898. This transformation reflects Kandy's shift toward becoming a destination for travelers during that period.

The hotel sits near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, placing guests close to one of Sri Lanka's most important pilgrimage sites and spiritual centers. This location connects visitors to the daily rhythms of worship and devotion that define the city's religious life.

The hotel sits within walking distance of the temple and lake, making it easy for visitors to explore the city center on foot. Its location on a main street with an active café means you can easily find your way around and grab refreshments nearby.

The wooden floorboards on the first floor rest on original timber beams and offer views across Kandy Lake. This detail shows how much of the original structure was preserved when it was converted to a hotel.