The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Central City Hostel in Kandy is not the most modern or attractive hostel you will find in Kandy, but it has a magical atmosphere; thanks to the great owner, you will feel welcome from the first moment on and the staff will be happy to go out of their way to make your stay as comfortable as possible, whether by moving the furniture around to suit your needs better or by connecting you to the staff Wi-Fi for faster-speed internet. Moreover, the cosy common area is definitely a place where everybody will talk to each other and great friendships will be born.
The Location
The hostel is in a bit of an unusual -- but definitely very nice -- location on one of the hills of Kandy. This of course means a big uphill climb every time you are returning to your base, but the vantage-point views from the common area will definitely make it worthwhile. The closest sights here are the Golden Buddha statue and a Buddhist monastery and you can arrive at the centre after a walk of about half an hour. However, make sure to eat before you return, as there is really not that much around in terms of food.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are only three rooms available at the hostel and the whole place has a bit of a communitarian feel -- as you enter the hostel, there is no corridor; you immediately step inside one of the dorms. For the other one, you have to climb up the stairs from this one. There is one room, which is a bit more private, but it also has a large number of beds inside. Between the two dorms, the bottom one has a more pleasant temperature, so try to stay in that one. The washbasin is directly in the dorm, and the very basic showers and toilets open from the dorm as well.
Common Spaces
The only common area is a semi-open-air terrace. It has cosy sofas around as well as a big wooden table. On the side, you have a mini kitchen where you can serve yourself tea and coffee all day long. It is great to be sitting here enjoying the lush green panorama over the valley in front of you. The vibe here is really friendly and people often decide to eat together or share food.
Summary
Central City Hostel is one of the cheapest options you will find in the city of Kandy and it is definitely really good value for the price. While everything is a bit basic and communitarian, the atmosphere is great and friendly.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
JudyM
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on May 4, 2019
Location and Contact
Location
When you arrive at the main train station in Kandy, there are many taxi (tuk tuk) in front of the train station. Hop into a taxi tuk tuk and contact me. The place is next to the 'Sumangala College.' You can pronounce this name to the taxi person in following method: 'Su-man-gala.' The taxi tuk tuk cost usually is about Rs200. It is bit pricey in front of the train station, but you can find better price if you walk towards the post office area next to train station (about Rs150).