Kandy vs Lhasa

Kandy

Kandy has a tropical highland climate at 465m elevation — cooler and less humid than the coast. Temperatures are pleasant year-round (22–28°C). Two monsoon seasons affect the city differently: the southwest monsoon (May–August) brings heavier rain to the western slopes; the northeast monsoon (November–January) brings rain from the other direction. The best weather windows are February–April and August–September.

Lhasa

Lhasa is classified as a high-altitude semi-arid plateau climate — thin, dry air year-round with over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually (one of the sunniest cities in China). Daytime is warm in summer and cold but sunny in winter; nights are always cold because of the altitude. The monsoon brushes the plateau in July and August, bringing short afternoon showers but rarely all-day rain, making Tibet considerably drier than the Himalayan regions to the south. Wind and UV are intense year-round at this elevation.

Kandy

Kandy city centre is semi-walkable — the lake, temple, and market are connected on foot. The hills make some areas steep. Tuk-tuks are the standard local transport; trains are the best way to reach Colombo and the hill country.

Walkability: Moderate around the lake and temple. Hilly — some areas require tuk-tuk.

Lhasa

Lhasa is small and manageable — the old town around the Jokhang and Barkhor is entirely walkable, and most tour itineraries use a private vehicle with your assigned driver and guide for the outlying monasteries (Sera, Drepung, Norbulingka, Potala). Independent public transport is possible within Lhasa city itself for short distances, but no foreign tourist should be taking long-distance buses or taxis alone — your Tibet Travel Permit requires you to be with your guide for essentially all sightseeing.

Walkability: The old Tibetan quarter around the Jokhang is wonderfully walkable — narrow whitewashed lanes, prayer-wheel corridors, and a flat grid you can cover in a morning. The Potala, Norbulingka, Sera, and Drepung are all too far to walk and sit at awkward angles from the centre; your tour vehicle or a taxi is required. Altitude makes walking feel slower than it looks on a map for the first 48 hours.