Gampola
town · Sri Lanka
Overview
Gampola is a town in Sri Lanka.
Its population is roughly 24,000.
It lies in the northern hemisphere, in Asia.
The nearest airport is Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB), about 76 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Population | 24,283 |
| Timezone | Asia/Colombo |
| Nearest airport | Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB), 76 km |
| Currency | LKR |
Where Gampola is
Gampola sits in Sri Lanka, in the northern part of Asia.
Kandy lies about 16 km to the north-east, Katunayaka lies about 75 km to the west and Negombo lies about 81 km to the west.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by air. Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the closest airport, about 76 km from Gampola.
Alternative gateways include Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML, 84 km).
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Gampola →arrives CMB (75.7 km away)
Getting around
It is small enough to walk end to end; a car or taxi helps for anything beyond the centre. If you drive, remember traffic here keeps to the left.
Best time to visit
The climate here is broadly equatorial (northern hemisphere): warm and humid all year, with wetter and drier spells rather than true seasons; the drier months are easiest for sightseeing.
Reasons to visit
A few reasons Gampola is worth your time: a handy base for the surrounding area, with several places within day-trip reach; straightforward access by air through CMB.
Day trips & nearby
Gampola works well as a base. Within about 81 km you can reach Kandy (16 km to the north-east); Katunayaka (75 km to the west); Negombo (81 km to the west); Hendala (78 km to the west); Ja Ela (75 km to the west).
Good to know
The currency is the LKR (Rupee).
The main language spoken is Sinhala.
Clocks run on Asia/Colombo time.
Traffic drives on the left.
How long to stay
Plan on 3–5 days here; that suits most visitors on a first trip.
Journeys through here
Where to stay in Gampola
Hotels are booked on Booking.com (a third party, off this page). You book and pay them directly — Head Your Way is not the seller.
Getting around Gampola
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Gampola?
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the closest airport, about 76 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Gampola?
- There is no single best season; pick the drier months for easier sightseeing.
- What is near Gampola?
- Kandy is one of the closest places, about 16 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Gampola in?
- Gampola is in Sri Lanka.
On the map
Keep exploring
Nearby places
More places in Sri Lanka
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-09-18
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-09-18
Data compiled 2026-09-18 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.