Defined by many as one of the finest islands in the world,
Sri Lanka has seduced travelers for centuries. It has so much variety to offer
and is definitely a place you must visit once in a lifetime. In this
charming island, you will have the opportunity to experience and see so many
different things. From beautiful beaches to ancient ruins, from picturesque
cities to local temples, not to mention the amazing diversity of its wildlife.
The good news is that Sri Lanka entered in travelers radar only lately. It
means that now is the perfect time to get on a plane and go there! Here is a
list of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka for first-time visitors that will
transform your travel into a life-changing experience.
Also known as Lion’s Rock, Sigiriya is an astonishing
ancient fortress built atop a rock and named from a giant lion’s paws at the
entrance of it. Take part in one of the guided tours of Sigiriya to
discover this UNESCO World Heritage site, often referred to as the
Eighth Wonder of the World.
There is also an interesting story behind this beauty
from the 5th century. King Kashyapa, the illegitimate son of King Dhatusena
usurped his throne after killing him. He built his fortress and pleasure palace
on top of the Sigiriya rock for the fear of the return of the throne’s rightful
owner, Moggallana. With his marvelous gardens and amazing architecture,
this is really a place every traveler must visit.
Located in the heart of the island, hidden away between
beautiful precipitous green hills, Kandy is the second largest city of the
country and the last ancient Kingdom capital. This marvelous city is home to
one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world, the Temple of the Tooth.
Discover the best ways to visit Kandy and its beauties. Private
tours, day trips from Colombo, and many more!
It hosts between July and August the spectacular Festival
of the Tooth (Kandy Perahera), a vibrant religious procession with
beautifully adorned elephants, drummers, fire eaters, energetic dancers and
stilt walkers. It is something you definitely need to see! Kandy enters easily
between the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.
Adam’s Peak, Sri Pada for the locals, is a 2.243 m mountain
in the central region of Sri Lanka. This beautiful peak has been an important
pilgrimage site for the last 2 thousand years.
The suggested option is to start the trekking in the night to
get on top of the peak just before the sunrise. Something you will hardly
forget! The trekking is quite challenging, it takes most people 2-4 hours to
summit and 1-2 hours to come back down. But visiting this place is definitely
worthed. With no doubts, this is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.
It is important though to avoid the crowds: better to avoid the Sri Lankan New
Year (mid-April), full moon, and even the weekend.
Sri Lanka is a wildlife lovers paradise, one of the best
places in Asia for seeing wildlife. Indeed in Yala, the most famous
National Park in the country, you will be surrounded by an incredible variety
of species. Experience a Safari to watch closely this amazing
wildlife.
Located in the south-east part of the Island, Yala has the
highest concentration of leopards in the world. In addition, it hosts many
other species as Buffalos, Elephants, Monkeys, Crocodiles and a huge variety of
Birds. If you are animals and nature lovers, this is one of the most incredible
places to visit in Sri Lanka!
Whether you are looking for some epic waves to surf or you
just want to relax and enjoy the beach life this is the right place for
you. This beautiful bay is located in the dry part of Sri Lanka and is
famous for being one of the best surf spots in the country. But there’s more:
peaceful atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and a relaxing vibe, very different
from the more touristic and crowded south-west coast.
In case you need a break from the sun and sea air, you
can also visit the town’s historic temples or the nearby Kumana National Park.
So close your eyes, listen to the sound of the ocean and breath deeply. You are
in the right place!
This incredible city, surely one of the unmissable places to
visit in Sri Lanka, is full of charming Dutch-era villas and delightful seaside
views. Galle is really delighted to explore on foot and most of the travelers
remain impressed by his beauties and his fascinating atmosphere. There are many
different activities in Galle to enjoy the best of this city.
The perfect place to let the days slip by without a care in
the world. Mirissa is a small beach village where it is very hard to get bored.
Many travelers found their paradise here. It is definitely one of the best
beach towns in the country!
There are many reasons why you will love this place. Here you
will find beautiful clean beaches, watersports activities, delicious food and a
nice nightlife. But most of all here you will have the unique opportunity
to experience Whale Watching! Seriously, how could you miss this place?
Nuwara Eliya is better known as Little England of Sri
Lanka. The climate, surroundings, and architecture of this area are different
than other villages. Thanks to its cooler climate, it is the most important
area for tea production in Sri Lanka. The area holds many natural beauties, like
waterfalls, hills, tea plantations, and the towering Pidurutalagala, the
tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. This place is a must to visit in Sri Lanka, and
once you get there don’t forget to have a cup of tea!
Nuwara Eliya is located between Kandy and Ella.
To get there you can take the world famous Sri Lanka most beautiful train
ride. A ticket from Kandy will cost you around $2,50. The ride takes 4
hours from Kandy and has been mentioned as one of the most beautiful train
routes in the world.
Kings ruled the central plains of Sri Lanka from Polonnaruwa
800 years ago, when it was a thriving commercial and religious center. The
glories of that age can be found in the archaeological treasures that still
give a pretty good idea of how the city looked in its heyday. You’ll find the
archaeological park a delight to explore, with hundreds of ancient structures –
tombs and temples, statues and stupas – in a compact core. If you like history
and walking around some incredible ruins, this is surely one of the best places
to visit in Sri Lanka.
Don’t miss the historical treasures this UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer. We recommend you to visit the Polonnaruwa Museum,
the Quadrangle (At the heart of the ancient city), the impressive walls of the
Lankatilaka, and the unique Gal Vihara. Here lay four magnificent Buddha
statues hewn out of a granite cliff-face by unknown artists. The highlight is
the majestic 14m reclining Buddha!
Declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991, the Dambulla temple has five caves and 157 statues of
the Lord Buddha, many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasize the
artistic talent of ancient days. Buddha images were first created here
over 2000 years ago, and over the centuries subsequent kings added to and
embellished the cave art.
Colombo is the commercial capital and largest
city of Sri Lanka. It has become a worthy destination in its own
right and makes an excellent start – or finish – to your Sri Lankan adventures.
Being the gateway to Sri Lanka for most travelers, it tempted many of them to
simply pass through this diverse and interesting city. Make sure you don’t make
the same mistake. Colombo is definitely one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka!
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1 – Sigiriya Rock Fortress
2 – Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth
3 – Adam’s Peak
According to the Buddhist tradition, it is a footprint of
Lord Buddha. For Christians instead, it is Adam’s first step after being exiled
from the Garden of Eden. Hindus believe, on the other hand, that is Lord
Shiva’s footprint.
4 – Yala National Park
5 – Arugam Bay
6 – Galle and his Dutch Fort
The city hosts another Unesco World Heritage,
Galle Dutch Fort, a walled enclave surrounded on three sides by the ocean. Built
by the Portuguese and finished by the Dutch in the 17th century, this fort
really deserves his reputation!
7 – Mirissa
8 – Nuwara Eliya and Tea Plantations
9 – Polonnaruwa
10 – Dambulla Golden Cave Temple
This beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160m
above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. From the caves there are
superb views over the surrounding countryside; Sigiriya is clearly visible some
20km distant.
11 – Colombo
Rich history, eclectic culture and buzzy culinary scene, the
Sri Lankan capital deserve to be more than just a side note to the rest of the
country. Discover all the activities and tours of Colombo.Visit the
National Museum, grab a tuk-tuk, go to the spectacular Gangaramaya Temple and
to the Beira Lake. These are just a few things you can do to visit this
beautiful and controversial city where you never get bored!
We hope this list of places to visit in Sri Lanka has
inspired you. Did we miss something? Please do not hesitate to leave a comment
if you know more wonderful places to visit! Enjoy your Trip 🙂
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