Top 22 Attractions in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a real paradise for tourists. Wonderful beaches, pristine lush green hills, majestic waterfalls, underwater corals, wildlife of the island beckon. Historical monuments, places of religious pilgrimage, exotic cuisine, picturesque landscapes, amazing cultural heritage - there are not many places in the world that can reward a tourist with such an impressive experience.

The tropical island is located in the Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of Hindustan. For a long time the country was called Ceylon. The city of Colombo is widely known as the capital of the state, but in fact such is its suburb of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

All tourist destinations in Sri Lanka boast a wide range of opportunities. In the Kandy Valley, touch the shrine of Sri Dalada Maligawa and enjoy the scents of the gardens of Peradeniya. In the cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, marvel at the unparalleled archeological sites, then contemplate and enjoy the views in the villages of Nuwara Eliya. Stroll along the golden beaches of Unawatuna, go whale watching in Mirissa or Kalpitiya. And, of course, take in the wildlife at Wilpattu and Yala National Parks.

What to see in Sri Lanka?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a brief description.

Adam's Peak

This is the name of the mountain located in the western part of the island. Its height is 2243 meters. At the top of the peak there is a small temple; Buddhists consider this place sacred. From the top you can see the "footprint of the Buddha" - a large cast on the surface of the rock, with outlines similar to the trace of a human foot. The ascent is quite difficult, but every year thousands of tourists and pilgrims overcome this route.

Sigiriya

The World Heritage Site of Sigiriya is a massive rock plateau rising 170 meters above the surrounding plain. At the end of the 5th century, a fortress was built on the top of the rock by King Kasapa, and gardens with fountains were laid out around. Later there was a monastery here. A few frescoes have been preserved on the walls of the mountain - images of naked female concubines.

Golden Temple of Dambulla

This is a stone cave temple - the largest in South Asia. The sacred place of pilgrimage is located on the top of a mountain in a picturesque forest. There are more than 150 Buddha statues in the caves, 73 of them are covered with gold. Numerous cave walls are covered with unique Buddhist wall paintings.

Valley of Kandy

A stunning, picturesque valley surrounded by high mountains and adorned with meanders of the silvery waters of the Mahaweli Ganga River. In the very center of the valley is the city of the same name, which was once the capital of Sri Lanka.

Kumana National Park

The park is located on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, 391 kilometers from Colombo. This is one of the most important places for migration, nesting and breeding of birds on the island. Kunama is known for its picturesque lagoons and plains. The park has a beautiful lake Cumana-Villu. Today, the park is at the stage of its initial development, campsites, hotels and a tourist center are being built here.

Yala National Park

The second largest national park in Sri Lanka, part of the park borders the Indian Ocean. The area is about a thousand hectares. A jeep safari is organized here - a great opportunity to get acquainted with the local flora and fauna, which is very similar to the natural parks of Africa. The nearest town, Tissamaharama, is 24 kilometers away.

Port of Colombo

The city of Colombo is the largest in Sri Lanka, is a kind of commercial capital of the island. Here is the largest seaport in South Asia. Next to it is an area called Fort - a business center with a large number of shops, hotels, banks, restaurants and entertainment venues.

St. Clair's Falls

St. Clair Falls is part of the Kotmale River, it drops its waters from a height of 80 meters among the picturesque tea plantations, which gave the waterfall its name of the same name. The width of the waterfall is 50 meters. In terms of height, it is located only in the third ten in the list of waterfalls in Sri Lanka. But its beauty attracts a large number of sophisticated contemplators.

World Trade Center in Colombo

At 152 meters, the Colombo World Trade Center is the tallest building on the island. The twin towers have 40 floors, next to them is another tower - the Bank of Ceylon. There are towers in the Fort business district. Nearby is the Galle Face Green promenade, beloved by the locals.

Temple of the Tooth Relic

The sacred relic of Sri Lanka - the Tooth of the Buddha is located in the temple of the same name in the city of Kandy. To the island, a tooth (one of the four teeth cremated after the death of Buddha) was transported from India in 371. The Temple of the Tooth Relic is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Magical power is attributed to the tooth, ill-wishers have repeatedly tried to destroy it.

Royal Botanical Gardens in Paradenia

One of the best in Asia and the largest green park on the island, its area is almost 60 hectares. The botanical garden is divided into thematic areas, located on the banks of the Mahaweli River in a beautiful hilly area. The garden is well known throughout the world for its rich plant collections. The year of foundation is considered to be 1821 (the time of the arrival of the British), although the first mentions refer to the distant 1371.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

The Elephant Orphanage was opened in 1975 to provide shelter for baby elephants who were left without parents. Then there were only seven elephants. Now there are about 80 of them, including those born already in the nursery. Pinnawala is a very popular attraction in Sri Lanka, elephants are trained and trained here, and tourists have the opportunity to have very close contact with them.

Pinnawala Zoo

More recently, on April 17, 2015, a zoo opened near the Pinnawala Nursery. This is the second zoo in Sri Lanka, but the first one that is located in the open air. An area of ​​17 hectares has become home to many endemic animals of the island. Construction continues, more than 862 million Sri Lankan rupees have already been spent on work.

Tea plantations Nuwara Eliya

The area called Nuwara Eliya is located at the foot of the highest mountain of the island. There are many SPA and golf hotels, Nuwara Eliya is famous all over the world as a zone of gastronomic and eco-tourism. People come here to learn tea traditions and admire the beauty of nature.

Dutch fort in Galle

The fort was built by the Dutch in 1663 on the site of a ruined Portuguese fortress. In the 16th century, this place was an important strategic trading port. The fort has been perfectly preserved to this day. Today, as well as several centuries ago, there are many residential and administrative buildings on its territory. The streets are well preserved, there are interesting sights.

Victoria Dam

The hydraulic facility is located upstream from the mouth of the Maaveli River. Construction began in 1978 and was inaugurated in 1985. It is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the country. Approximately 30,000 people had to be relocated during construction.

Negombo beach

This is a frequent stopover on the last days of a trip to Sri Lanka. The beach and the resort of the same name are located just seven kilometers from the international airport. In Negombo, you can buy souvenirs and visit local restaurants that are famous for seafood dishes. There are many hotels on the beach, and water sports are popular here.

The beaches of Bentona

An extensive resort area with numerous hotels and a long beach on the southwestern coast of the island. Bentota has the status of a national resort, therefore, it strives to comply with this status. Near the coast, in the shade of mangroves, the Bentota River flows, and this is an opportunity to diversify a beach holiday with boat trips along the river.

Ravana waterfall

The height of the waterfall is about 25 meters. It is located near the city of Ella, from there you can get to the waterfall by bus. Travel time is about 15 minutes, a public transport stop is located right at the foot of the waterfall.

Holy City of Anuradhapura

Archaeological sites are located in the Old City of Anuradhapura, it is separated by the Aruvi River from the tourist and residential area (New City). The historical monuments of Anuradhapura are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A special sacred place is the temple and the Mahabodhi tree.

Mountain Park Mihintale

Not far from Anuradhapura is another interesting attraction - the Mihintale mountain range. This is a historical place with many remains of Buddhist buildings. 1850 steps lead to the top of the mountain, from above you can see how big the monastery complex that used to be here was.

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa

The ancient city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the most interesting sites on the island, with majestic archeological remains from the time of the first rulers of the Kingdom. The stone temple of Gal Vihara, which consists of four Buddha statues carved into the rock, is of the greatest interest.