Sri Lanka's 14 Best Tourist Attractions

1.Colombo 

The capital blends modern city facilities with the country's diverse indigenous and colonial histories. Sri Lanka has always retained strategic relevance for European commercial powers as a crucial stop on the world spice trade routes. The country has been a colony of Portugal, the Netherlands, and, most recently, the United Kingdom, and all of these cultures have merged with the indigenous culture to create a wonderful hybrid. These influences may be tasted in food, seen in architecture and the arts, and felt strongly in Colombo.

2.Kandy

Kandy is the historic capital city of the Sri Lankan royal dynasty and the country's principal metropolis before the colonial period. It is located in central Sri Lanka. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the "Kandian Era" reached its pinnacle, when the territory remained independent while most of the coastal districts were invaded by European forces.

Visit the city's National Museum of Kandy, which uses exhibits and artifacts to tell the narrative of the region and its people. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, part of the royal palace complex, is a particularly important Buddhist shrine nearby.

3.Udawalawe National Park

This enormous animal park is located in the country's southern region, about an hour's drive from Hambantota. Because the park is on the border of the country's rainy and dry zones, the landscape and surroundings are diverse.

Elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, and other animals can be seen in the park, which has a high population. In fact, it's one of the best spots on the planet to watch wild elephants.

Leopards can be found there as well, but they might be difficult to track or spot. Monkeys, as well as a variety of deer and small mammals, can be found. It's also a fantastic spot for bird watching.

There are a few modest hotels and guesthouses on the outskirts of Udawalawe, as well as inside the park. You can also go for a day excursion; the best times to go are very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

4.Galle

One of the country's first modern superhighways connects Colombo to Galle, which is about a two-hour drive away. This historic trading harbor is centered around a massive 17th-century coastal fort and recalls its colonial heritage.

Galle Fort is a walled town that has been restored and is now home to boutique hotels, shops, and restaurants (along with real residents). The entire region has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The entire Fort area is car-free, making it a terrific destination to explore on foot. It's difficult to get lost because the sea surrounds you on three sides.

The city is surrounded by beautiful beaches both inside and outside the fort. The wide sand beach, like others across the country, leads to lovely, turquoise water. The picturesque Galle lighthouse is even surrounded by a beach.

5.Hikkaduwa Beach

This beach is about 90 minutes from Colombo and is perfect for water sports such as surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, and scuba diving. All of the necessary equipment can be rented at one of the seaside stands. It's one of the top surfing spots in the country, with the best waves from November to March.

Because the beach is so large, it never feels overcrowded. If you choose to stay overnight, there are a number of seaside booths providing a variety of great local street cuisine, as well as a number of modest hotels and guesthouses.

Its coral is also well-known. The Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary is a protected marine region off the coast of Sri Lanka that is part of Hikkaduwa National Park. It was built to safeguard the area's coral reefs while also educating visitors on the subject.

6.Galle Face Green

The Sri Lankan equivalent of Venice Beach in Los Angeles isn't the place to get away from it all, but it is a great area to relax, people watch, and have a good time with other Sri Lankans, day or night. A huge grassy area, separate from the shore, is used for picnics and games. Visit on a Friday or Saturday night for the most energy.

You can relax on the beach and swim, or sail a kite in the constant breeze. There are constantly pick-up games of football (soccer) or cricket going on, so you can participate. Vendors and restaurants line the beach, while the region beyond it is lined with hotels ranging in price from budget to luxury.

Galle Face Green is located in the center of Colombo's downtown district, directly across from Fort. You have the gorgeous water in front of you and the skyline behind you. Between Galle Road and the Indian Ocean is this location.

7.Yala National Park

This national park, located on the island's southeast coast, is famed for leopard safaris. Leopards are extremely rare, yet the park has a significant population, and they can be seen even on a day trip. A huge number of Asian elephants, which are native to Sri Lanka, live in the park.

Apart from the animals, the park contains some amazing and diverse landscapes and ecosystems. You can explore tropical jungles, follow leopards across wide grasslands, or visit the sea and beach environments of coastal places.

Yala, which is not far from Hambantota, also has a number of notable Buddhist temples and shrines.

8.Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, one of the country's ancient capitals, offers a look into the past to visitors. You're not simply exploring ruins in this location; there's a bustling, modern tiny town adjacent to an ancient one. It's a great spot to visit and spend a night or two.

There are numerous collapsing temples, statues, lakes, and other constructions among the ruins. There are some modern constructions, and the temple is still used for worship. A tree, a very old tree, is at the center of the complex. The Sri Maha Bodhi is thought to be the world's oldest human-planted live tree.

Anuradhapura is a fun destination to visit because it has a lot of tiny guesthouses and inexpensive restaurants, as well as bike rentals, tour guides, and other tourist-oriented companies.

9.Pollonnaruwa

Another of the country's World Heritage Sites is this major ancient city ruin site. After Anuradhapura, Pollonnaruwa was Sri Lanka's second capital city, which flourished roughly a thousand years ago.

Although most of the structures are in ruins, the garden-city has been totally preserved. Gardens, palaces, and temples abound, and while the area is small, it's best visited by bicycle. A benefit is that the ruins are home to a huge group of macaques who have lived in the area since ancient times. Fans of Duran Duran will remember the location because it was used to film their Save a Prayer video in the 1980s.

A few miles from the ruins lies a tiny, modern village with guesthouses, bike rentals, cafés, and other tourist amenities.

10.Tangalle

Sri Lanka is surrounded on all sides by beaches, and there is truly something for everyone. The Tangalle area offers a varied selection of beach experiences. It is located in the heart of the island's southern coast and is a popular tourist destination.

This area has a diverse assortment of beaches, from tropical coves to broad, windswept stretches of open sand that seem to go on forever. Beaches with services, merchants, and beachfront stands can be found alongside secluded beaches where you're nearly assured to be alone.

A large sea turtle nesting habitat and conservation facility may be found at Rekawa Beach, just east of town.

11.Bundala National Park

With its dunes, lagoons, and big freshwater bodies of water, this national park and wetland refuge is one of the best sites in the world to go bird-watching. There are several bird species here, some of which are peculiar to Sri Lanka. Many of the birds come here on a seasonal basis from as far as Siberia.

Apart from the birds, there are a lot of crocodiles that like to eat them, as well as a lot of elephants. The beaches are a prominent nesting site for four of Sri Lanka's five sea turtle species.

Bundala Park is located between Kirinda and Hambantota on Sri Lanka's southern coast.

12.Ella

It's not always about the goal, but rather about the trip. Ella, a little hill-country hamlet nestled among Sri Lanka's gorgeous tea plantations, is an example of this. It's full with little guesthouses, delicious food, and warm people. It's a great way to get away from the city or spend a few days hiking in the countryside.

People travel to Ella for a variety of reasons, one of which is to ride the slow train from Kandy. It winds its way up and over hills, through little towns, and across green tea fields for almost six hours before reaching in the small mountain town. The voyage is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful train journeys. You can begin your journey in Colombo, which will add three hours to your journey.

13.Adam's Rock

Adam's Rock is another fantastic spot to visit in Sri Lanka that is all about the adventure. This mountain is crowned by a sacred rock formation, and pilgrims trek to the summit at night to catch a glimpse of the sunrise.

The climb takes around three hours to complete, with break spots and food sellers along the way. Following the climb, you'll come to a rock with a footprint-shaped indentation, which some say is where Adam took his first step. Others believe it is the imprint of Buddha, while others claim it was created by Shiva, the Hindu god.

The Adam's Rock climb begins in the central Sri Lankan hamlet of Nallathanniya. The months of December through May are the greatest for climbing.

14.Sigiriya

Sigiriya, like Machu Picchu and Masada, strikes tourists simply by the folly of its creation. It's a massive rock formation that has been sculpted into a palace. The ruins are located near Dambulla, in the country's central region.

The palace complex, which was built around 1,500 years ago, rests on a 660-foot (220-meter) cliff with sheer walls. The antique painted paintings and carvings on the walls transform the entire structure into a work of art. A massive doorway carved in the shape of a lion stands in the middle of one rock wall.

Aside from the palace, the region beneath the palace is a sophisticated city complex with gardens, residential and commercial districts. It's a significant surviving example of early city planning from this time period.

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