Tourism attractions of Sri Lanka

Probably the finest, the most rare and the most extensive range of attractions to be seen in the shortest space of time…anywhere in the world! Most of them if not all are truly distinctive to Sri Lanka; Culture and Heritage that dates back to over 2500 years, Wildlife that supports the highest rate of biological endemism in the world, Beaches that stretch miles into the ocean, Mist covered mountains draped with carpets of tea, rare and priceless gemstones, rain forests, cave temples, a fortress in the sky, wildlife and marine parks, religious pageants and ancient wellness treatments …and you’ve still not seen it all!

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Anuradhapura is Sri Lanka 's first capital, a potent symbol of Sinhalese power, and the most extensive and important of island's ancient cities. It became a capital in 380 BC and for over 1000 years Sinhalese kings ruled from this great city.

The Sacred Bo-Tree is the city's holiest site, and was grown from the tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest of the many temples in Anuradhapura , is believed to contain the right collar-bone of Buddha.

Anuradapura

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Colombo was Sri Lanka's first capital up to recent times. To the north of the city is the Fort district, the country's business centre. South is Galle Face Green, a seafront expanse of occasional green graced by cricket games and trysting lovers. Cinnamon Gardens , further south, is the most fashionable neighbourhood, with mansions and tree-lined streets.

Colombo

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Located at the southern tip of the island, the total protected area covers 98,000 hectares. The park contains elephants, wild boars, peacocks and other birds. Certain areas are strict natural reserves. Yala west with its scrub jungle, rock out crops, tanks and lagoons is open to visitors.

Yala National Park

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The port of Galle , thought by some to be the Biblical city of Tarshish , splendidly illustrates the solidity of the Dutch presence in the island. The 36ha (89ac) Dutch Fort, built in 1663, has withstood the ravages of time. Its massive ramparts surround the promontory that forms the older part of Galle , and shelters within its walls sturdy Dutch houses, museums and churches. This World Heritage Site is an impressive place where the old and the new blend in perfect harmony.

Galle

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The serene 'capital' of the hill country, and the historical bastion of Buddhist power, is built around a peaceful lake and set in a picturesque bowl of hills. It has a distinctive architectural character and the town centre is a delightful compendium of old shops, buses, markets and hotels.

Its standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa, a temple which houses Sri Lanka 's most important religious relic - the sacred tooth of Buddha. There are daily ceremonies of homage to the Tooth Relic, each attracting white-clad pilgrims carrying lotus blossoms and frangipani.

Kandy

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The enchanting rock fortress of Sigiriya is an impregnable fortress, a monastic retreat, and a rock art gallery. Built in 5th century AD to fend off a feared invasion, it is situated atop a 200m (656ft) high rock, and at the height of its glory must have been akin to a European chateau plonked on top of Uluru. There are water gardens, 5th century rock paintings of well endowed damsels, a 1000-year-old graffiti wall recording visitors impressions of the pin-ups, a couple of enormous stone lion paws and tremendous views.

Sigiriya

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Set in the heart of the tea country, it is ideal for nature lovers who will revel in its wide, patna grass covered plain which is the haunt of many wild yet harmless animals. Once the favourite hill station of the British, Nuwara Eliya still retains the vestiges of Empire: a blend of Tudor and Georgian architecture, gabled roofs, immaculate lawns and moss-covered gravestones.

Nuwara Eliya

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This is the place to go if you want to learn about gems. Your guide will show you the entire process - from digging in the gem pits to polishing and setting the stones. There's an excellent gem museum in town, too. Ratnapura produces sapphires, rubies, cat's eye, topaz, amethyst, garnet and several other glittering precious stones.

Ratnapura

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Aukana is the site of an impressive 43-ft/13-m statue of Lord Buddha, which dates from the 5th century AD. Aukana is generally seen in conjunction with Anuradhapura . Seven mi/11 km west is a slightly smaller statue of Buddha, chiseled at the same time as the statute at Aukana, but not as delicately crafted.

Aukana

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An ancient city, Polonnaruwa features 12th-century stone sculptures, an old irrigation system with huge tanks, and the Gal Vihara: three enormous Buddha figures - one reclining (it's 44 ft/13 m long), one standing and one sitting. The statues, located in a cluster along a dirt road, are revered as being among the most sacred monuments in Sri Lanka . There are also palace ruins and great bas-reliefs and friezes (especially the elephants carved around the Audience Hall).

Polonnaruwa

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At Dambulla you can visit a series of caves on a mountain ledge. These contain frescoes showing some of Buddha's epic struggles against evil. Like Sigiriya, Dambulla too is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that King Valagam Bahu took refuge during the 1 st century BC.

Dambulla

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Trincomalee lies at the union of river and sea, forming one of the loveliest harbours in the world. It also boasts a 35-mi/55-km white beach with coves, bays, islets and hot springs . The Koneswaram Hindu temple sits on a hill 400 ft/122 m above the ocean. Also on higher ground is a 16th-century Dutch fort. It's possible to dive among wrecks ranging from World War II naval casualties to old galleons.

Trincomalee

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This popular resort offers spectacular beaches, good waves and a wide range of inexpensive hotels and restaurants. The reefs just offshore attract divers and snorkellers, but the coral is beat up and the glass-bottomed boats are too numerous for our taste.

Hikkaduwa

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West coast of Sri Lanka, a popular tourist destination is a also a breeding ground for turtles. Legend say that Unwatuna was created from a piece of earth from Himalaya, that had fallen from Hanuman in the Ramayanaya epic.

Rated as one of the twelve best beaches in the world , Unawatuna was known for its picturesque beach along a sheltered bay more suitable for swimming and snorkelling than most of the other beach destinations in Sri Lanka.

Unawatuna

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AOccupying about a 110km's (425 sq mile) tract of shore line and jungle on the North west coast, around 180km (110 miles) north of Colombo and 50km (30 miles) west of Anuradhapura , Wilpattu is Sri Lanka's largest national park and a refuge for Elephants, Leopards and sloth bears.

Wilpattu could become an eco tourism destination to rival Ruhuna in the south, with huge expanses of forest and an array of rare mammal and bird species.

Wilpattu

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Negombo is a charismatic fishing town north of Colombo, located a mere 6 km from the international airport . Set amidst lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet's paradise with sea food aplenty. Old - world fishing craft, like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran, bring seer, skip jack, herring, mullet and amber jack, while lobster and prawn are caught in the lagoon.

Negombo

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Traditionally called as Maha-Eliya was founded by Sir Robert Hortain , the British Governor in 1831-37 . Established as a nature reserve in 1969 and a National Park in 1988. Hortain Plains is situated in the hills of Sri Lanka , which is approximately 32 Km from Nuwara-Eliya . At a height of approx. 2300 meters, the land area it covers is 3159 hectares. The popular "Word's End" with drop of 275 meters and the big "World's End" with a drop of 885 meters is situated at Hortain Plains. With average temperature of 15ºc - 22ºc. It is home for Samber and endemic birds of Sri Lanka.

Hortain Plains

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Sinharaja Forest , one of the least disturbed rain forests in Sri Lanka . The forest covers an extent of approx. 11187 hectares. The forest is about 21 Km in length and 4 Km in width. This forest reserve ranges from 200m to 1300m in height, located somewhat Southwest in the low land wet zone. The whole forest comes under the Galle , Matara and Rathnapura districts. Sinharaja was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1989 . The unique features it inherits are 66% of the endemic trees, 95% of endemic birds and almost 50% of the mammals and butterflies live in the forest reserve.

Sinharaja Rain Forest

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Just 60 kilometres south of Colombo, signals the start of a beach stretch of 130 kilometres with magnificent resort hotels. The sea is generally suitable for bathing during November to April.

Bentota

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Udawalawe National Park was established in 1972 with an area of 30,800 hectares. This park is a home for herds of Elephants . There are approximately between 300-400 Elephants living in the park. Besides Elephants you could also come across Deer, Samber, Hornbills, Peafowl and various other mammals and birds.

Udawalawe