≡ Menu

10 of the Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is often symbolically admired as a nirvana that fell straight from heaven into the Indian Ocean. It is an underrated tourist destination in South Asia. The mythical land full of mysterious beauties never ceases to impress holidaymakers from all corners of the world. Starting from the warm welcome of the locals to the [...]

Sri Lanka is often symbolically admired as a nirvana that fell straight from heaven into the Indian Ocean. It is an underrated tourist destination in South Asia. The mythical land full of mysterious beauties never ceases to impress holidaymakers from all corners of the world. Starting from the warm welcome of the locals to the mighty elephants, golden sandy beaches, misty mountains and many more magical island charms, Sri Lanka will warm your heart at every step of your journey. Whether you seek a relaxing day at the beach or an exciting adventure in the wild or if you just want to marvel at some ancient architectures, Sri Lanka has a great deal of surprises in store for you.  Here are a few of them:

Sigiriya

Often referred to as the Lion Stone, Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress with the ruin of an ancient palace at its top. The place can amaze people from all walks of life with its ancient gardens, statues and reservoirs and many other structures. The ancient paintings found here are fascinating and has some historic value.

Kandy

Kandy is the English name for the famous city of Maha Nuvara in the center of Sri Lanka. It is a very revered place and one of the most fascinating reminders of the Buddhist cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. The Temple of the sacred tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) sits here amidst very scenic landscapes creates a magical sight.

Nuwara Eliya

Often referred to as “little England”, Nuwara Eliya is a famous area that lies within the charming sights of mountains, hills, waterfalls and green tea plantations. It is one of the coldest places in Sri Lanka and the few buildings left by the British ruling still attract a lot of tourists.

Kitulgala

Made famous by the movie “Bridge over the River Kwai”, Kitulgala is a region in western Sri Lanka that is mostly wet rainforests. It produces some magnificent scenery. Many people go for water rafting along the Kelani River that was beautifully portrayed in the Oscar winning movie.

Anuradhapura

If you wish to understand the mythical History of Sri Lanka then there is no place better than Anuradhapura. It served as the capital of the ancient Lankan civilization from 4th century BC to 11th century and still contains many well-preserved ruins.

Adam’s Peak

Adam’s peak is a mountain in central Sri Lanka that is very famous for a rock formation known as the “sacred footprint” and is a must see attraction when on a Sri Lankan holiday. It has tremendous religious significance as the Buddhists consider it to be the footprint of Buddha, The Hindu’s consider it to be that of Shiva and Muslims, that of Adam’s.

Yala national park

The Yala national park covers an area of 979 square kilometers and contains some charming tourist attractions. Aside from its amazing wildlife viewing experience, you will also find white sandy beaches, rivers, rocky outcrops and freshwater lakes in the area.

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is yet another fascinating place to find out about the medieval Sri Lanka. This ancient city contains many 12th century stone sculptures and a famous rock temple named Gal Vihara. The great Buddhist statues in the temple really will take you to the past days of Sri Lanka.

Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka which rescues and raises elephants. Everyone loves the sight of feeding, bathing and playing with the elephants. It is located in hill near Kegalle. The best way to experience Pinnawala as well as the other animals on the island in Sri Lanka is on a wildlife tour.

Colombo

No tour to Sri Lanka can be complete without staying a few days at its modern city of Colombo. It is great place to learn about today’s culture and become delighted at warm Sri Lankan hospitality. Filled with many magnificent restaurants, bars and traditional bazaars, the city will surely offer you a great time.

 

Filed under: Travel Guide

About the Author:

On occasion, VagabondJourney.com accepts guest articles in order to cover stories that we are not able to with our staff alone. To guest post with us, contact the editor. has written 27 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

0 comments… add one

Leave a Comment