Sri Lanka is a true tourist's paradise. Wonderful beaches, unspoiled lush green hills, majestic waterfalls, underwater corals, and the island's wilderness 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 tourists with such an impressive experience.
The tropical island is located in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern 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 savor the scents of the Peradeniya gardens. In the cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, marvel at the unprecedented archaeological sites, then contemplate and enjoy the views in the villages of Nuwara Eliya. Walk along the golden beaches of Unawatuna, whale watching in Mirissa or Kalpitiya. And of course, experience the wilderness at Wilpattu and Yala Parks.
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What to see in Sri Lanka?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
Adam's Peak
This is the name of the mountain located in the western part of the island. Its height is 2243 meters. There is a small temple at the top of the peak; 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, outlines similar to the trace of a human foot. The ascent is quite difficult, but every year this route is overcome by thousands of tourists and pilgrims.
Sigiriya
The Sigiriya World Heritage Site is a massive rocky plateau that rises 170 meters above the surrounding plain. At the end of the 5th century, a fortress was built on the top of the cliff by King Kasapa, and gardens with fountains were laid out around. Later there was a monastery here. On the walls of the mountain, there are a few frescoes - images of naked women concubines.
Dambulla Golden Temple
This stone cave temple is the largest in South Asia. The sacred place of pilgrimage is located at the top of a mountain among a picturesque forest. There are over 150 Buddha statues in the caves, 73 of them are gold-plated. Numerous cave walls are covered with unique Buddhist wall paintings.
Valley of Kandy
A stunning, picturesque valley surrounded by high mountains and adorned with the bends of the silvery waters of the Mahaveli Ganges 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. It is one of the most important bird migration, nesting and breeding sites on the island. Kunama is known for its picturesque lagoons and plains; the park has a beautiful lake Kumana-Villa. Today, the park is in its early stages of development, with campsites, hotels and a tourist center 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.
Colombo port
Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka, is a kind of commercial capital of the island. The largest seaport in South Asia is located here. Next to it there is an area called the Fort - a business center with a large number of shops, hotels, banks, restaurants and entertainment venues.
St. Clair's Falls
Clair Falls is a part of the Kotmale River, it falls down from a height of 80 meters among the picturesque tea plantations that gave the same name to the waterfall. 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
The Colombo World Trade Center is 152 meters high, the tallest building on the island. The twin towers have 40 floors, next to them there is another tower - the Bank of Ceylon. There are towers in the Fort business district. Nearby is the popular Galle Face Green promenade.
Temple of the Tooth of Buddha
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 UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tooth is credited with magical power; ill-wishers have repeatedly tried to destroy it.
Royal Botanic 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 zones, located on the banks of the Mahaveli River in a beautiful hilly area. The garden is well known all over 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 nursery was opened in 1975 in order to provide shelter for elephants who were left without parents. Then there were only seven elephants. Now there are about 80 of them, including those born in the nursery. Pinnawela is a very popular attraction in Sri Lanka, elephants are trained and trained here, and tourists have the opportunity to contact them very closely.
Pinnawala Zoo
More recently, on April 17, 2015, a zoo opened next to the Pinnawala nursery. This is the second zoo in Sri Lanka, but the first one that is located in the open air. The area of 17 hectares has become home to many of the island's endemic animals. Construction continues, more than 862 million Sri Lankan rupees have already been spent on work.
Nuwara Eliya tea plantations
The area called Nuwara Eliya is located at the foot of the highest mountain on 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 destroyed Portuguese fortress. In the 16th century, the site 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 structure is located upstream of the mouth of the Maaveli River. Construction began in 1978 and was officially completed in 1985. It is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the country. During construction, approximately 30,000 people had to be relocated.
Negombo beach
They often stop here in their last days of travel 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 their seafood dishes. There are many hotels on the beach and water sports are popular here.
Bentona beaches
An extensive resort area with numerous hotels and a long beach on the southwest coast of the island.Bentota has the status of a national resort, therefore it seeks to comply with this status. Near the coast, in the shade of mangrove trees, the Bentota River flows, and this is an opportunity to diversify your 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, public transport stop is right at the foot of the waterfall.
The sacred 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. The temple and the Mahabodhi tree are considered a special sacred place.
Mikhintale Mountain Park
Another interesting attraction is located not far from Anuradhapura - the Mikhintale mountain range. It is a historical site 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 existed here before 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 places on the island, home to the majestic archaeological sites that have survived since the days of the first rulers of the Kingdom. The stone temple of Gal Vihara, which consists of four statues of Buddha carved into the rock, is of the greatest interest.
