Sri Lanka Holiday Destinations
Guide to Sri Lanka Tourist Attractions
Sri Lanka, a land like no other, is known for its panoramic scenery, breathtaking beaches, exclusive wildlife, and not to mention, friendly population! Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Passikudah, Yala and Negombo are a few popular Sri Lanka Holiday Destinations. Whether you are looking for a relaxed, romantic holiday, or an exciting, adventurous one, Sri Lanka has it all. When planning your trip, make sure to have at least two weeks in hand if you want to cover all major Sri Lanka tourist attractions. Hill country, beaches, wildlife and Lankan history is what a detailed tour of Sri Lanka will entail.
Hill Country
While the lowlands of Sri Lanka are quite sweaty due to the tropical weather, the highlands boast a consistently pleasant weather that turns into an autumn chill as night falls and as the elevation gets higher. Life amidst interweaving green mountains, magnificent waterfalls plunging over cliffs and an abundance of beautiful tea estates is what you will see when you look outside your window from Kandy, Nuwara Eliya or Ella.
Kandy
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic : Seated on the bank of the lake at the eastern side of Kandy’s town center is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which is one of the most important places to visit in Sri Lanka
- Peradeniya Botanical Gardens : Approximately 6kms southwest of Kandy, enveloped in the Mahaweli River lies the massive 60 hectare Royal Botanical Gardens.
- Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage : which is an interesting place to visit in Sri Lanka. Here you can experience the natural habitat of elephants
Nuwara Eliya
- Gregory Lake : It was used for water sports and recreation then and still is used for the same purpose today.
- Horton Plains : A visit to the highest plateau in the island is a popular Sri Lanka tourist attraction. Here you will find a uniquely breathtaking view of grasslands mixed with patches of forests, high altitude vegetation and an ideal excursion for nature lovers, hikers and bird watchers.
- Tea Factory Visit : Being surrounded by several tea estates in the hill country of Sri Lanka makes it impossible to avoid a visit to one of the tea factories for an exciting tea plucking experience and knowledge on the process of tea manufacturing.
Ella
- Ella is a small village located high in the mountains and offers an amazing panoramic view of the hill country and is popular as one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka. A night or two at this relaxing Sri Lanka tourist attraction will definitely be worth it. Used as a base for most trekking expeditions, this town offers splendid views of the Ella Gap, Ravana Falls and the Little Adam’s Peak.
Historical Sites
Sri Lanka owns a great history that dates back to over 2500 years and is proud to have many ruins preserved till date as proof of the country’s long history. At every stop on your places to visit in Sri Lanka, you will find amazing ruins and monuments that will add value to your memorable holiday.
Anuradhapura
This historical city was the first capital of Sri Lanka and was founded by a King’s minister during the 4th century B.C. The Sacred Bo Tree in Anuradhapura, also known as the Sri Maha Bodhi is the most popular historical Sri Lanka tourist attraction here. Additionally, the city is home to magnificient Dagobas (Temples) such as Ruwanweli, Lankarama, Jetavana, Abhayagiri, and Mirisaweti. An ancient Temple known for its beautiful stone carvings is the Isurumuniya while the Samadhi Buddha Statue is an exhibit of excellent sculpture work. Many Kings ruled in this ancient city of Anuradhapura which is now named as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Sigiriya
Another UNESCO world heritage site is the fortress of Sigiriya and is one of the most popular places to visit in Sri Lanka. On top of the Lion’s Rock is a palace built by one of the ancient Kings of Sri Lanka. During your climb you will see well preserved frescoes engraved into the rock a Lion’s Paw which is the entrance to the palace. Once you reach the top you have a breathtaking view of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla) as well as the remnants of the ancient Palace.
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is the second largest kingdom of Sri Lanka. Till today, this ancient city is known as one of the best planned archealogical relic sites in the country that stood as testimony against the discipline and greatness of the first rulers of the kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka. The popular Sri Lanka tourist attractions here are the Lankathilaka Temple and a massive stone statue of Lord Buddha.
National Parks
Whether you are looking for wildlife in terms of plants or in terms of animals, Sri Lanka boasts of one of the finest wildlife experiences in all of South Asia. Compared to the size of the island, the variety of bio diverse species that belong here are immense.
Yala National Park
Located in the south eastern region of the island, this is the second largest, yet most visited National Park and is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. The entrance to the park is from the city of Tissamaharama where a tracker is given to all entering vehicles along with detailed information for way-finding around the park
Sinharaja Rainforest
Sinharaja Rain Forest is a UNESCO world heritage site and spans an area of 18900 hectares of tropical lowland rainforest. Located in the southern province of Sabaragamuwa, this rainforest has two main nature trails that begin at the same point but lead to two different peaks. Both are equally enjoyable for nature lovers.
Wilpattu National Park
his is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka and is a major Sri Lanka tourist attraction. Wilpattu National Park is made up of a unique complex of over 50 wetlands known as “villu’s”. In addition to these, you will find varying natural habitats such as rocky outcrops, open grasslands, scrublands, dense forests, and coastal belts to provide for the wide variety of species that live here.
Best Beaches
With approximately 1600kms of astonishing coastline that has a perfect combination of sun, sand and water, Sri Lanka is an ideal destination for beach lovers from all over the world. While some beaches on your list of places to visit in Sri Lanka are long and golden, some have soft, white sand. Some have the perfect winds for kitesurfing and some have the perfect waves for surfing on your surfboard. Some beaches may have a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere for a sun tan while others may be lively and full of people wanting to party on the beach!
South Eastern Coast
Arugam Bay & Passikudah : Starting from Arugam Bay, the eastern beaches stretch for about 275kms north along the coastline. Along this coast you will find wide stretches of sand and miles of clear, shallow water that is ideal for swimming. Deep natural harbours, still lagoons, pretty bays and coves, and beautiful underwater coral reefs are some of the major Sri Lanka tourist attractions along the south eastern beaches of Arugam Bay and Pasikudah.
Eastern Coast
Trincomalee : Trincomalee is a harbor port city located 250 kms from Colombo. At one time, Trincomalee harbor was an important destination for sea traders and has been visited by many travelers such as Marco Polo. Uppuveli, Nilaveli, Marble Beach and the Dutch Bay are the famous beaches on the eastern coast of Trincomalee. While some of these beaches are more ideal for strolling and surfing, swimming is possible too. Scuba diving, fishing and whale watching are added activities that one can enjoy on these beaches.
Western Coast
Negombo & Chilaw : Located in close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport and just about 35kms north of the busy city of Colombo, is the city of Negombo, known for its sandy beaches and massive fishing industry. With hotels and restaurants to suit every budget, make Negombo a sure stop place to visit in Sri Lanka and enjoy the friendly life in Negombo while adoring the traditional canoes and wooden boats that go past the beaches every single day. In Negombo you can also explore the remnants of the Dutch rule, enjoy some bird watching and meet the age old fisherman at daily fish auctions.
Southern Coast
Unawatuna, Tangalle, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Mirissa : The beaches in the southern coast are sandier than the western ones and do not drop deep into the sea, hence are ideal for indulging in swimming, snorkeling, surfing and other exciting water sports. In addition to the beaches, cities like Galle are popular Sri Lanka tourist attractions for their historical heritage.