Sri lanka what to visit. What are the must-see attractions in Sri Lanka? World Trade Center in Colombo

Sri Lanka is an ancient state with a thousand-year history. The tourism industry is developing here by leaps and bounds - hotels and amusement parks are being built, beaches are being improved, rich excursion programs are being organized.

Travelers have discovered many interesting places that abound on the territory of the island. We will tell you about the most interesting sights of Sri Lanka, put together a list of "mandatory" places to visit and ask the price of local excursions.

What to see a tourist in Sri Lanka on their own

To feel the atmosphere of the island, fight off the tour group and do your own exploration of the area. There are enough cultural objects here - some of them are even included in the famous UNESCO list.

There is the concept of "cultural triangle" - this is the region within which the majority of Sri Lankan attractions are concentrated. The vertices of this "triangle" are:

1. Kandy (the ancient Sinhalese capital in the central part of the island);
2. Polonnaruwa (east of Sri Lanka);
3. Anuradhapura (forgotten northern capital).

You can move around the island by trains (regular and superior), taxis, buses and tuk-tuks. Many wanderers, having visited, rent motorcycles, bikes and scooters - their fuel consumption is negligible (or zero), and the speed of movement for a small piece of land is quite high.

A liter of gasoline in Sri Lanka costs about 150 rupees.

Buses here are commercial and state. The average fare will be about 250 rupees (about 125 our rubles).

Journey to Galle and Bentota

The ancient town of Galle is famous for its unique natural beauty and white sand beaches. Enough here and ancient monuments.

What can you see in Galle? Be sure to pay attention to the following places:

Galle is a port and resort town in the Bentota region. Many turtle farms, museums and Buddhist temples are scattered here, and if you wish, you can go to the Bentota Ganga River and arrange a luxurious safari.

What to see in Bentota? Here are the most interesting places in the region:

Many travelers tend to get to Colombo to see the sanctuaries there. Indeed, Buddhism is deeply rooted in the culture of Sri Lanka, and local temples are admirable.

Here is a list of "must-free" attractions in Colombo - the unofficial capital of Sri Lanka:

• Gangarama temple. You can get here absolutely free. This is an important religious center for all followers of Buddhism - future monks are trained here. The complex consists of a temple, a library, classrooms, meditation rooms and a museum. Be sure to take a look at the Temple Elephant and the Wall of Meditating Monks.
  You need to get to the temple through the center of Hikkaduwa. Having found the bus station, walk for another ten minutes - and you are there.
• Monument to the Victims of the Tsunami. The memorial was erected on an island, not far from the Gangarama temple. The island with the Buddha rises in the middle of an artificial pond.
• Embankment Galle Face. Localized on the coast of the channel connecting the ocean and Lake Beira. Locals play cricket on the waterfront and fly kites.
• Independence Hall. A symbolic place for the locals. The exposition of the Hall is dedicated to the history of the island and the liberation from the colonial regime. The museum is located in the Cinnamon Gardens park complex.

Leaving Colombo in a northeasterly direction, you can get to the picturesque town of Kandy. The distance between cities is 115 kilometers.

The main city attraction is an artificial lake created by the last ruler. The Summer Palace is located on an island in the middle of the reservoir.

There are other places in Kandy worth seeing:

• Temple of the Tooth Relic. Everyone has probably heard about this sanctuary. According to tradition, the capital of Sri Lanka was proclaimed where the Sacred Tooth was located. This is one of the eight parts left from the body of the Enlightened One. The cost of the tour is 1500 rupees.
  You can come to the Temple on your own by taking a train to Colombo. You will spend 500 rupees and four hours on the road.
• Royal Botanic Garden. Almost one hundred hectares are planted with rare plants (cacti, orchids, giant trees, ferns and bamboos).
  The Garden is localized in the town of Peradeniya - the 644th bus goes there from Kandy.
• Arts Association Hall. A very original place. Here you can watch the exorcism, ritual chants, cobra dances and masks.
  The hall is located at 72 Sangaraja Mawatha.

Many tourists prefer to travel by tuk-tuks.

Five attractions you must visit

There are many sights and excursions in Shi Lanka. Some of them can be called strange, others are associated with Hinduism or Buddhism, others allow you to join the natural beauties.

Here is a list of places in Sri Lanka that the traveler should definitely see:

Excursion program - galloping along the whale trails

In whatever hotel in Sri Lanka you stay, you will be offered a rich excursion program.

Here are the most popular destinations:

• Colombo (130-170 dollars);
• Sigiriya (65-115 dollars, together with Dambulla - up to 240);
• Cave temples of Dambulla (160-240);
• Kosgoda Turtle Farm (150-215);
• Royal Botanic Gardens (130-200);
• Fort Galle (55-115);
• Spice Gardens (90-130 "green");
• Elephant nursery (30 bucks);
• Sinharaja Rainforest (140-195 Washington Tugriks)
• Adam's Peak (225-270);
• Tea plantations (60-200).

In any resort town you can book a whale watching tour. Pleasure will cost 60-100 dollars, and you will be taken to a protected area near Tangalle. Many interesting excursions depart from Hikkaduwa and Negombo. Here is a list of options and prices:

Summarize. There are a lot of sights in Sri Lanka, but if you want to arrange an independent tour for yourself, you should think about renting a car.

It is convenient to join excursions, but there is a downside - you will overpay. Worst of all, the situation is in Negombo - excursion prices there are thoroughly overpriced. Have a nice trip!

Sri Lanka is one of the most ancient countries in the world. Somewhere in these parts, according to legend, Adam and Eve descended to Earth, many ancient authors even correlated the location of the Garden of Eden itself with Taproban or Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was called until 1972). On this amazing island there are many historical values ​​protected by UNESCO, as well as a large number of places associated with the name of the Buddha. Hundreds of kilometers of beaches and a unique underwater world put Sri Lanka among the world's largest seaside resorts.

Founded by Arab traders, today it has become one of the major port cities of the Indian Ocean.

The main attraction of the country is undoubtedly the Kandy Valley, surrounded by mountains, 116 km from Colombo, the last stronghold of Sri Lankan statehood before the capture of the country by European colonialists. Situated among the hills, the city, which was the capital of Sri Lanka until 1815, is still considered the cultural and religious center of the country.

V Peradeniya(a suburb of Kandy) is Asia's largest Royal Botanical Garden (founded in 1821) with an area of ​​67 hectares, with one of the richest collections in the world - there are more than 45 thousand species of plants from the tropical and equatorial belts of the planet, including many exotic plants and even historical trees (for example, the ficus of King Edward VII, the iron tree of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the spruce planted by Y. Gagarin). The garden is divided into several zones, among which the most interesting are the Orchid Zone (more than a thousand species, a special pass is required to access the collection of wild orchids), the Houseplant Zone (more than 750 species), the Palm Grove (about 200 species of palm trees), etc.

In the town Pinnawala(27 km from Kandy) is the Pinnawala State Elephant Nursery (founded in 1975), where elephants left without parents are brought. Here they are taught everything necessary in terms of Sri Lankan skills (and, of course, shown to tourists), and then some of them are sent to zoos around the world, while others work in Ceylon. Elephants occupy an important place in the life of the country, as they perform a huge range of chores in many areas of life - they fell wood, transport goods and tourists, participate in all religious ceremonies and traditional performances, so it is not surprising that the Sri Lankans show such respect for these animals. .

V Aluvihara there is a temple-cave complex, in which, according to legend, the Pali canon (Tripitaka) was created - one of the written monuments of Buddhism.

Not only the ancient capital of the country, but also the holy city. To the east lies a hill - a sacred place for the Buddhists of Sri Lanka.

Another majestic monument of the past. 12 km southwest of Sigiriya is a complex of cave temples, the oldest of which dates back to the 1st century BC. BC e.

It is interesting to visit the remains of the old fort in Trincomalee, one of the centers of trade in the Middle Ages, also known for its Swami Rock cliff and picturesque surroundings with dozens of bays.

At 180 km from the capital, at an altitude of 2 thousand meters above sea level, there is a mountain resort - the edge of a wonderful climate and the "tea capital of the country", which has long been titled one of the best resorts in Asia.

The country is famous for its beautiful beaches that stretch for hundreds of kilometers along the coast of the island. On their basis, many beautiful resorts were built, as well as independent hotel complexes - Ahungala, Beruwela, Bentota, Vaduvva, Galle, Induruva, Kandalama, Kalkudah, Kalutara, Kogalla, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, Hikkaduwa, etc.

What to see in Sri Lanka? We have collected in one article the best sights of Sri Lanka that you must visit while relaxing on the island: photo, video and description, as well as a map with their location.

Guided tours or independent visits?

Most of the sights of the island of Sri Lanka can be seen both as part of an excursion and on your own.

If you have time, it is more convenient to rent a car and travel around all the interesting places in Sri Lanka on your own. If you came to rest on a tour for 5-14 days, you will have to choose only a few of their available places, since it is impossible to visit them all in a short time.

How to find cheap flights? They are easy to find through the Aviasales search engine. It is best to look for tickets in advance and consider different departure dates.

What to visit in Sri Lanka: TOP 10 interesting places

Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura - the first capital of ancient Ceylon, is located 200 km northeast of Colombo. You can get from the capital by bus, which is on the way for 6 hours. There is a railway connection between the cities, the train takes 5 hours.

All attractions are concentrated in the old city of Anuradhapura. Entrance to tourists is paid everywhere, but you can buy a single ticket for 3,700 rupees. The ticket allows you to visit the Abhayagiri complex.

All monuments can be viewed in two days. Due to the heat, it is recommended to view the sights from some kind of transport: a bus or a rental car. A parking space costs about 25 rupees.

The Bodhi tree, sacred to Buddhists, is worth a visit. This ancient ficus grew from a shoot taken from the tree under which the Buddha became enlightened. Therefore, the Bodhi tree is the most sacred and most ancient in Sri Lanka.

Inspection of the sacred tree will cost the tourist 200 rupees.

Video about the sights of the city of Anuradhapura:

What can be seen nearby:

• The Bronze Palace is located 50 meters from the Bodhi tree. It was built before our era and lost its original appearance. It is forbidden to enter the palace grounds.
• You can visit the largest brick stupa, Jetavana, for free. This large building was erected in the third century AD. It is located 300 m from the tree.
• At a distance of one kilometer from Bodhi is the Isurumuniya Palace, carved into the rock. It was built before our era. Entrance is paid and costs 200 rupees.
• You can visit the stupas of Ruvanvelisia and Mirisaveti for free. Both structures are located 200 meters from the tree.
• In the northern part of the city is the Abhayagiri complex. On its territory is the second highest stupa of the city of Anuradhapura, there are statues of Buddha, a museum, a pond and two lakes.
• You can visit the caves of Vessagiriya, the royal palace of King Vijayabahu and artificial reservoirs for free.
• A visit to the Museum of Folk Art will cost 300 rupees.

Gal Viharaya in Polonnaruwa

Monuments in Polonnaruwa are available not only for viewing with group tours, but they can be visited independently and explored in 2 days.

In Polonnaruwa, you should definitely see the Temple in the Rock or Gal Viharaya with its huge Buddha statues. This temple has no analogues and is located on the territory of a huge Archaeological Park. Entrance to the park is paid, the ticket price is 3250 rupees.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Polonnaruwa Museum. The territory of the park is huge, and it is recommended to move around it by car, motorcycle or bicycle.

On the territory of the park there are several temples and monasteries, a stupa, a complex of the royal palace. There are also artificial reservoirs and stupas.

Photo and description: Gal Viharaya © vasse nicolas,antoine / flickr.com

How to get there:

• Polonnaruwa is located 200 km east of Colombo. It is very inexpensive and convenient to travel to Polonnaruwa by train. There are two flights: one train leaves early in the morning and arrives at noon. The second departs at 7pm and arrives in Polonnaruwa at midnight. The ticket costs from 185 to 600 rupees.
• The second option is bus service. Due to the heat, it is better to leave on the earliest possible flight. The duration of the trip from Colombo to Polonnaruwa is 6 hours, and the ticket costs 160 rupees.

Attractions of Sri Lanka nearby:

• Hindu complex Naipen Vihara;
• Palace of King Nissankamalla;
• The ruins of the library and the statue of King Parakramabahu, 2.5 kilometers from the park;
• Near the ruins of the library, you can see the Parakrama Sea - this is a lake created by order of the king.

Sigiriya

One of the most famous sights of Sri Lanka according to TripAdvisor is Sigiriya (Lion Mountain). This is a 370 m high rock with a complex of cultural monuments inside and on top. It is the object of many tourist routes and is protected by UNESCO.

Tickets to visit cost 3900 rupees. The price includes a visit to the museum, where they will tell the history of all the buildings.

Panorama overlooking the Lion Rock:

How to get there:

• You can get there by buses No. 48 and 49 from the Pettah bus station in Colombo to the Inamaluwa stop. There you need to transfer to bus No. 490/1, following the route Dambulla - Sigiriya. The total travel time will be 6 hours.
• From Colombo, buses towards Lion Mountain leave every 30 minutes.

What you can see near Sigiriya:

• Pidrunagala cave temple, located 1.5 km north of Sigiriya, entrance tickets cost 200 rupees;
• Dambula city and cave temple;
• City of Polonarawa with landmarks.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy

Kandy is the second most populated city, located literally in the center of Sri Lanka.

The city is famous for its Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is the main Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. It is located on the shore of a man-made lake. The temple itself has retained its original architecture, which can be seen from the outside and inside. Entrance to the temple is paid - 1500 rupees.

How to get there:

• To get to Kandy from Colombo, you need to drive 120 km, moving directly to the east by bus No1, departing from the Pettah bus station. Travel time will be 4 hours.
• Even faster you can get from Colombo to Kandy by train, in just 2.5 hours.

In addition to this Buddhist shrine in Kandy, there are other attractions worth seeing:

• The largest botanical garden in Asia is located 12 kilometers from the city.
• Elephant nursery, where they bring up little elephants left without mothers.
• A stone's throw from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth is the National Museum of Kandy. It occupies part of the royal palace, and the royal regalia and other historical artifacts are kept there. The ticket price is 500 rupees. Here, on the territory of the palace, is the International Museum of Buddhism. Entrance to the museum costs 500 rupees.
• There are four Hindu temples not far from the Temple of the Tooth Relic. There are Hindu temples outside of Kandy.
• Within the city there is an amazing reserve Udawattakele - the forbidden forest, a piece of the wild nature of Sri Lanka. It must be visited to understand what the real nature of the island looks like.

Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu Park is located 180 km north of Colombo and 30 km west of Anuradhapura. Within its borders there are six dozen lakes. In terms of size, Wilpattu Park is the largest in the world. It is also the oldest park in the world.

In order to see more attractions in the park, it is worth renting a car. Entrance costs 2300 rupees.

There is a huge number of local and arriving birds. There is a Bengal monitor lizard, a large and active predator. You can also see local swamp crocodiles reaching 4 meters in length.

The park is home to deer and monkeys, as well as elephants and leopards.

How to get there:

• From Colombo and other cities you can come here by bus. The driver must be warned in advance to stop at Wilpattu Park.

What to see nearby:

• Sights of the city of Anuradhapura;
• Temple of Mihintale.

Golden Temple in Dambulla

The Golden Temple is located in the small town of Dambulla and is part of a whole temple complex, consisting of six temples and caves. The city is located near the rock of Sigiriya. You can see everything in 1 day.

The complex was built in the first century BC. In the twelfth century, more than 70 gilded Buddha statues were installed here.

Very close to the Golden Temple is the Buddhist Museum. There are also ticket offices where you can buy tickets to the temple, which costs about 1,500 rupees.

There are many paintings on the theme of the earthly life of the Buddha, as well as water that does not obey gravity and flows upwards.

Panorama from the mountainside where the temple is located:

How to get there:

• You can get to Dambula from almost any city by bus. They arrive at the city station, from where you can walk to the temple in 20 minutes or take a tuk-tuk for 100 rupees.

Attractions of Sri Lanka nearby:

• If you move away from the temple at 100 m, you can see the Museum of Buddhism. Here is a collection of samples of painting on the rocks. A ticket there costs 250 rupees.
• You can visit the Somavati Stupa for free. It is located at the foot of a small mountain on which the complex is located.
• It will be interesting for tourists to visit the Dambula market, which is located near the bus station.

Sinharaja unique park

In Sinharaja Park, you can see what the rainforests of Sri Lanka looked like. In a small area of ​​the park there are rare plants and animals. The last wild elephants of Sri Lanka, leopards, monkeys, three species of endemic deer, reptiles and many insects are still found here.

The tour to the park is a walking tour. The flora of the rainforest is very well represented here. Many plants are now found only in this park. It is not uncommon to meet a tree 50 meters high. There are beautiful waterfalls

Entrance to the park is paid and costs 500 rupees. If it was not possible to arrive early, then you can stay overnight in a special camp, which is available at each entrance, in order to go on an excursion in the morning. A four-hour guided tour will cost 1,600 rupees, an eight-hour tour will cost 3,200 rupees.

How to get there:

• From Colombo, you can get to Sinharaja Park by bus. The forest is located very close to the city of Galle.

The nearest attractions are located in the city of Unawatuna:

• Japanese pagoda, admission is free;
• Unawatuna Temple, admission is also free;
• Yatagala temple near Unawatuna;
• Turtle Farm, entrance - 400 rupees.

Adam's Peak

One of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka is Adam's Peak. This is a mountain with a height of 2243 m, to the top of which you can climb as part of an excursion.

At the top is a depression resembling the imprint of a giant foot. This is the "sacred footprint" of the Buddha. For followers of Hinduism, this is the footprint of the supreme deity Shiva. And Christians consider this imprint to be the trace of the Apostle Thomas. A temple was built over the trail.

To climb to the temple, you need to overcome more than 5 thousand steps. The length of the stairs is 8 km. Every 150 meters there are platforms on the stairs where you can relax, buy water and food.

Many begin their ascent at night to reach the summit by dawn. The stairs are well lit. It is always windy and cold at the top of the peak, and you need to take warm clothes with you.

The ascent lasts depending on 3 to 5 hours, and the descent takes no more than an hour and a half. Entrance to the stairs for lifting is free.

How to get there:

• You can get to Adam's Peak from Colombo by bus departing from the Pettah bus station, next to Hatton. You can also come here by train.

What to visit in Sri Lanka nearby:

• Badulla city and sights;
• Sinharaja rainforest;
• Elephant orphanage in Pinavella.

Ratnapura

At the foot of Adam's peak is the city of Ratnapura. From Colombo you can come here by bus or train. The length of the path is 100 km.

This is the center for the extraction of Sri Lankan gems. The largest sapphires in the world are found here. There are no modern high-rise buildings and entertainment facilities in the city. Strange huts are visible everywhere, which close the entrances to the places of extraction of gems.

Tourists who come here on a tour will see how they are mined. The most daring can go down inside, underground and inspect the structure of the mines.

The work of gem miners is very primitive. The rock is mined with a pickaxe and a shovel and then washed in a local river. Sediment from larger fractions is sorted manually. The tour will continue at the factory for the processing of mined jewelry.

What to see in Ratnapura:

• There is a state museum in Ratnapura, where there are collections of jewelry made from local precious stones, tools of the most primitive tribe of Sri Lanka - the Veddas, the remains of prehistoric animals.
• Near the city there is a very revered Maha Saman Deval temple.
• Local market, which is located right in the city center. For the sake of this market, many people visit Ratnapura. Here you can buy gemstones very cheaply.

Botanical Garden of Peradeniya

The Sri Lanka Botanical Garden is one of the best in the world.

The largest river in Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli, flows through the park. Here it forms a loop. The park was created on the site of the ancient royal gardens, which were laid out in the 13th century.

There are collections of heat-loving coniferous, ebonite trees, palms, bamboos, ficuses, ferns. The main asset of the park is a collection of decorative and specific orchids.

There are corners dedicated to the design of gardens and parks. This is a suspension bridge, a Japanese garden, a flower garden, alleys of various palm trees, a spice garden, and a private waterfall.

The garden has name trees planted by famous people from all over the world. Including there are trees planted by Nicholas II and Yuri Gagarin.

Entrance to the garden is paid. The entrance fee is 1500 rupees.

How to get there:

• From Colombo you can take a bus to Kandy. In Kandy, you need to take buses No. 644 and No. 652 and get to the stop, which is called “Botanicgarden”.

What sights can be seen nearby:

• Temple of the Tooth Relic;
• Sigiriya;
• Royal Palace of Kandy;
• Dambula.

Hikkaduwa

Sri Lanka has beautiful beaches with clear ocean water. Hikkaduwa is a resort located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, about 100 km from Colombo. If you go from Bandaranaike Airport, then a taxi will cost about 9 thousand rupees.

The beaches here are large with a wide strip of excellent clean sand. There are beaches open to all winds with a real ocean wave, and there are closed beaches where the excitement is not felt at all.

There is also a coral reef here. It was badly damaged by the 2004 tsunami waves. You can see sea turtles and a variety of fish swimming in shallow water.

Hikkaduwa Coral Garden is one of the most popular attractions in Sri Lanka.

What else to see in Hikkaduwa:

• National park;
• Mines of precious stones;
• Monument to the victims of the tsunami;
• Mask Museum 10 kilometers from Hikaduwa.

Attractions of Sri Lanka on the map

On the map below you will find the location of all the attractions of Sri Lanka in Russian.

To display only the points of interest on the map, click on the menu icon in the upper left corner and uncheck all categories except "points of interest".

Paradise, blessed land, the world of Buddhism, fragrant Ceylon tea and various spices - this is how the island of Sri Lanka appears to its guests. Despite the fact that this amazing island has a very tiny size, a whole scattering of miracles is concentrated here - these are the most diverse sights of Sri Lanka, on the basis of which your first acquaintance with this country will take place. Despite the fact that Sri Lanka, being an island nation, is famous for its beautiful beaches, there is something to see in Sri Lanka and beyond them. Everyone will find something interesting for themselves - both lovers of culture, art, nature, and fans of outdoor activities.

What to see in Sri Lanka first of all

It is rather difficult to list all the famous sights of the country, and choosing what to see in Sri Lanka in 1 day is not an easy task at all. For this purpose, a rating of the most interesting sights with a brief description was compiled, which will be discussed later.

1. Golden Temple Dambulla

The cave temple of Dambulla, carved directly into a high 300-meter rock, includes 5 caves connected to each other. In the main of the caves lies a large statue of the Buddha, as well as several other statues. In another room, you can observe an unusual phenomenon: water from a cave source flows upwards along the walls of the cave, refuting all the laws of physics. The cave pagoda is more than 2,000 years old, and its numerous statues are part of one of the greatest collections of Buddha sculptures.

2. Sigiriya

In the central part of the island of Sri Lanka there is an important attraction that has become the hallmark of the country. This is Sigiriya, or "Lion Rock", located on the site of a volcano that fell asleep millions of years ago. The frozen lava formed a plateau where an ancient castle was erected in the first centuries of our era. The ruins of this fortress have survived to this day, but even from the ruins one can judge the former grandeur of the structure. The entrance to the castle was once carved in the shape of a huge lion, but today only its paws can be seen - this is all that remains of the stone giant.

3. Adam's Peak

Among all the excursions in Sri Lanka, climbing the sacred mountain - Adam's Peak is especially popular. This place of worship, located at an altitude of 2.2 kilometers, has become a reason for the pilgrimage of representatives of four religions, including Christianity. On the first steps, the participants of the ascent are greeted by a Buddha statue, and then travelers will have a difficult path - about 6 thousand steps, which take about 4 hours to climb. The path, which begins closer to night, ends with a bewitching dawn, and at the top, visitors have the opportunity to see the footprint, which, according to legend, was left by the enlightened Buddha himself.

4. Kumana National Park

In the southeastern region of Sri Lanka there is a national park, which is famous for the variety of feathered inhabitants inhabiting it - about 250 different species in total, among which are different types of inhabitants of swamps, lakes and ponds, as well as land inhabitants. In addition to birds, there are many reptiles, as well as mammals, the largest of which is the Sri Lankan elephant. Extensive water and wetlands are surrounded by a drier zone of tropical forests. Those who wish can stay in the park for a few days - for this purpose there is a campsite in the park.

5. Kandy Valley

Reviews of connoisseurs of natural beauty indicate that one of the bewitching beauty places of Sri Lanka is located a hundred kilometers from the capital city of Colombo. We are talking about the beautiful Kandy Valley, in which the ancient city of the same name is located, which was once the legendary capital of the island kingdom. In its center is an artificial lake, and in the middle of it, an ancient palace rises on an island. Hiking is a convenient way to discover the original culture and natural beauty of Kandy, especially since there are many educational trekking routes in the vicinity.

Check out the beautiful views of Sri Lanka in this breathtaking video!

6. Yala National Park

The special pride of the inhabitants of Sri Lanka is the natural reserves, among which the Yala National Park has become a pearl. Among the 12 other reserves, Yala is considered the oldest, the second largest on the island. The territory of the park is a flat landscape, mostly dry soils with small oases. Only its western part is accessible to visitors, while the eastern part is reserved for the work of natural scientists. In total, the park is inhabited by more than 2 hundred species of birds and 44 species of mammals, among which the largest is the Ceylon elephant.

7. Port of Colombo

Continuing the journey, it is worth paying attention to the city of Colombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka. It is the most populous city on the island and is best known for its seaport, the largest and oldest in all of South Asia. Just think - Colombo became a trading port more than 2 millennia ago, and to this day it is the busiest on the island. 24 hours a day, without any breaks, the port does not stop its work. Such a high responsibility in work is also explained by the fact that Colombo also serves as a naval base in Sri Lanka.

8. St. Clair's Falls

Choosing what to visit in Sri Lanka from natural beauties, it is impossible to pass by one of the treasures of the island - St. Clair Falls. Until some time, St. Clair was the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka, but with the opening of the hydroelectric project, the volume of water has noticeably decreased in it. But despite this, the width of the falling cascade is impressive and is about 50 meters. Flowing through picturesque tea plantations, St. Clair is divided into two segments - large and small. Going down from the main tourist road to the plantation, you can find a bewitching view of the falling water stream.

9. Temple of the Tooth Relic

One of the most important relics of the island is the tooth of the Buddha, kept in the city of Kandy, in the temple of the same name. This relic was brought to the island from India in the 4th century AD, and to this day miraculous properties are attributed to it. Detractors, having learned about the amazing properties of the shrine, repeatedly tried to destroy the tooth, and with it the Buddhist faith. But none of these plans was ever realized, the tooth remained intact. The temple itself rises on the shore of a beautiful lake, has a rich decoration, and every day several times a day a demonstration of the sacred tooth is held here for the faithful parishioners.

10 World Trade Center Colombo

The largest and most developed city in Sri Lanka, Colombo, offers great opportunities for purchasing quality products - souvenirs, food, textiles and other groups of goods at minimal prices. And it is not surprising that the World Trade Center is located in Colombo. This is the tallest building on the island, its height exceeds one and a half hundred meters, and its execution meets the highest international standards. The complex consists of 2 high-rise buildings and a connecting block, it houses shopping centers, offices, upscale Sri Lankan hotels and many restaurants.

11. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

The turbulent political situation and many years of internecine war in Sri Lanka also affected nature - war and famine contributed to the reduction of the elephant population. Caring people took on the mission to save these large mammals, and in 1975 the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was founded. Elephants, left without mothers, and adults, crippled by explosions and injured by poachers, got here. The elephant orphanage today has become one of the best attractions in Sri Lanka, where visitors willingly come to see the elephant care procedure and even participate in this process.

12. Pinnawala Zoo

If you happened to be in the town of Pinnawala, then you will definitely find where to go in Sri Lanka , besides the elephant nursery. Indeed, quite recently, in 2015, a zoo with open enclosures appeared here. Due to the proximity of the well-known elephant orphanage, this attraction quickly gained popularity. Despite the fact that living conditions are created for animals that are close to natural, and they are allowed to roam almost freely over a spacious area of ​​​​several hectares, all areas of the zoo are equipped with strict safety standards.

13. Royal Botanical Garden in Paradeniya

The most lush and spacious botanical garden in Sri Lanka - Peradeniya - appeared in the distant 18th century. Its territory of 60 hectares is replete with a wide variety of exotic plants, in total there are more than 4 thousand species. Trees, shrubs, flowers are marked with introductory signs, and at the entrance there is a bright guide map, by which you can find out the location of the gardens and other necessary information. Walking in Peradeniya is an opportunity to walk through the heavenly fragrant land, getting acquainted with different cultures and eras of gardening.

14. Nuwara Eliya Tea Plantations

Once upon a time, a wild tropical forest grew on the site of Nuwara Eliya plantations. Later, having found out that in these parts there are extremely favorable conditions for growing tea, the English colonialists brought the first tea bushes here. For centuries, the traditional technology of growing, collecting and processing high-quality tea has been sacredly observed here. Guides from Sri Lanka will take you to the best plantations of Nuwara Eliya, take you to a tea factory, where you can see with your own eyes the step-by-step process of making tea. In addition, here you can visit a museum where you can get acquainted with various tea varieties, or a shop where you can buy any of the presented varieties.

15. Victoria Dam

In 1978, the construction of the highest dam in Sri Lanka began on the Mahaweli River, the main tasks of which were to supply the region with water and generate hydroelectric power. After 7 years, the grandiose construction was completed, and the 122-meter Victoria Dam contributed to the formation of a large reservoir. You can see the incredible, impressive water discharge from the top of the dam: the automatic system regularly opens the locks at the moment the waters of the reservoir reach the upper allowable threshold, and then the dam turns into an incredible artificial waterfall.

16. Ravana Waterfall

One of the popular tourist destinations is excursions in Sri Lanka to numerous waterfalls, and the best time to visit them is the monsoon period, when they become the most full-flowing. Despite the wide variety of waterfalls on the island, reaching a height of 270 meters, tourists fell in love with the relatively small 40-meter Ravana waterfall. The thing is that this picturesque attraction has its own interesting legend, according to which, a pot filled with gold is stored right under the water cascade, and on certain days, when the water recedes a little, this vessel comes to the surface.

17. Bentota Beaches

The coastal city of Bentota is located in the Southern Province of the island, 65 kilometers from Colombo. Any tourist who comes here will appreciate the main advantage of this place.

Its clean sandy beaches with high-end and mid-range hotels located right by the sea. It is worth emphasizing the convenient geographical position of Bentota - a small distance from the modern metropolis of Colombo allows, without delving too far into the wilds of pristine nature, to enjoy a paradise vacation on the sea coast, but at the same time there is always the opportunity to comfortably get to the nearest civilization.

Sights of Sri Lanka: what else to visit in Sri Lanka

The main attractions of Sri Lanka were briefly listed above, but of course, this is not all - those who wish to continue their acquaintance with these lands can endlessly find more and more interesting places .

18. Negombo Beach

At the mouth of the Negombo lagoon is the beach of the same name, the main one on the west coast of the island. It is also a popular resort, which is often used as an intermediate point for trips around the island. This is explained by a very convenient location - the airport is within easy reach from here, only some 7 kilometers. Hotels along the beach offer different levels of services to suit all budgets, making this place accessible to any traveler. Of the entertainment, various water sports are very popular and, of course, diving among the well-preserved coral reefs. Local restaurants offer delicious dishes made from the freshest seafood.

19. Dutch fort in Galle

Vacationers on the southern beaches of Sri Lanka are advised to visit the world-famous historical landmark of the island - Galle Fort, the largest fortification in Asia. Initially, the fortress was built by the Portuguese at the end of the 16th century, but with the arrival of the Dutch it was almost completely rebuilt, and since then for 2 centuries it has served as the main port of Sri Lanka. Today it is a whole tourist area of ​​the city of Galle, where there are many shops, restaurants, offices and a market. But despite this, a calm atmosphere always reigns here, conducive to a quiet unhurried walk.

20. Holy City of Anuradhapura

A very significant attraction in the world of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is the city of Anuradhapura, once the former capital of the ancient Sinhalese state. The holy city has experienced a lot in its lifetime - both prosperity and plunder by the invaders. And only in 1980 began the restoration of its ancient ruins. Buddhist pilgrims to Anuradhapura are attracted by the ancient cave temple of Isurumuniya, built in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. Numerous tourists who do not profess Buddhism also find a lot of interesting places for themselves: these are numerous ancient monuments - statues, sanctuaries-stupas, palaces, artificial reservoirs that have become part of the glorious history of the city.

21. Mountain park Mihintale

Just a dozen kilometers from Anuradhapura there is another historical place - the Mihintale mountain range, where a lot of ancient Buddhist buildings are concentrated - more precisely, what remains of them today. Having overcome about 2 thousand steps, you can see many structures that were once part of a large monastic complex: several stupas, a statue of Buddha, a hall of alms and a hall of relics, caves, museums and monasteries. A walk through the sacred places of Mihintale invariably conveys the atmosphere of peace and grandeur that these monuments carried through the millennia.

22. Polonnaruwa Ancient City

Another historical place that will be affected by the recommendations of this rating is located two hundred kilometers from Colombo. This is the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, the city of Polonnaruwa, the first settlements of which began to form as early as the 2nd century BC. The main monument of Polonnaruwa is the Gal Vihara temple with 4 giant Buddha statues carved out of the rock. In the ancient Palace of Pakakrambahu, the royal residence was located: three-story ruins are all that remains of it today. Among the several stupas located here, the Rankotvihara Dagoba stands out - the highest in Polonnaruwa and the fourth largest on the island.

We have given in this article the main attractions of Sri Lanka with photos with names and descriptions: each of the places mentioned will add something new to your experience and become a guide to this amazing land of extraordinary nature, multifaceted culture, ancient relics and bright exotics.

Sri Lanka is a distant country on a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean. Of course, she is better known to us by her tea name Ceylon. But now this mysterious island has received its ancient and sacred name and invites you to visit. What to expect from Sri Lanka? It contains a wide variety of attractions. These are ancient cities and heavenly beaches, these are tea plantations and picturesque mountains, lush vegetation, spicy food and unprecedented shopping! And all this is placed on one island, about the impression of visiting which we will now tell you.

Despite its tiny size, the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka has a plethora of attractions ranging from cultural and historical sites to culinary and exotic wonders. In terms of the brightness of impressions and a mixture of different events and interesting places, Sri Lanka is somewhat reminiscent of.

We flew to Ceylon in April and decided to dedicate two weeks to it. We had a small plan for our independent trip to Sri Lanka, compiled in the form of an approximate route. We started our acquaintance with the country from the cultural triangle, and then we planned to go towards the famous beaches of Sri Lanka. Due to the fact that our plans were slightly adjusted during the trip, the original route also changed. But our impressions were very vivid.

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The best sights of Sri Lanka

I decided to highlight the five best, in my opinion, the sights of Sri Lanka.

1. - a town in Sri Lanka in the province of Uva. Tiny and small, but by its cuteness and tranquility instantly won our hearts. And now, if we say that we should go to Sri Lanka again, we mostly mean to return to Ella. This city is the absolute champion in this ranking, the main attraction, that's for sure.

Mount Ella (Ella Rock)

Why is Ella so good? If you like to sit with a cup of tea, looking at the surrounding green hills and slowly strolling from one restaurant to another along the only street, then you are here. If you like walking in the hills behind not the most outstanding, but for some reason attractive sights, then the city of Ella is waiting for you too. And of course, if you not only love tea, but are also interested in how it grows, then welcome to the surrounding tea plantations!

A leisurely lifestyle is what attracts Ella. That is why you so want to come back here, rent a house and live, working on projects and walking along the tangled mountain paths. The result was an idealistic image, but such Ella remained in our memories of Sri Lanka.

On the way to Adam's Peak in Ella, Sri Lanka

2. is the main sacred place for the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. It was here that the procession of Buddhism began on the island. Here are the first stupas and hidden sacred caves, which are arranged in such a magical way that fresh air always enters there. Huge boulders are cut in such a way that an analogy with Peru and Bolivia and their unknown technologies that were used in the construction of the megalithic masonry immediately comes to mind. This sacred historical landmark of the island, a place of power and a witness to the times.

Mihitnale

In Mihintal you immediately understand the difference and see two temporary layers. Once upon a time, there was an ancient civilization on the island, comparable in power to those that left their mark in South America. And then another came in its place, she built from simple bricks, but she understood that it was necessary to imitate the first buildings. And of course, among other things, there is something light and pleasant here.

It happens that in the places of an ancient civilization, the dark energy of those who no longer understood the meaning of buildings and sacrificed innocent people hovers. In Mihintal in Sri Lanka, this is not the case. Here lotuses really bloom and their pure fragrance spreads. Perhaps this influence of Buddhism defeated the dark energy, or perhaps it was never here. In any case, for us, Mihintale has become the place where the state of peace comes to the fore.

Two ways of building in Mihintale, Sri Lanka. The sandstone foundation was built by an unknown person, the brick dagoba was created by the Sinhalese

3. The mountain is one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka. And we, too, fell victim to its unusualness and attractiveness. The most hyped feature of Sigiriya is the murals depicting apsaras, celestial dancers. But it seemed to us that even without frescoes, Mount Sigiriya and the palace of Kasapa, the rebellious king, are so interesting that they are still remembered. And his stone throne, carved directly from the rock, surprised us no less than anything else and remained in our memory forever.

Staircase to Sigiriya

Of course, it is much more interesting for us to look at the megalithic masonry, which is rich in the palace on top of the mountain. And we were again convinced of the multi-layered historical pie of Sri Lanka.

And the climb to Sigiriya will appeal to those who love outdoor activities and hiking tracks. Let it be just one mountain, steps are not convenient everywhere, but climbing up is good for health and eyes, which open up green views of Sri Lankan fields and hills.

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And this is another miracle - the throne of Kasapa. Carved from a single rock on top of a mountain. Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.

4. - an ancient city on the shores of the artificial lake Minneriya in Sri Lanka. The city is very large and beautiful, rich in sights. His buildings are amazing, especially the book in stone in the ancient Pali language. Closer to the lake there is a small temple with a stone lion. Of all the cities in the cultural triangle, Polonnaruwa seemed to us the prettiest and most interesting to explore.

5. . It's strange to describe a waterfall. You can, of course, indicate its height to give an idea of ​​the size of the waterfall. But is it worth it? A beautiful powerful stream in the morning rays of the sun - why not an attraction of the island of Sri Lanka? We really liked the trail to the waterfall, Dunhinda himself seemed charming, and he really brightened up our impression of the city of Badulla, which we didn’t like at all and closes the rating of our impressions of wandering around Sri Lanka.

Dunhinda waterfall near Badulla city, Sri Lanka

Delicious theme in Sri Lanka and shopping

As we traveled on buses around the island of Ceylon, we constantly encountered loud sellers of everything in the world. We noticed that wadis were most often offered. As we found out, wadi are spicy lentil pies. Taking a risk, we decided to give it a try. How delicious it was! Since then, as soon as we heard the cheerful "wadi-wadi-wadi", we immediately bought ourselves a whole package and enjoyed it!

I also want to say a few words about shopping in Sri Lanka. Our trips to the markets and shops were very successful. First, we visited the famous market of world brands in Nuwara Eliya, where we bought a great Burton jacket - high quality, beautiful and comfortable. There we bought delicious tea, which we still drink to this day. We also visited several tea factories in Ella, where we also bought tea. Undoubtedly, the tea theme is the main one in Sri Lanka, and it can also be distinguished as a landmark of the island.

In a cafe in Sri Lanka

We purchased durable trekking sandals from Kandy stores, which lasted us for quite a long time. And we love to walk! And in the capital, in Colombo, we visited the House of Fashion shopping center. And again, with surprise, we can say that the clothes bought in Sri Lanka lasted a very long time.

We are very happy shopping in Sri Lanka!

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In one of the local restaurants

Worst experience in Sri Lanka - what we didn't like

The center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the city is very popular and important for all the religious people of the country. However, I personally found it to be very inconspicuous. Of course, it makes no sense to assume that a cave can be a beautiful place (although in Thailand, Laos and in the USA we have seen beautiful caves, religious and not so). And since we ourselves did not appreciate the holiness of the place, the impression turned out to be very average.

- turned out to be an error in the route. It is not at all clear why I decided that this is a pretty town. But Badulla is not pretty. At all. This is a typical Sri Lankan town - dirty, noisy. There is nothing special in the city itself, there are no special sights either. But there is a Dunhinda waterfall not far from the city, and after a trip to nature, I resigned myself to the fact that we spent some time in Badulla. Although when we took the train towards Ella, I was very happy!

Other than a good view of the sky, there is not much to do in Badulla

Negombo (Negombo) was our first city we visited in Sri Lanka. Immediately after arrival, we arrived in Negombo and began to look for a hotel in complete darkness. We were tired, it was dark, and we were brought to some obscenely dirty hotel (as is usually the case with a friend of a tuker), and we no longer had the strength to look for something else. And we stayed there, and, as it turned out later, overpaid. But honestly, it was the worst hotel in my life! Probably, even in Bolivia, during a tour of the Uyuni salt marsh, we stopped in a more decent place.

We thought that if we went to the ocean, the experience would improve, but no, Negombo did not get better. We don't even have pictures! Although, of course, we ourselves were to blame for everything. I should have been better prepared for the trip.

There is another reason to be dissatisfied with Sri Lanka. When we arrived in Anuradhapura, we immediately fell into the clutches of the driver Akila. He promised to take us for two days through the cultural triangle for the agreed amount and leave us in Kandy. We agreed, deciding that it would be easier if we had our own, and we ourselves would manage the time.

However, Akila revised his obligations during our trip and tried to earn extra money from us. When we realized this, we decided to replay it. And they played it. I wrote about it in detail in . Akila turned out to be a dishonest man, which even his compatriot admitted. Therefore, we want to warn other travelers about it. No matter how hard he tried, Akila did not spoil our mood and mood, and now we only remember him with a smile. But he, of course, believes that the Russians are just terrible people, did not fall into his traps! Oh no no no!

Yes, we really want to return to Sri Lanka. As I said, we all dream of living in Ella for a month or two. I would like to once again ride through the cultural triangle, either on our own buses, or with a more sane driver. See other interesting places and attractions that we did not have time during our first trip to Ceylon. And of course, relax on the best beaches in Sri Lanka!

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• We visited the Small Adam's Peak in Ella, but we did not climb the real Adam's Peak (Sri Pada). And I would like to climb on my next visit to the Emerald Isle.
• And instead of or together with Sigiriya, we want to visit the nearby temple of Pidurangala, which, as they say, is also interesting from a historical point of view, although not as famous as the Lion Mountain.
• We also skipped the port city of Galle and the beaches of Sri Lanka last time, choosing instead to vacation in the Maldives. The only thing left to do is to find a specific place on the island where you would like to lie in the sun and swim in the ocean.
• There is also a very vague desire to go to the Yala reserve. I still don't have an opinion - should I go on a safari in Sri Lanka, or leave a safari for Africa - in Tanzania, Kenya or Namibia.

As you can see, despite its size, the island of Sri Lanka is a country of great beauty, diverse in sights and rich in impressions.

How to go to Sri Lanka - tours, tickets and hotels

We always plan our trips in advance and try to find plane tickets at a bargain price. You can see the cheapest flights to Sri Lanka, find out the cost of hotels or choose a tour online yourself:

• Find cheap flights to Sri Lanka at Aviasales →
• Book hotels in Sri Lanka on Booking →
• Choose a ready-made tour to Sri Lanka on the site