Whether you're looking to relax or explore, Sri Lanka has many gorgeous places to offer. You'll find beautiful beaches, enchanting cave temples, and ancient cities, so you're sure to find something to please every traveler's taste.
Adam's Peak
Visiting Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka is an extraordinary experience. Not only is it a scenic place, but it's also one of the most sacred places in Sri Lanka. It's a pilgrimage site that's visited by thousands of people every year. The area is also home to leopards and elephants. The mountain is also home to a large number of endemic plants.
There are two main ways to reach Adam's Peak. The most popular route is through Nallathanni village. It takes about an hour to reach this town. You can also take the bus from Ella. The train station in Hatton is also within easy reach.
Adam's Peak has a unique conical shape and steep summit. The peak is covered with thickly vegetated hills all the way to the top. Several ancient monuments are also located at the summit. In addition, there is a temple at the top of the mountain. This temple is not large, but it has a pure white Peace Pagoda.
Galle Fort
Located south of Sri Lanka's southern coast, Galle Fort is a beautiful city with a rich history. It's a place for travelers to enjoy the beauty of the country. The fort is a wonderful place to explore, especially for those who love the sea. There are many interesting buildings within the fort, including several churches.
The best way to see the fort is to walk the ramparts. The fort is full of narrow paths that will take you around the fortress. You can also visit the national museum which is located inside the fort. There are galleries devoted to the history of Sri Lanka and the Dutch era. You'll also find local crafts, wooden masks, and woven objects.
Another great way to see the fort is to take a tuk tuk ride. Tuk tuks are easy to rent and they are an affordable way to see the sights. You'll get to see many beautiful Dutch colonial buildings, as well as a glimpse of the local culture.
Dambulla Cave Temples
Located in central Sri Lanka, the Dambulla Cave Temple is one of the most popular sites for tourists. It is a Buddhist cave temple that is rich in history. It is also a world heritage site.
The cave temples are a series of natural rock caves that formed thousands of years ago. King Valagamba transformed these caves into rock temples, which were a safe place for him to retreat. The caves are now covered with paintings. The paintings tell stories of Buddha and depict his life. The paintings of the Buddha are primarily Gautama Buddha, but there are paintings of Vishnu and Ganesh as well.
There are five main caves within the Dambulla Cave Temple complex. The first is the Cave of the Divine King. It is smaller than other caves, but it has the oldest frescoes. It also contains a fourteen-meter Buddha statue. The statue is carved out of solid rock and has gold gilding on its shoulders.
Knuckles Waterfall
Located in Sri Lanka, the Knuckles Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is dense rainforests and features a cascading waterfall. It's considered one of the most scenic places in Sri Lanka.
The Knuckles Mountains are also home to endemic species, including several bird species. The Knuckles Forest Reserve covers an area of 81 square miles and contains 34 peaks ranging from 900m to 1900m.
The Knuckles range is an excellent place for hiking. It features several popular hiking trails.
One of the easiest hikes in the Knuckles Mountains is the Riverston trek. It's a three to four mile hike. It leads to Riverston Peak.
Another popular trek is the Burnside Falls hike. This trek takes two to three hours.
Another popular hike in the Knuckles Mountains is the Duwili Ella trail. This trail offers an adventurous hiking experience. The trail passes through dense rainforests. You can take a refreshing dip in a rock pool along the way.
Ella
Located in the south-central part of Sri Lanka, Ella is a quaint town in a secluded location. The town is famous for its waterfalls and lush forests. It is also a good spot to visit during the dry season, as it does not get too hot in the evenings.
Ella is a great place to visit, with its cool cafes and boutiques. It is also home to one of the most beautiful railway rides in the world. The train journey between Kandy and Ella takes around seven hours, with beautiful mountain views on the way.
Ella also has some of the most productive tea factories in the country. In fact, 320 million kilograms of tea are produced each year, and one million locals work in the industry. You can tour some of the factories while you are in Ella, or take an organized tour to other nearby attractions.
Ella is also home to the famous Nine Arches Bridge. The bridge has nine arches, and can be viewed from above or underneath.
Arugam Bay
Located on the east coast of Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay is a surfers' paradise. Arugam Bay is known for its sandy beaches and relaxed atmosphere. During the high season, Arugam Bay offers surfing lessons, yoga lessons and lagoon safaris.
If you are visiting Arugam Bay, then you should definitely check out the Pottuvil temple. It is located next to the beach and was constructed over 2,000 years ago. The temple was constructed by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna.
You can also visit the Kudumbigala Monastery. It was constructed about 246 BC. It is the only remaining Dagaba in Sri Lanka. It has a Buddhist temple and a stupa. You can explore the monastery on a day trip.
The Pottuvil Lagoon is a beautiful piece of scenery. It is also home to many crocodiles.
The Lighthouse is another place to check out. It is a lesser-known location, but it is still a very popular tourist attraction. It is located farther south of Arugam Bay, and is less crowded than the Peanut Farm. You can hire an off-road vehicle to get there.
Nuwara Eliya
Located in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is a cool and lush city in the mountains. This little town is known for its Tudor architecture and colonial buildings. It is also known for its tea plantations.
Nuwara Eliya is home to many historical sites and temples. It is also the best place for hiking in Sri Lanka. The town is surrounded by rolling hills covered with endless tea plantations.
The Royal Botanical Gardens have three palm groves and endless species of plants. There are also two Japanese gardens. The best time to visit is in spring, when the garden is in full bloom.
The Ramboda Falls is a popular attraction in Nuwara Eliya. You can either drive to the falls or take a hike to reach it. The falls are about 4 kilometers from the Amherst Junction on Repaha Road.
One of the most interesting things to do in Nuwara Eliya is to visit the tea factory. The tea factory is located about 20 minutes from the town center. The tea factory produces world-class teas.
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is a city in Sri Lanka, known as the Cultural Capital of the country. In ancient times, it was known as Pulastipura. The city was originally enclosed in three sets of concentric walls. Today, Polonnaruwa is surrounded by ruins. These ruins include monasteries, palaces, dagobas, and ancient warrior gates. Polonnaruwa is also close to several national parks.
Polonnaruwa is part of the Cultural Triangle. The city is located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The city is 230 kilometres from Colombo. It is located close to Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park. The area is very popular among nature lovers.
One of the most interesting attractions in Polonnaruwa is the ruins of the Royal Palace. King Parakramabahu the great built the palace. It took seven months to complete the palace. Today, you can see the basement of the audience hall. The audience hall was an important building in the citadel. The hall was made from granite pillars and had a three-metre high basement.
Minneriya National Park
Located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Minneriya National Park is a must visit for any wildlife fan. The park is home to a wide range of mammals and birds. It is also famous for its large elephant herds.
In Minneriya, one can see elephants bathing at the ancient Minneriya reservoir. The park is also home to many other animals. Some of the animals that reside in the park include spotted deer, leopards, sambar deer, toque macaques, sloth bears, and more. The park also hosts various kinds of plants and trees.
To see elephants in Minneriya, you can hire a safari guide. These guides know where the elephants are and where to take you. The park is also a good place for bird watching tours. The park is home to more than 170 different species of birds. The highlights include Sri Lankan Green Pigeon, Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Grey Horn-bill, and Rufus Woodpecker.
