SRI LANKA

Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an ancient lion rock fortress. This site was selected by King Kashapa (477-495 AD) for his new capital. He built his place on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO-listed world heritage site. It is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning.

Note: 3hr 20 min (167km) from Colombo.

Dambulla Cave Temple

Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a world heritage site in Sri Lanka. Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Note: 3 hr (151 km) from Colombo.

Ritigala

Ritigala is an ancient Buddhist monastery and mountain in Sri Lanka. The ruins and rock inscription of the monastery date back to 1st BC.

Note: 3 hr 44 min (193 km) from Colombo.

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park is located in north central province of Sri Lanka. The park is a dry-season feeding ground for the Elephant population dwelling in the forests of Matale, along with Kaudulla, Girithale, and Minneriya forming one of the three important bird areas of Sri Lanka.

Note: 3 hr 27min (178 km) from Colombo.

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is the island’s 2nd largest kingdom, today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best-planned archeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the first ruler’s kingdoms.

Note: 4 hr 14 min (220 km) from Colombo.

Anuradhapura

The sacred city of Anuradhapura is now in picturesque ruins and was once a major center of Sri Lankan civilization. The fascinating ancient ruins include huge bell-shaped stupas built of small sun-dried bricks, Temples, Sculptures Palaces, and ancient drinking water reservoirs although people may have lived in this area since as early as the 10th century BC.

Note: 4 hr 7 min (201 km) from Colombo.

Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world-renowned for its leopard population.

Note: 3 hr 37 min (185 km) from Colombo.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee one of the finest natural deep-water harbors in the world, is located 257 km north-east of Colombo which is considered as commercial hub of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee is home to the fine beaches of Nilavali, Uppuveli, and the off-shore Pigeon Island.

Note: 4 hr 42 min (257 km) from Colombo.

Jaffna

Jaffna is a city in the north tip of Sri Lanka. Nallur Kandaswamy is a huge Hindu temple with golden arches and an ornate gopuram tower. By the coast, star star-shaped Jaffna fort was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and later occupied by the Dutch and British.

Note: 6 hr 59 min (394 km) from Colombo.

Kandy

Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the central province. It was the last capital of the ancient king’s era of Sri Lanka, The city lies amid hills in the Kandy plateau which crosses an area of tropical plantation mainly tea. Kandy is the home of the temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world.

Note: 2 hr 50 min (122 km) from Colombo.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is the only center in Sri Lanka that cares for orphaned elephants. The orphanage is famous both locally and internationally because of its importance as a living museum, showroom, and conservatory of Elephants.

Note: 2 hr 3 min (87 km) from Colombo.

Royal Botanic Garden

It is situated in the city of Kandy, the garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees attached to it is the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka.

Note: 2 hr 36 min (116 km) from Colombo.

Gems Of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Gem industry has a very long and colorful history. Sri Lanka was affectionately known as Ratna-Deepa which means Gem Island, the name is a reflection of its natural wealth. Marco Polo wrote that the Island had the best sapphires, Topazes, Amethysts, and other Gems in the world.

Sri Lanka Tea

Sri Lanka is the fourth largest Tea producer in the world. Sri Lanka became the world’s leading Tea exporter in 1995. The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall in the central highlands of Sri Lanka provide a favorable climate for high-quality Tea production. The Ceylon Tea industry was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1867 by James Taylor, a British tea grower who came to Sri Lanka in 1852.

Spices In Sri Lanka

Asia most specifically southern Asia has always been quite famous for its Spicy foods. The fact that most spices are grown around the tropical regions of southeast Asia played a large part in Sri Lanka and has been the center of the spice trade throughout history.

Nuwara Eliya And Hortan Plains (World’s End)

Nuwara Eliya, a city at the heart of Sri Lanka’s popular Tea industry is surrounded by many Tea plantations, and Horton Plains in Sri Lanka is the coldest and windiest location in the country. it consists of ecosystems such as montane evergreen forests, grasslands, Marshy land, and aquatic ecosystems. On the southern edge of the Horton plains at an altitude of 2140m is the famous World’s End.

Note: 5 hr 2 min (171 km) from Colombo.

Adam’s Peak

Adam’s Peak is a 2243m (7359ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well known for the “Sri Pada” (Sacred footprint) a 1.8m (5ft 11″) rock formation near the summit which in Buddist tradition is held to be the footprint of the lord Buddha.

Note: 4 hr 50 min (144 km) from Colombo.

Train Trip

The train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella in Sri Lanka is one of the best train adventures. This train powers up through Sri Lnaka’s southern hill country through the Tea plantations into clouds and then weaves in and out of the many mountain tunnels.

Note: 4 hr 47 min (162 km) from Colombo.

Ella

Ella in Sri Lanka is very well known worldwide for its breathtaking view and scenery, Little Adam’s Peak is just one of them. the eye-catching, jaw-dropping, and conspicuous peak is the one not to miss. The Glorious Nine Arch bridge between Ella and Demodara train station is one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century and a must-visit. Ravana waterfall is one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka full of beauty. Certainly a place in Ella to spend some time.

Note: 4 hr 52 min (327 km) from Colombo.

Yala National Park

Yala National Park is a huge area of forest, grassland, and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean in southeast Sri Lanka. It is home to wildlife such as leopards, Elephants, and Crocodiles as well as hundreds of bird species.

Note: 3 hr 51 min (281 km) from Colombo.

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

The elephant transit home in Udawalawe is an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka and safe haven for orphaned baby elephants. Become quite popular and crowds flock to watch the baby elephants being fed milk.

Note: 3 hr 47 min (257 km) from Colombo.

Mirissa Whale watching

Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa is one of the most exciting water activities you can do in Sri Lanka during your holiday. Mirissa is the best place to start your whale and dolphin-watching tour in Sri Lanka. The whale watching season in Mirissa is from November to April.

Note: 2 hr 36 min (152 km) from Colombo.

Stilt Fishing in Sri Lanka

Stilt fishing is one of the most interesting traditional fishing methods in Sri Lanka. Commonly along the southern coast in towns such as Koggala and Ahangama.

Note: 2 hr 29 min (141 km) from Colombo.

Galle Fort

Galle Fort in the bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. It is a historical, archeological, and architectural heritage monument which after more than 426 years maintains a polished appearance due to extensive reconstruction work done by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

Note: 2 hr 8 min (126 km) from Colombo.

Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is a seaside resort town in southwest Sri Lanka. It is known for its strong surf beaches including palm-dotted Hikkaduwa beach lined with restaurants and bars. The shallow waters opposite Hikkaduwa Beach Shelter National Park which is a coral sanctuary and home to marine turtles and exotic fish.

Note: 2 hr 1 min (116 km) from Colombo.

Moonstone Mine Meetiyagoda

Meetiyagoda is an illustrious name in the world of Moonstone mining. It’s Sri Lanka’s largest Moonstone mine and Sri Lanka Moonstones are renowned for their blue shine that makes a difference to India Moonstones. The finest and rarest Moonstones have an almost transparent colorless body with a strong blue shine.

Note: 1 hr 54 min (102 km) from Colombo.

Maadu River Safari Balapitiya

This 2-hour tour takes you on a boat safari through the primitive depths of the mangrove marshes in the Maadu River. Get a chance to see crocodiles, water snakes, tree snakes, cormorants, and birds. visit the old Buddhist temple on one of the islands that dot the river liberally.

Note: 1 hr 52 min (104 km) from Colombo.

Turtle Watching In Sri Lanka

Five out of the seven species of sea turtle come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. Making it an ideal country to go turtle-watching.

Note: 1 hr 52 min (95 min) from Colombo.

Colombo

Colombo is the commercial and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. It is the financial center of the island and a tourist destination due to its large harbor and strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes. Colombo was known to ancient traders 2000 years ago.