1.The Dambulla Cave Temple: Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, known for having the largest Temple Complex In Sri Lanka, and located in the charming town of Dambulla. Also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the Dambulla Cave Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Feel excited while visiting the temple from the 22 century, known to be the largest best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Delight in visiting the sacred pilgrimage site with its five sanctuaries, with a 160 m rock surrounding the plains. Take a look at its beautiful Buddhist mural paintings and 157 statues with 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings, and four statues of gods and goddesses.
Location: Kandy - Jaffna Highway, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
2. Arugam Bay: A popular place to visit on the Sri Lankan coastline is the Arugam Bay, known locally as "Arugam Kudah'' and located on the southeast coast around 320 km from Colombo. The beautiful moon-shaped curl of soft sand will mesmerise you with its azure skies and swaying coconut trees.
Relax on the beach, enjoy sipping cool coconut water as the fragrance of jasmine fills your senses. Allow the southern sun to give you a golden tan as you lay on the beach. The bay is also ideal if you want to indulge in various water sports such as speed boating, windsurfing on the turquoise water etc
Location: Ampara, Sri Lanka
3. Galle: The 16th century marvel Galle, is a historical destination, and an important city in Sri Lanka. While walking through the streets of Galle, you will feel as if you are walking into history and soaking in the past via its colonial splendours.
Spend an entire day to visit the Galle Dutch Fort to cover all the other monuments that are stationed within this establishment. Some of the other places in Galle which you must visit include the Sea Turtle Hatchery and the Mahamodara Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre. Galle will also delight you with its beautiful beaches offering various water sports.
Location: Galle, Sri Lanka
4. Temple Of Tooth At Kandy: If you are visiting Kandy, a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a must. Known to be the most sacred site in Sri Lanka, the temple is locally known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa and is a place of worship that was established in the 16th century AD.
Overlooking the mesmerising Kandy lake, the temple is located next to the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. Pay a visit to the temple to take a look at the golden casket which is known to have been holding a tooth of Buddha.
Location: Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
5. Mihintale: Another top attraction of Sri Lanka is Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism which attracts hundreds of pilgrims. Mihintale, literally meaning Mahindra’s mountain, is actually a mountain located near the town of Anuradhapura.
Visit this place to learn about the legend of how the place became the cradle of Buddhism and Sinhalese culture. Feel charmed looking at the sequence of caves, stupas and gorgeous shines spread across lush green wooded hills. Take 1840 steps to reach the summit on the top to be rewarded with a spectacular view of the surroundings.
Location: Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.
6. Polonnaruwa Sacred City: Explore The Golden Past Of Sri Lanka while visiting the sacred city of Polonnaruwa. This is the city that was once a kingdom of Sri Lanka in ancient times. Feel like entering the Golden Age as you walk inside the popular place to take a look at the ruins of the stupas, shrines and palaces telling you the story of the city’s glorious past.
While visiting this place, take a look at the statue of Parakramabahu I who ruled during the golden age. Feel enchanted as you get the breathtaking view of the Lotus Pond which is made in lotus-shaped petals and built on 4-tiers.
Location: Sudarshanaramaya Puranagama Rd, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
7. Anuradhapura: One of the top Sri Lanka tourist spots which has been acclaimed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites is Anuradhapura, one of the greatest monastic cities of the bygone era. This is the place where you will be able to see the famous Bodhi Tree which is also called the “tree of enlightenment”.
Stroll across the sprawling complex which is composed of an opulent collection of architectural and archaeological marvels including gigantic brick towers, crumbling temples, humongous dagobas and archaic pools.
Location: Anuradhapura, north-central Sri Lanka
8. Nuwara Eliya: Indulge in one of the most jaw-dropping experiences you can ever have in Sri Lanka by reaching the World’s End on the Horton Plains at Nuwara Eliya. Often referred to as the “Little England”, the rose-tinted, vaguely British-country-village will make you feel charmed.
Roam around the town to take a look at its Tudor-style hotels, colonial-era bungalows, amazing hedgerows and pretty gardens. Spend a couple of days in this beautiful town to feel relaxed in the serene atmosphere of the town. Soak in the town’s unique heritage or indulge in a game of golf.
Location: Nuwara Eliya, Central Province, Sri Lanka
9. Sinharaja Forest Reserve: Another World Heritage Site that you must visit during your Sri Lanka trip is the Sinharaja Forest Reserve , known as the kingdom of the lion. Explore the place which is a paradise for those with a love for natural beauty and wildlife.
Feel excited spotting various endemic species of mammals and birds of the country with 95% of the Sri Lankan endemic birds and more than 50 percent of endemic mammals have made this Forest Reserve their home. Experience the leisurely pace of wildlife and the splendour of dense and copious evergreen rainforests as you move into the forest covered with rain clouds.
Location: Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Southern Province
10. St Anthony's Church: The beautiful St. Anthony’s Church located at Kochchikade is another place worth visiting during your Sri Lanka tour. If you visit on Tuesdays, weekends and on days of any major festival, you will find the place full with devotees from different parts of the world offering their prayers.
Initially constructed as a simple mud hut, the church was made bigger during 1806. While exploring the church, lookout for the main altar holding the statue of St Anthony, which was brought all the way from Goa, in a safe bullet-proof glass container.
Location: Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13
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