Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan destinations not to be missed

Located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Kandy is a cultural city surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges. Home to one of the most sacred places in Sri Lanka, Sri Dalada Maligawa (also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), it also has many other attractions such as the Udawatta Kele forest sanctuary, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy Lake, and many more.

Sri Lanka has many cave temples, but Dambulla Cave Temple can be called the best-preserved one out of all. There are hundreds of impressive wall paintings and many other statues done over centuries ago, and today, it's also one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the country.

Sigiriya was announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 mainly because of the magnificent rock fortress built by King Kasyapa back in the 5th century AD. You may climb this rock when you are there, and when you reach the top, you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the jungle and the rest of the peaceful area below. Get a guided tour to know more about its history and the irrigational and architectural marvels that this fortress beholds. You may stay at one of the Hotel in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka the likes of Aliya Resort & Spa during your pilgrimage to this ancient destination.

Mainly because of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi (the Bo Tree) and ancient temples the likes of Ruwanweli Seya and Thuparamaya, Anuradhapura has become one of the main Buddhist religious centres in the whole world. In addition to the Buddhist temples and museums, there are also lakes, parks, and other attractions located in this sacred city.

Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Galle is immensely popular among travellers because of its Dutch Fort. Although it's named the 'Dutch' Fort, other invaders including the Portuguese and the British also contributed to building up this fort. Today, the area is surrounded by beautiful café shops, churches, and other historical buildings.

Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka, and soon after the destruction of the city, Polonnaruwa gained the title of the capital city. The city was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, and it's also one of the cities included in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka together with Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. In addition to the Buddhist temples, there are many reservoirs, gardens, and Hindu temples to be explored in this city.

This mainly includes the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles forest. They are located about 2000 m above sea level, and they have been newly added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO.