9 Top-rated Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka – Reasons to visit Sri Lanka

This is where you can experience a Sri Lankan-style leopard watching safari. One side of the park is bordered by the Indian Ocean; the park's rich biodiversity is one of the main reasons it is visited by thousands each year. With a range of eco-systems, the park is home to leopards, crocodiles, elephants, and birds – the park shelters over 200 species of birds, both endemic and migrant.

One of the most famous Sigiriya attractions is the rock fortress. At the summit of the rock is an ancient palace. Historians believe that the palace was built during the 4th and 5th centuries. The fortress is only a short drive from Heritance Kandalama, which makes it an easy journey. One of the key features of the site is the staircase that seems to have been carved out of the rock itself.

There's no better place to gain insight into Sri Lankan history than the National Museum of Colombo. The museum houses a huge collection of artefacts that tells the story of the Sri Lankan people and their history. The museum is located near Viharamahadevi Park in central Colombo.

Colombo Zoo is the most known zoo in Sri Lanka. However, in comparison, Pinnalwala Zoo fares better. With a lot of green spaces, the zoo has created the perfect home for wild animals like leopards, deer, rabbits, turtles, and birds.

If you are in the area, Pinnawala Elephant Sanctuary warrants a visit. Located very close to Pinnawala Zoo, the sanctuary is home to over 100 elephants. The facility was established in 1975 to care for baby elephants abandoned by their mothers. Visitors can feed elephants and watch them get fed.

Revered by all religions in Sri Lanka, Adam's Peak should be on any list of Sri Lankan attractions. The summit of the rock is the thing of interest here. The unusually large footprint found at the top is the reason there's religious significance linked to the site. Buddhists believe the footprint to be Buddha's, Tamils believe it to be Lord Siva's, Christians and Muslims believe it to be Adam's. Whatever your religious belief, a visit to this gorgeous natural site is a must.

Though called the Dutch Fort; the fort was actually built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. However, the fort has many Dutch architectural characteristics dating back to the Dutch colonial period in the 17th century. Within the fort are houses, shops and churches. Shopping is the biggest pastime here, but there are several museums as well. The fort is only a two-hour journey from Colombo.

Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka by the British. It then went onto becoming one of the major industries in the country. Sri Lanka's upcountry is famous for its Victorian-style tea estates. One such estate is Pedro Tea Estate. Visitors to the estate can see a demonstration of how tea is made and graded; they are also offered a delicious cup of tea. The factory has a vintage character and is quite old, but it produces just as much tea as other tea factories.

Kandy was the capital city of Sri Lanka before the colonial age. The historical charm of this beautiful city can be explored at the National Museum of Kandy. Aside from its collection of historical artefacts, the museum also houses an impressive collection of native artworks.