Joanna James
As one of the world's most beautiful cultural hubs, Sri Lanka is home to its fair share of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here's a rundown of some of the finest heritage sites that visitors can explore during a holiday on the island.
Dating back to the 5th century B.C., the Sigiriya Rock Fortress is the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. And the iconic structure that's described as King Kashyapa's Palace in the Skies is one of the most staggering sights tourists will ever come across on the island. Surrounded by a moat and extensive water gardens, archaeologists are still trying to decipher how the engineers who built the Sigiriya Rock Fortress completed its complex irrigation system. The stunning murals, the Mirror Wall and the stone throne and ponds at the summit of the fortress are just some of the highlights of this breathtaking edifice.
Occupying pride of place in the heart of the hill capital Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth is the sacred religious institution where some of the actual dental remains of Lord Buddha are stored. Housed in a former palace compound, the Temple of the Tooth is the site from which the Kandy Perahara sets out each July. The museum located adjacent to the temple is just as stunning as the temple itself as it contains some of the precious relics from the temple's illustrious history.
Having been a revered place of worship for centuries, the Dambulla Cave Temple entered the ranks of a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1991. As the world's largest cave temple complex, the sheer number of Buddha statues contained within the venue numbering over 150, is impressive, to say the least. Also known as the Golden Dambulla Temple, exploring this heritage hub involves visiting a series of caves in which altars, murals and sculptures of Lord Buddha are displayed.
As the first capital of the island nation, the Sacred City of Anuradhapura is often the first point of interest that tourists visit on a tour of the Cultural Triangle. Lined with ancient ruins from the Golden era of Sri Lanka's history, the many cultural highlights in Anuradhapura includes the Sri Maha Bodhiya, which was entered into the UNESCO Heritage Site list as early as 1982. As a sapling of the tree under which Lord Buddha attained Nirvana, the temple with its sacred tree is a prime pilgrimage point for local devotees.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of only 2 natural heritage sites on the island. As the only surviving primary rainforest in the country, the area is home to a large number of endemic species including plant life.
Visitors based at Amagi Aria or any one of the other hotels in Negombo, Sri Lanka, or along the coast, must visit the Galle Fort. This heritage site was constructed by the Dutch during the 16th century and has truly survived the test of time as its stone ramparts and lookout points indicate.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
