Joanna James
Planning a visit to Sri Lanka anytime soon and wondering which of its many marvellous attractions to add to your travel itinerary around the island? Here are your top five!
The very first capital of the island, Anuradhapura marks the beginning of the island’s great civilisation. Located in the north-central plains of the island, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and an archaeological park best known for its prolific ruins. Must-visit sites in the city include historical landmarks such as Ruwanweli Maha Seya and important religious sites such as Siri Maha Bodhi and Thuparamaya Dagaba.
An ancient rock fortress located in the island’s northern district in close proximity to the bustling city of Dambulla takes a prominent spot among historical places in Sri Lanka. The ancient rick fortress which is built on a column of granite rock standing at 590 ft high, was the ethereal palace of King Kashyapa in 477 AD. The carefully preserved site still showcases vast palace grounds, ponds, colorful frescos, and a magnificent gateway in the form of an enormous lion. After King Kashyapa was defeated in battle by his brother, his palace was abandoned. After which the site was used as a Buddhist monastery till the end of the 14th century. A UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, Sigiriya remains one of the top examples of the flawless urban planning abilities of ancient Sri Lankans.
Located near Sigiriya, the town of Dambulla and its renowned cave temple complex are best combined with a visit to Sigiriya – which tour operators such as Walkers Tours will be more than happy to arrange for. Spread over five expansive caves, this important heritage site houses a total of 153 Buddha statues, extensive cave paintings and other statues of various gods and goddesses such as Ganesha and Vishnu. Do note that is important to dress modestly when visiting this site.
First built in the year 1488 by the Portuguese, and then fortified extensively by the conquering Dutch during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Galle Fort is a site of great historical, archaeological, and architectural importance. Today even more 432 years later, the fort maintains an impeccably polished appearance and is extremely well-maintained. The Galle Fort also happens to be among the few living UNESCO Heritage Sites in the world. Today the fort is home to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population all of whom contribute to this beautiful site’s colourful culture and rich history. Things to do here include taking in well-preserved Dutch architecture, dining at chic restaurants, visiting museums and churches and enjoying long strolls along the fort ramparts.
An administrative and religious city of Sri Lanka, Kandy also happens to be the capital of the island’s central province. Kandy is home to many notable heritage sites the most important being the Temple of the Tooth Relic Shrine – which is a sacred Buddhist site and attracts many devotees from around the world.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
