TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is one of the perfect holiday destination for family or couple. The island is blessed with waterfalls, rivers, jungles, rain forests and fertile lands. Sri Lanka is a year-round destination.

It is a wise decision to know about the pearl of the Indian Ocean before actually touring there. Get to know more about the famous Tourist Destinations in Sri Lanka that are worth to be visited. Arrange your tour to Sri Lanka with Sri Lanka with Ceylon Tours for the best value.

ADAM’S PEAK

Adam’s peak is a holistic destination, which draws people from four main faiths to worship the foot print placed on the summit, and to behold the glorious sunrise which is iconic. Locally known as “Sripada”; which is translated to “Sacred foot” in English, each of the faiths believe it’s due to a connection to their religion. Buddhists accept as true, that it is the foot print of Lord Buddha who has placed it during his 3rd visit to Sri Lanka. Hindus believe it is the print of God Shiva, and Muslims believe it to be the mark of Adam when he was expelled from Garden of Eden. Christians too share the same belief with Muslims but also give various views on the print by stating it is St. Thomas’s. Apart from various explanations and beliefs, the truly miraculous feat about Adam’s peak is that all four religions harmoniously ascend this breathtaking summit, achieving a greater miracle than the rest.

ANURADHAPURA

Majestically located in the North Central Province, the city of Anuradhapura was first settled by Anuradha, a follower of Prince Vijaya the founder of the Sinhalese race. Throughout the timeline which goes back to nearly 1000 years, Sinhalese kings and occasional South Indian intruders reigned from the palaces of Anuradhapura. It was the most extensive and significant of the Sri Lankan royal capitals, but its extent of its history since its collapse, make it more difficult to understand than younger, shorter-lived Polonnaruwa. Many ancient monuments still stand tall, and have become a fascinating place for site seeing. Ruwanwelisaya stands on the top of the must see list when in Anuradhapura as it’s one of the tallest stupas in the country, and dates back to 2BC. At present the city is a rather delightful, inspiring memento of a glorious past, worthy of being named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site out of the eight named from Sri Lanka.

ARUGAM BAY

Situated in the Southeast region Arugambay is located 320 km due east of Colombo. Arugam Bay is a popular surfing and tourist destination, world famously known among surfers for hosting competitions. It has many attractions and things to enjoy such as bird watching, elephant watching, lagoon tour and many more. You can also visit the Kumana National Park, Kudumpigala monarchy and many ancient ruins & archaeological sites.

Arugam Bay is also the gateway and the only road access to the Yala East National Park. This unspoilt town offers an abundance of opportunities for those with a passion for water sports and underwater photography, it is also known as one of the best surfing hot spots in the world.

BENTOTA

Being the prime beach resort of the south-western and southern coastal belts of Sri Lanka, beautiful Bentota is famous for its sun, sand and especially for its diversity of water sports. The clock ticks faster here, as you will be occupied every waking second by exhilarating things to do and captivating surroundings to see. Peaceful seas during the season from November to April make Bentota Beach ideal for snorkelling, diving, sailing, wind surfing, water-skiing, and deep-sea fishing on a traditional outrigger canoe. Bentota enriched with safe swimming conditions in the season, combined with fun water sports and exciting expeditions, definitely set up an ideal backdrop for a relaxed holiday in Sri Lanka.

BERUWALA

Administered by an Urban Council, Beruwala is a town in Kalutara District (western provincial area) known for its bay and harbour. It is where the country’s oldest mosque namely “Kachimalai Mosque” was built by Arab Traders around the 8th century. Beruwala is the starting point of the 130 km long stretch of beach. One of the hotspots in Beruwala is the China Fort, which is the Gem Trading Fair of Beruwala. It is the ideal place for buying gems brought down from Ratnapura. The gem trade is being dominated by the Sri Lankan Muslims, for generations. Much of the world’s precious stones are being traded by these merchants.

BUNDALA

As one of the biodiversity hot spots in Sri Lanka, Bundala National Park is the first Ramsar site that is spread in an area of 6,216ha. The unique and complex wetland system attracts the wintering birds that fly to escape the freezing climate and to rest their weather beaten bodies. Hence Bundala is the ideal grounds to observe the colourful migratory and local air dominators, out of which greater flamingo takes the hotspot. Bundala is also one of 3 wetlands in the island so if you’re lucky enough, you will get a chance to behold a salt water crocodile or a deer. The national park is surrounded by five lagoons namely, Bundala lagoon, Embilikala lagoon, Malala lagoon, Koholankala lagoon and the Mahalewaya lagoon. It has a total of 383 plant species.

COLOMBO

Drive through the commercial and city center known as the “Fort”, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside modern office structures. See the vibrant markets and bazaars of Pettah, and the National Museum with its fine collection of lovely antiques and art of Sri Lanka. You could visit a Buddhist temple and a Hindu Kovil to experience the diversity of religion, ethnicity and customs of the people. Alternatively you may indulge in some shopping.

DAMBADENIYA

Dambadeniya is an ancient city located in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. It was once considered as the capital of Sri Lanka, where you will still see the remains of the rock fortress that served as the king’s operational hub in the mid-13th century. The closing stages of its time as a capital, marked an important point in Sri Lanka’s history, as it was due to the foreign invasion, which led the royals to transfer to the South west to protect the country in an efficient manner. What’s left of the rock fortress can be seen at Dambadeniya Pass. The Dambadeniya period is called the golden era of Sinhala literature.

DAMBULLA

Dambulla is situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka with the largest deposits of rose-quartz in South Asia. The main highlight is the Dambulla Rock Temple while Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium triggers the interest of the cricket loving fans, being built in just 167 days. Dambulla Rock Temple has been a pilgrimage site for over 22 centuries, which is a masterpiece of ancient engineering combined with modern conservation techniques. For the nature lover, National Parks in Dambulla, Minneriya and Kaudulla are some of the best places in the island to spot elephants. To explore the wildlife that’s close at hand, the area is specialised in Safari rides and hot air ballooning for a more appealing approach.

ELLA

A near-perfect-location for the nature loving and adventurous; the picturesque valley of Ella offers spectacular views of the southern mountains and highlands. Famed for the main nature trails that lead through it, Ella provides first-rate hiking opportunities, regardless of how experienced you are. It also features Ravana falls which is one of the main waterfalls in the island, Mini Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock. Just a little bit of hint – on a clear night, you can see the Great Basses lighthouse with its commanding posture and that is a view that shouldn’t be missed.

GALLE