10 Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

At a distance of 53 km from Ella, 72 km from Kandy, 182 km from Sigiriya, 150 km from Dambulla, 168 km from Colombo, 188 km from Polonnaruwa, 227 km from Anuradhapura, 230 km from Mirissa, 267 km from Galle, 274 km from Trincomalee, and 412 km from Jaffna, Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful hill town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya district and among the must-include places in Sri Lanka Packages.

Often called the mini London, Nuwara Eliya is known for its picturesque landscape and temperate climate. The literal meaning of Nuwara Eliya is the 'city on the plain (table land)' or 'city of lights'. It is a perfect place to relax and escape the oppressive heat and humidity that surrounds the rest of the country as this is the highest town in Sri Lanka situated at an altitude of 1868 m. Overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka.

Though Nuwara Eliya had been inhabited during the early period of the kingdom of Kandy, the existence of the spectacular 'Eliya' valley wasn't known to the Colonial British until the accidental discovery by the colonial civil servant John Davy in the year 1819. Governor Edward Barnes converted Nuwara Eliya into a commercial and a coffee planting center during the 1830s. In the year 1847, the great colonial explorer Samuel Baker ...

At a distance of 72 km from Nuwara Eliya, 92 km from Sigiriya, 110 km from Dambulla, 116 km from Colombo, 129 km from Ella, 137 km from Polonnaruwa, 140 km from Anuradhapura, 183 km from Trincomalee, 223 km from Galle, 245 km from Mirissa, and 321 km from Jaffna, Kandy is a scenic city located in central Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Central Province of Sri Lanka and among the must-include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Set on a high plateau in the midst of the thick tropical forests and the tea plantations is the city of Kandy, the second-largest city in Sri Lanka. More popularly known as the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy is known for its spirituality and laid-back charm due to which the colonial town is frequented by tourists as well as Buddhists, especially of the Theravada School. The well-planned town of Kandy added value to its legacy and never changed its roots for the sake of development. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in the year 1988.

The city and the region have been known by many different names and versions of those names. Some scholars suggest that the original name of Kandy was Katubulu Nuwara. However, the more popular historical name is Senkadagala or Senkadagalapura, officially Senkadagala Siriwardhana Maha Nuwara, generally shortened to 'Maha Nuwara'. The name Kandy is derived from an Anglicized version of the Sinhala Kanda Uda Rata, meaning the land on the mountain ...

At a distance of 16 km from Dambulla, 62 km from Polonnaruwa, 75 km from Anuradhapura, 90 km from Kandy, 100 km from Trincomalee, 176 km from Colombo and 181 km from Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya is an ancient city in the northern Matale district of Central Province in Sri Lanka. It is probably the most visited tourist destination of Sri Lanka as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Sigiriya sits right in the middle of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle made up of Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa. Also known as the Lion's Rock or Lion Mountain, Sigiriya is a popular stop for tourists who are interested in archeological ruins as it is home to the ruins of the world recognized ancient Sigiriya Rock Fortress situated on top of a massive 200-meter high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. The rock itself is a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano.

Excavations at Sigiriya indicate that the area was occupied during the prehistoric times. There is clear evidence that the many rock shelters and caves in the vicinity were occupied by Buddhist monks and ascetics from as early as the 3rd century BCE. In 477 CE, King Kashyapa of Anuradhapura moved the capital from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure Sigiriya. During Kashyapa's reign (477 to 495 CE), Sigiriya was developed into a complex city and fortress. After his death, the site fell into decline and was again used as a Buddhist monastery ...

At a distance of 55 km from Galle, 89 km from Mirissa, 104 km from Colombo, 180 km from Kandy, 195 km from Ella, 209 km from Nuwara Eliya, 231 km from Sigiriya and 262 km from Anuradhapura, Bentota is a coastal town in Galle district of Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Known for its sandy shores, it is one of the popular beaches to visit in the island country as part of Sri Lanka Tour.

Located on the southern bank of the Bentota River, Bentota is a quaint town surrounded by sandy shores, pristine waters and lush green landscapes with the dominance of tall palm trees. Interestingly, the name 'Bentota' is derived from Ben, a demon who once ruled the Tota or river bank. It is considered to be the prime beach resort of Sri Lanka as the National Holiday Resort Complex is associated with the Bentota Beach.

The place is known for its sun-kissed beaches, lagoon, dive sites that offer the best views of coral reefs, century-old Buddhist temples, gardens and long stretches of coconut trees. Its glorious sun-kissed beaches make the town a perfect destination for families to spend quality time on the beach. Bentota Beach, Brief Garden, Moragalla Beach, Cinnamon Island, Kande Vihare Temple, Galapata Vihara, and Madu Ganga River Safari are the top places to visit in Bentota. Bentota is home to the majestic marine turtles. The community-run hatcheries in the area are doing their bit to help propagate marine life.

Bentota ...

At a distance of 39 km from Negambo, 116 km from Kandy, 126 km from Galle, 150 km from Mirissa, 161 km from Dambulla, 167 km from Nuwara Eliya, 202 km from Anuradhapura, 205 km from Ella, 230 km from Polonnaruwa and 395 km from Jaffna, Colombo is the commercial capital and the largest city of Sri Lanka by population. Located in the western province of the Island, it is one of the must-include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

With rich colonial heritage and very scenic and popular attractions, Colombo is arguably the most popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of the country, is within the urban area of the city, hence Colombo is often called the capital of Sri Lanka as well. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the capital of Colombo district. The name 'Colombo', is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name Kolon Thota, meaning 'port on the river Kelani'. Another belief is that the name is derived from the Sinhala name Kola-amba-thota which means 'Harbour with leafy/green mango trees'.

Sri Lanka has a long history and so does Colombo. As far back as the 5th century AD, Colombo served as a seaport for trade between Asia and the West. During the 8th century, Arab traders settled near the port. The Portuguese arrived in 1505 CE and later by the mid-17th century the Dutch had taken over Colombo and used as the capital ...

At a distance of 66 km from Dambulla, 75 km from Sigiriya, 106 km from Trincomalee, 107 km from Polonnaruwa, 139 km from Kandy, 194 km from Jaffna and 202 km from Colombo, Anuradhapura is an ancient city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province and also the capital of Anuradhapura district. It is the most popular heritage place in Sri Lanka and among the must include destinations in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Located on the banks of Malvathu River, Anuradhapura is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka. The city was the center of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries. Famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sinhala civilization, Anuradhapura is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. The city is also home to one of the largest and most sacred Bodhi trees in Sri Lanka, believed to be a descendant of the original Bodhi tree where Buddha got enlightenment.

Anuradhapura was first established by Anuradha, a follower of Prince Vijaya, the founder of the Sinhala race. Later in 377 BC, King Pandukabhaya made it his capital and developed it into a prosperous city. It was the royal capital for 119 successive Singhalese Kings and lasted for about 1500 years. Anuradhapura came into prominence after Buddhism was introduced to the island in the 3rd Century BC during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa.

Anuradhapura ...

At a distance of 42 km from Matara, 55 km from Bentota, 126 km from Colombo, 190 km from Yala, 222 km from Kandy, 251 km from Nuwara Eliya, 304 km from Anuradhapura, and 365 km from Trincomalee, Galle is an ancient port city located on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions to visit in the region as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages and among the must include places to visit in honeymoon trip.

Synonymous with the country's fascinating history and rich culture, no Sri Lanka Tour is complete without visiting Galle as this historic city is blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques, and churches, grand mansions, and museums. Galle was known as Gimhathitha in ancient times and is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhalese term meaning 'port near the river Gin'. Another theory is that the word Galle is derived from the Dutch word 'Gallus', which means rooster, as the Dutch have used the rooster as a symbol of Galle.

As per the historical records, Galle was an important trading center for the Arabs, Chinese and Malays, long before the Europeans occupied it. The colonial period began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, who was on the way to the Maldives. They remained here and built a fort called Santa Cruz. Later, the Dutch invaded Galle and began the reconstruction of ...

At a distance of 22 km from Badulla, 53 km from Nuwara Eliya, 129 km from Kandy, 166 km from Polonnaruwa, 171 km from Dambulla, 182 km from Sigiriya, 221 km from Galle, 224 km from Colombo, 235 km from Anuradhapura, 272 km from Trincomalee, and 415 km from Jaffna, Ella is a quaint little hill town located in the Badulla district of the Uva Province in Sri Lanka. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful places to visit on the island as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Situated at an altitude of 3,415 feet, Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. The town also offers stunning mountain hikes and lovely waterfalls. With picture-perfect environs, a pleasant climate, and super-friendly people, it is an ideal destination for people trying to break the routine of the warm and humid climate of coastal Sri Lanka. The town is most famous for its iconic nine arches railway bridge which is a fine example of colonial-era construction in Sri Lanka.

The hill town of Ella is connected to the Hindu epic, Ramayana, a historic tale that covers over India and Sri Lanka. The locals believed that the town of Ella is the place where goddess Sita was held captive in a cave near Ravana Falls. The story goes that King Ravana kidnapped Princess Sita from India and hid her in the caves behind the waterfall. It is also ...

At a distance of 21 km from Tissamaharama, 111 km from Ella, 164 km from Nuwara Eliya, 172 km from Galle, 225 km from Bentota, 247 km from Kandy, 283 km from Sigiriya, 304 km from Colombo, 336 km from Anuradhapura, and 373 km from Trincomalee, Yala is a national park located in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka. It is the most popular national park in Sri Lanka and among the must include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Extends over the Hambantota district of southern province and Monaragala district in Uva province, Yala is the second largest national park as well as the most visited national park in Sri Lanka due to its high density of leopards. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule. Situated in Sri Lanka's south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Yala combines a strict nature reserve with a national park.

Divided into 5 blocks, the park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks, and lagoons. Though Yala spreads over a vast area, only two of its designated blocks are open to the visitors while the remaining area is a strictly designated Natural Reserve. The rocky outcrops scattered over the park provide vantage points to enjoy the sprawling areas with Sri Lanka's dry zone landscape. ...

At a distance of 100 km from Sigiriya, 106 km from Anuradhapura, 108 km from Dambulla, 133 km from Polonnaruwa, 182 km from Kandy, 236 km from Jaffna and 269 km from Colombo, Trincomalee is a charming coastal town on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee district and among the must include destinations in Sri Lanka trip.

Sitting prettily on a remarkable natural harbour, the charming town of Trincomalee with oodles of history and interesting sites is a great escape from the touristy south. The port town is built on a peninsula of the same name, which divides its inner and outer harbours. The town got its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai from Koneswaram Temple situated on the Swami Rock. Trincomalee is an anglicized form of the old Tamil word 'Thiru-kona-malai', meaning 'Lord of the Sacred Hill'. Trincomalee has been one of the main centers of Sri Lankan Tamil language speaking culture on the island for over two millennia.

Trincomalee known as Gokanna, Gokarna or Siri Gonamala, has a recorded history of more than 2500 years, beginning with the civilian settlement associated with the Koneswaram temple in the pre-modern era. One of the oldest cities in Asia, it has served as a major maritime seaport in the international trading history of the island with South East Asia. In the ancient world, it was successively the capital of eastern kingdoms of the Vanni ...