Attractions in Central, Sri Lanka (511)
Sigiriya
26 Recommendations: 23 Favorable, 3 Critical
Sigiriya Part hedonistic pleasure palace, part fortress and part sacred complex, Sigiriya is one of the island's most awe-inspiring archaeological sites and a leading tourist attraction. In fact some consider it to be one of the oldest tourist attractions in the world with visitors recording their impressions in some of the earliest-known graffiti. Located north of Dambulla, 116km from Colombo, the site consists of a sheer rock that rises over 200m with the ruins of a palace on the top and a vast pleasure garden complex at the foot. For just two decades in the 5th century AD, Sigiriya rose to prominence following a power struggle between two brothers, and an act of patricide that saw the then king walled-up alive by his son, Kasyapa. Fearful that his defeated brother would return from exile to extract vengeance, Kasyapa shifted the capital to Sigiriya.
Reviewed by Priyanga Fernando
Updated 220 days ago
Kandy
11 Recommendations: 11 Favorable,
Kandy is a City that has to offer the most to a visitor to our beautiful Island. It is still the cultural and arts and crafts center of Sri Lanka. While in Kandy, one can visit the Temple of the Tooth, the Botanical gardens of Peradeniya, Kandyan Dance Program, Kandy Lake, Gem Museum, Batik Factory, Wood Carving Center, The Kandy Market. A visit to the Mahaweli Riverside may gain one a view of the Elephants being bathed. One of the best times to visit Kandy, and specially the Botanical gardens is in the Months of April and May, when almost all the flowering trees are in full bloom. The highlight of Kandy is the Esala pageant, the Esala perahera, held each year over 10 days of pomp and pageantry, with the hundreds of dancers, musicians, flag bearers, nilames, flame twirlers and also the richly decorated Elephants numbering close to a hundred.
Reviewed by Anil Pathmaperuma
Updated 205 days ago
Polonnaruwa
12 Recommendations: 11 Favorable, 1 Critical
Polonnaruwa, considered as the second Capital City of ancient Lanka. Here unlike in Anuradhapura, there is so much variety and variation in the Ruins that a visitor can see. Palaces, Ponds, Dagoba's, wide protective walls, huge Buddha Statues carved from the Living rock, Image Houses with beautiful Paintings, A Statue which some beleive to be that of the Great King Parakrama Bahu and even ruins of one of the oldest Libraries and to Complement all this, the large and imposing Tank, the Parakrama Samudra. A truly wonderful place to visit.
Reviewed by Anil Pathmaperuma
Updated 203 days ago
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
9 Recommendations: 9 Favorable,
The Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department in a 25-acre coconut property near the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2008, there are about 84 elephants.
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 67 days ago
Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
9 Recommendations: 9 Favorable,
Anuradhapura, the name given in later years to our first Capital City. This was where the Epic battle between King Dutugemunu and King Elara took place. It is also the place where, with the arrival of Buddhism in the island, great strides were made in both architecture and irrigation. The area reserved for the buddhist monastries was huge, thus ensuring the spread of Buddhism throughout the whole country. Although the ancient city is partly in ruins, it is venerated by buddhists from all around the world.
Reviewed by Anil Pathmaperuma
Updated 205 days ago
Bambarakiri Ella
9 Recommendations: 9 Favorable,
Bambarakiri Ella is in Rewestern side of Knuckles Mountain Range. It is 20m high. This panoramic waterfall add beauty to Knuckles Mountain Range. Different varieties of butterflies, dragonflies and birds come here to exhibit their beauties in clear mornings.
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 54 days ago
Pitawala Mini World's End in Knuckles Range
8 Recommendations: 8 Favorable,
At the end of Pitawala Pathana in Knuckles Mountain Range you can find well known Mini World’s End. It is a right edged cliff formed by nature drops 300 m down. You might look at an amazing scene that opens up once you reach the cliff’s edge, if there is no mist at the time.
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 54 days ago
Nalanda Gedige
7 Recommendations: 7 Favorable,
Nalanda is situated one km to the east of the A9 route 20km north of Aluvihare. It is one of a number of remarkable archaeological sites in Sri Lanka that receive few tourists through no limitations of their own. The reasons for this anomaly are various. Sometimes it has to do with geography and ease of access, although this is not the case with Nalanda. Often, however, it is a case of the beaten tourist track prevailing over good sense. A visit to Nalanda Gedige - gedige is an image house - is strongly recommended, because it exhibits a composite style of architecture unique in Sri Lanka, and an extraordinary fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism. To cap it all, this remarkable shrine occupies an extremely picturesque - if not original - location. Named after the great Buddhist University at Nalanda in India, it has been said that Nalanda Gedige is “one of those fortunate places that have no history.” The surprising lack of knowledge regarding this shrine, and why it was located at Nalanda thwarts those who wish to delve into its past. Even estimates of its date of construction vary from the 7th to 11th centuries AD. This was a period of great turmoil on the island, with South Indian kings establishing themselves in the wake of the decline of the Sinhalese monarchy. It is possible that Nalanda Gedige was a bold attempt at a fusion of Tamil and Sinhalese cultures.
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 49 days ago
Pulasthi Statue
7 Recommendations: 7 Favorable,
In Polonnaruwa to the north of the Pothgul Vehera is a granite boulder, adorned with a large statue. This is one of the finest statues in the Island and measures 11 feet 6 inches in height. The historians and the archaeologists have not confirmed its identity to date. Some refer to it as the statue of King Parakramabahu because its closeness to one of his major irrigation works; others refer to it as Rishi Pulasthi’s statue. The presence of a Brahmanical sacred thread that runs from the left shoulder across the body and the Ola leaf book that he carries confirms that it is of Rishi Pulasthi. The third option is because Polonnaruwa was referred as Pulasthipura in primeval times. Prof Anuradha Seneviratna says that there is a worn out Rock Inscription which reads as ‘PULA THA SA’ behind the head of the statue. It proves that this statue is of Rishi Pulasthi.
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 53 days ago
Malwatte Monastery
7 Recommendations: 7 Favorable,
Near the shore of Kandy lake one of the great centres of the Buddhist monks, belonging to the Siam Nikaya, known as "Malwatu Maha Viharaya" is situated. This great monastery consists of two sections. The first is the "Uposatha Viharaya" (Ordination Hall) on the right, popularly known as "Poyamalu Viharaya" and the other "Pushparama Viharaya" popularly known as "Malwatu Viharaya" which is seen today with a newly built octagon. The Poyamalu Viharaya as the oldest structure, supposed to have been built by Senasammatha Vikramabahu (1473-1511) in Senkadagala era. He further built 86 monasteries for the use of the monks in the two fraternities namely, Malwatu and Asgiri Viharas. This account is further supported by Sulu Rajawaliya, Asgiri Talpata, and Pohoya Malu Upatha.The poye-ge of the Malwatu Viharayais supposed to have been built during the reign of Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747 - 1781) with a beautiful image of the Buddha installed therein. It is believed that this temple initially had only three residences. One was "Sangaraja Pansala" dedicated for the great Velivita Sri Sarankara Thero. The "Thibbotuwawe Pansala" and the "Poyamalu Viharaya" was for the chief monk Thibbotuwawe thero and the "Meda Pansala" for Moratota who was the the "Raja Guru" or the Kings Teacher. The Sangaraja Pansala, today known as "Welivita Pansala" houses all the personal belongings that the great Velivita Sri Sarankara Sangharaja Thero used. Since the time of the Sangharaja, high priests specially those who are in the "Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha" or the executive council of monks reside there. The Maha Nayake is the chief incumbent of the monastery and he is one of the three guardians of the Tooth Relic.
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 67 days ago