Attractions in Sri Lanka (919)
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 179 days ago
Kelaniya Temple, Gampaha
11 Recommendations: 11 Favorable,
Kelaniya Temple is situated just outside of the Colombo City. It is a tranquil place to visit and venerated by Buddhists due to the fact that the Lord Buddha has visited this same spot in the past. Partly torn down by the Portugese, it still retains some of the original paintings as well as the paintings by the artist called Solis Mendis.
Reviewed by Anil Pathmaperuma
Updated 149 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 164 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 162 days ago
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
9 Recommendations: 9 Favorable,
Pinnawela orphanage situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between Colombo and Kandy. This 24 acres elephant orphanage established by Sri Lanka’s Wild Life Department is also a breeding centre for elephants,where twenty elephants were born since 1984 and has the largest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. The orphanage on the other hand, was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mother had either died or been killed. There are only a few elephant orphanages in the world. Pinnawela has now become one of the bigger orphanages and is quite well known world wide. This is a very famous place for the tourist around the world & locals as well, for the tourist government charge Rs 2000 (US$20) per person. The activities includes Babby Elephant Bottle Feeding, Elephants Taking Bath in the natural river & the Orphange
Reviewed by Priyanga Fernando
Updated 180 days ago
Fort, Galle
10 Recommendations: 9 Favorable, 1 Critical
The 17th c. Dutch Fort at Galle, close to the island.s southernmost point, 120km from Colombo, has the distinction of being the best-preserved sea fort in South Asia. Enter through the imposing stone bastions that encircle the sea-facing promontory and step back in time. Inside the Fort you will find that it exudes old-world charm. The narrow streets are dotted with Dutch colonial villas and there's a welcome absence of vehicular traffic. There are several museums and antique shops that display curiosities from the island's colonial era. Of the many colonial buildings, perhaps the most absorbing is the Dutch Reformed Church, containing ornately carved memorials to the city's Dutch settlers. The Fort also hosts some of the island's most exclusive boutique-style accommodation in former villas restored to their colonial glory.
Reviewed by Priyanga Fernando
Updated 178 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 164 days ago
National Museum of Natural History
9 Recommendations: 9 Favorable,
The National Museum in Colombo is huge and you can not visit all parts of the museum in one visit. You will find it in a beautiful colonial palace surrounded by a big, beautiful garden. Start your visit and have a look on one theme, another day you will come back for sure to visit the next part!
Reviewed by Sankarest
Updated 32 days ago
Galle Face Hotel
8 Recommendations: 8 Favorable,
The Galle Face Hotel in Colombo is a myth. The english Royals have stayed there and it is still one of the first address in Sri Lanka. Even if you not lodge there, go for a tea or coffee. Let you introduce to the hotel history by the "antique" tamil waiter at the entrance. It is the one full decorated with pins. He will have the great pleasure to tell you stories about this famous place!
Reviewed by Sankarest
Updated 31 days ago
Sinharaja Forest
8 Recommendations: 8 Favorable,
The reserve covers an area at just over 11,000 hectares and is home to a great bio diversity of birds, insects, reptiles and mammals. While many of the rainforest inhabitants are fairly common, there are a high number of elusive creatures that live deep in the vegetation. Below is a breakdown of the wide variety of species found here
Reviewed by www.srilankatrekking.com
Updated 17 days ago