10 Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, the “First Pearl of the Indian Ocean” is an island nation with a blend of nature and culture. A land filled with some of the most beautiful world heritage sites, landscapes for adventure, historical temples, scenic beaches, arresting wildlife, colonial architecture and abundance of spices, local flavours and tea gardens, Sri Lanka leaves everyone astounded. Sri Lanka would be the best getaway for your memorable vacay with your loved ones, be it your family, friends or your significant other, as it has a plethora of tourist attraction to offer. Fascinating right? Now, let’s dive in to explore the 10 best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

10 Best Place to Visit in Sri Lanka

1. Colombo
2. Kandy
3. Nuwara Eliya
4. Ella
5. Bentota
6. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
7. Yala National Park
8. Sigiriya
9. Adams Rock
10. Anuradhapura

Also Read: 5 Things to do on a Honeymoon in Sri Lanka

1. Colombo

Located on the west coast of the island is Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. This city beautifully exhibits a skyline along the Beira lake which comes alive at night. The Lotus tower, which is about 350m in height, is the tallest of all buildings in the South of Asia and attracts the most number of tourists. The building is lit up during festive seasons and is open throughout the year for tourists to visit. It dates back to the early centuries that Sri Lanka was colonised by Portugal, the Netherlands and by Britain as well. These foreign cultures happened to blend in with the native culture and hence, Sri Lanka now possesses a hybrid culture which is most commonly found and felt in the food and architecture of Colombo. This city would need a dedicated one day bus or cab tour and is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

2. Kandy

Kandy, which was once the capital of Sri Lanka, is a large city located in the central region of the country. It is also known as the “Sacred City of Kandy” because of its remarkable tourist attraction, the “Temple of the Tooth Relic” – also a UNESCO world heritage site. This attraction is unique in its own way and is of utmost significance to people who are spiritually connected as well as people with a proclivity towards history and architecture. As the name suggests, this temple holds the tooth relic of Gautama Buddha and it is believed since ancient days that the person to hold the tooth would take over the governance of the country. The ideal time to visit this temple would be during the Esala Perahera festival. Kandy is one of the best places to explore in Sri Lanka if you are someone who also enjoys a scenic view of mountains and tea estates. It is a place where you can taste the culture of the Sinhalese.

3. Nuwara Eliya

Located in central Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is a hill station that is also known as “Little England” because of the ancient colonial buildings during the British colonisation and also its cold climate. Nuwara Eliya has a breathtaking landscape surrounded by waterfalls and misty mountains and is also covered with tea plantations on all sides. Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka can be found here. This is a great scenic place to visit in Sri Lanka if you’re a nature and tea lover. The best way to get to this hill station would be a rail ride that takes you directly from Kandy city alongside the beautiful mountains and waterfalls, through the tea estates and to Nuwara Eliya. The best time to visit this place would be during summer (February-April).

4. Ella

Dating back to the 20th century, the British had built this iconic Nine Arch Bridge that is located between Ella and Demodara. The best time to visit this famous attraction would be anytime between January and March. It is great to trek around this place into the tea gardens and visit nearby waterfalls while you also don’t miss out on watching the train roll over the stone bridge. If you are someone who enjoys photography and nature, this is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

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5. Bentota Beach

Located 65 km away from Colombo in the Southwest coast, is the famous and more pleasant Bentota beach. If you’re looking to unwind in the basking sun or if you’re up for some adventurous water sports like snorkelling, this is the right and best place for you to visit in Sri Lanka. Bentota grabs the attention of tourists because of its beautiful scenic sunsets. You can also go for a boat ride on the river or just take a dip in the warm water. The best time to visit the Bentota beach is from October to March as it is the ideal time for water sport activities.

Also Read: 10 Things to do in Bentota

6. Pinnawala Elephants Orphanage

About 27 km away from Kandy, is the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which is home to many orphaned elephants. Doesn’t it make you think of how amazing it would be to the see a whole lot of majestic tuskers in one place? Some people find it staggering to see a lot of elephants frolicking around in the river here. You will also get a chance to interact with the elephants and feed them. The sight of the mischievous baby elephants playing around and old aged elephants trying to take control of the little ones, is a totally different feeling and experience altogether.

7. Yala National Park

The Yala National Park is located in the South eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Leopards, wild cats, birds, elephants and monkeys are the most commonly found animals here. It is home to the world’s largest number of leopards, making this park one of the main tourist attractions. You can take the guided jeep tours and spot some of the beautiful animals while you drive through the lush green forest amidst the sound of birds and falls. The best time to visit would be during the summer season. If you are someone who enjoys nature and wildlife, this is one of the best places for you to visit in Sri Lanka.

Also Read: Best things to do in Sri Lanka for Adventure Junkies

8. Sigiriya

Located in the central part of the island, near the town of Dambulla, is the huge rock that has a uniqueness in its construction and hence draws the attention of tourists. The Sigiriya rock, built several years ago, has been carved into a palace with a lion-shaped entrance right in the centre of the rock. If you are a person who enjoys art, architecture and history, this is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

9. Adams Rock

The Adams rock is yet another beautiful sight that has a cone-shaped peak and is essentially a pilgrimage route. Pilgrims hike to the top of the hill during the early hours of the day, which ideally takes about 3 hours, just to watch the sunrise. A footprint can be found at the top — some believe it’s the footprint of Buddha, some believe it’s the footprint of Lord Shiva and some say it’s of Adams. The best time to visit this place would be between December and May.

10. Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka and is famous for the Bodhi Tree. The Bodhi Tree is the one under which Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment. Hence, this is another best place to visit in Sri Lanka for spiritually-aligned tourists. The ancient ruins here along with modern sculptures make it an enthralling sight. There are other historic and religious temples around the region on Anuradhapura and it is also famous for the ruins of the Sinhala civilisation.

Also Read: Perfect 5 days itinerary to Sri Lanka

Don’t you think exploring these jaw-dropping places would be worth your vacation with your loved ones? Visit the Pickyourtrail website to explore some amazing Sri Lanka tour packages. You could also enjoy the planning by customising your trip with us.