Top Attractions

Sri Lanka known as ‘the pearl of the Indian Ocean’ is a splendid island with incredible diversity. One can drive, just within 4-5 hours from sea level to a height of over 6100 ft. During this short span of drive, a traveller will get a thrilling experience through a host of different geographical and climatic conditions.

Any tourist to Sri Lanka will never forget the evergreen forests with wind-stunted trees, botanical gardens with native flora and green tea estates on the mist-shrouded high mountains touching the sky.

The island’s coast stretching about 1340 km in length owns beautiful pristine sandy beaches in Unawatuna, Arugam Bay, Weligama-Tangalle Bay, Nilaveli-Uppaveli, Pigeon Island, Alankuda, Negambo, Beruwala and Bentota and Kosgoda.

You will be fascinated with the captivating beauty of lagoons, wetlands, rivers and various types of jungles rich with wildlife. Sri Lanka is one of the most delightful destinations in the world to visit.

Sri Lanka, the nature’s treasure, is the home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Written history of the country goes beyond 2550 years. Planned cities, magnificent palaces, and expansive manmade reservoirs, historical temples monasteries and green gardens are vivid examples showing the grandeur of the history of the island nation.

Sri Lanka’s cultural depth is recognized by the UNESCO, which has declared six archaeological World Heritage Sites in the country

• The sacred city of Anuradhapura
• The ancient city of Polonnaruwa
• The golden temple of Dambulla
• The ancient city of Sigiriya
• The sacred city of Kandy
• The old town of Galle and its fortifications

The seventh World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka is an ecological example, The Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Visitors can see these World Heritage Sites within a compact area called the Cultural Triangle.

The Cultural triangle is situated in the centre of the island and covers an area which includes the World Heritage cultural sites of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, the Ancient City of Sigiriya, the Ancient City of Dambulla and the Sacred City of Kandy. These sites are considered to be high universal value because of the historical significance of the constructions.

More details at: https://www.culturaltriangle.com

Important Places to visit in the Cultural Triangle

• The Dagobas (dome-shaped structures)
• The remains of ancient buildings in the ruined cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa
• The stairway to the temple at Dambulla
• The sensual frescoes of heavenly maidens at the palace at the rock of Sigiriya
• Former royal capital of Kandy (Kandy is a bastion of traditional culture with its distinctive architecture, art and music). ‘Dalada Maligawa’ or ‘Sacred Temple of the Tooth’ which houses the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha is also situated in Kandy
• Dutch fort at Galle: The colonial heritage of the country belonging to the mid-17th century. This is regarded as the best-preserved Dutch Fort in Asia with 14 massive bastions, a grid system of streets, and some original Dutch bungalows. Dutch fort at Galle is one of the most unique attractions in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s ancient civilization endows the island with a legacy of colourful festivals relating to the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions. These festivals are commemorated with the flair of people who are genius for pageantry and ritual.

Every full moon day is a public holiday known as ‘Poya’. The most important is ‘Vesak Poya’ which falls in the month of May which marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away (Pariniwana). Worth seeing are the illuminated pandals (bamboo frameworks), hung with pictures depicting events in the life of the Buddha.

Sri Lanka’s most tourist-oriented festival is the ‘Kandy Esala Perahera’, held in Kandy over 10 days in late July to early August and climaxing on ‘Esala Poya’. ‘Perahera’ means “procession” and that’s exactly what occurs nightly-a magical passing-by of drummers, dancers, whip-crackers, acrobats and robed elephants. A caparisoned tusker carries the reason for the festival, the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha for the people to venerate.

Hindu festivals include Vel, held in Colombo in July, in which God Skanda’s silver-plated chariot and vel (spear) are paraded across the city, and the Kataragama Festival in the deep south, also connected with Skanda, in which fire-walkers participate.

Sri Lanka has always been a place that refreshes not just the mind and body, but also the soul and spirit. And for thousands of years, the most popular method used to restore and rejuvenate tired bodies and weary souls has been Ayurveda-the oldest and most holistic medical system available in the world. Sri Lanka has been a centre of spiritual and physical healing for 2,550 years. Ayurvedic programmes consist of a range of herbal treatments and various types of baths and massages, together with cleansing and revitalization techniques such as yoga, meditation and special diets.

Sri Lanka now has a number of spas, mainly on the west coast, which not only provide Ayurveda but also other Eastern and Western therapies, such as Thai massage, hydrotherapy, herbal baths, reflexology and beauty treatments. For those seeking spiritual nourishment, meditation courses are also available.

The cultivation of many types of rice, spices, vegetables and fruit, coupled with past foreign influences, ensures that Sri Lanka enjoys a varied and first-class cuisine. As a staple, rice is consumed with an assortment of colourful curries (eggplant, potato, green banana, chicken, fish) that delicately-spiced to suit everyone.

Other Sri Lankan staples include hoppers (a pancake-like snack), string hoppers (steamed rice noodles) and pittu (a mixture of flour and coconut). Lamprais – rice and accompaniments baked in plantain leaves – is a legacy of the Dutch. Seafood lovers will rejoice at the fresh fish, prawns, crab, squid and crayfish available. Desserts include buffalo curd eaten with palm-honey, and the Malay-derived caramel-like wattalapam.

Sri Lanka has a wonderful array of snacks including oil cakes, Kokis, Aluwa  as well as spiced cutlets, patties, pastries and varieties of sweet buns.

Delectable fruits include the popular mango, pineapple, banana and papaya, with lesser-known but distinctive examples such as sapodilla, mangosteen, rambuttan, woodapple, custard apple and beli will give unforgettable dietary experience.

Shopping in Sri Lanka can take many forms: haggling with a handicraft-seller while sunbathing on the beach; choosing fruit from the traditional village store, the kadé, while side-stepping sacks of rice; or checking out the bargain-priced latest international fashions (Sri Lanka is a major garment exporter) while enjoying the ambience of a luxurious shopping centre in Colombo.

Sri Lanka has the widest variety of precious stones among the world’s gem producing countries – blue sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, cat’s eye, garnets, moonstones, aquamarines and topazes being just a dazzling handful. What’s more, Sri Lanka naturally has a tradition in jewellery-making, who will bring your gems to live.

Visit a handicraft shop and familiarize yourself with traditional designs such as mythical animals, lion, swan, elephant and lotus which are most evident in brasswork (boxes, trays, lanterns, vases) and silverware (ornately carved and filigree jewellery, tea-sets) that make excellent souvenirs. In addition, ritual masks, lacquer ware, batik and handloom, textiles, lace, and wood carvings are popular.