Sri Lanka - Top Tourist Attractions
Your Guide to Sri Lanka’s Top Attractions
The island of Sri Lanka is steeped in history, culture, natural wonders, and good food. Located in the Indian Ocean, the island has a history that spans over 3,000 years, Buddhist writings dating back to the 29 BC and a geographical location that makes it an important part of the Silk Road.
But Sri Lanka is fast becoming a favorite destination for travelers from around the world because of these unique top attractions:
The Sigiriya Rock Fort
Perhaps Sri Lanka’s most iconic natural wonder, the Sigiriya Rock Fort rises 200 meters from the ground where a flat plateau lies at the summit. The climb to the top is already an adventure in itself where you can see some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world.
On the summit, you get to explore the relics of a monastery and palace and see other remnants of an ancient civilization that once thrived in this plateau.
Galle Fort
Showcasing a blend of Asian and European architecture, Galle Fort is now one of Sri Lanka’s top attractions for its many hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. But before it was a cosmopolitan hub, the Portuguese built Galle Fort in 1505 when they landed on the island. Later on, the Dutch took over and added a sea wall that still stands today.
Dambulla Cave Temple
One of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, the Dambulla Cave Temple is where thousands of devotees from around the world flock during full-moon days as part of their pilgrimage.
It is said that there are more than 80 caves around this area, but the five most famous caves are decorated with paintings and statues. Some of these caves trace their history back to 1000 BC when early Sri Lankans lived in them and naturally made temples to worship in.
The Temple of the Tooth
Another sacred site and one of the top attractions for devotees in Sri Lanka, the Temple of the Tooth contains one of Buddha’s teeth, which was believed to have been taken on his deathbed and smuggled from India to Sri Lanka.
Since then, the relic has been a significant part of Buddhism and the temple a pilgrimage site for many devotees. In fact, pujas are held twice a day to give visitors a glimpse of the tooth in its special casing.
Mirissa
For the perfect beach getaway in Sri Lanka, head to Mirissa, the beautiful long beach lined by palm trees, hotels, and restaurants.
Aside from swimming, you can also enjoy a lot of water activities including surfing, whale watching and snorkeling in Mirissa. And if you’re looking for the best views of the coastline, head to Parrot Rock.
Finally, you can’t leave Sri Lanka without trying local dishes like rice and curry, wholemeal roti, pittu kiribath and wattalapam. Locals usually serve their food on a lotus or plantain leaf for an authentic Sri Lankan meal experience. You can see Dutch, Portuguese and Middle Eastern influences in traditional Sri Lankan dishes combined with its Burgher culture.