Things to see and do Sri Lanka

posted 28th March 2019 by Danica Wilson in Destinations

 

‘One of the finest islands in the world.’

 

Sri Lanka was once described by Marco Polo as one of the finest islands in the world.  Whilst it’s relatively small and easy to explore, the trick is knowing what is on offer and how much time you need for each experience. Here you can explore the jungles, tea plantations, UNESCO heritage sites or simply laze the days away on the beach and savour its culinary delights.

 

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Cosmopolitan Colombo

To get a real taste of Sri Lanka, we will look around town. This Garden City of the East is the capital and home to an abundance of sites from colonial buildings with captivating heritage to temples and marketplaces.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Catch of the day in Negombo

Just under an hours’ drive from Colombo you find yourself in the seaside town of Negombo. This town is known for its fantastic fish market. Watch trawlers come in, hoist up and unload their catches. It is open every day from 2am. Great for a sunrise photo opportunity if you’re up for it.

 

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Conquer Sigiriya Rock

Welcome to Sri Lanka’s spectacular and ancient rock fortress. This is a great spot to visit and a must climb for sure. Home of King Kassapa’s palace ruins, the top is reachable by stairs build into the side of the mountain. It features the Lion Rock and the remains of palace and fortress. It’s 180 metres high and one of the revered sites in the country’s Central Province near the town of Dambulla.  When you get to the top you are rewarded with an impressive 360 detree view of the jungle below. This is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sri Lanka.

 

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Cave Temple of Dambulla

Not far away from Sigiriya is the Golden Dambulla Cave Temple.

It has been a pilgrimage destination for 22 centuries and one of the largest and best preserved cave temples in the country.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Cup of Ceylon

Sri Lanka is home to Ceylon tea and an integral part of life here. You can visit tea plantations around the hill country and plateau town of Nuwara Eliya. Train rides around this area are scenically spectacular crossing the mountains inside forests and through the morning fog.  You can visit one of the tea plantations and learn about the process and even pick your own plants. Many plantations offer tea samplings, lovely gardens for afternoon tea and of course you get to sit in Lipton’s seat. As well as tea, this region has waterfalls, hills and mountains to explore.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Calling all history buffs

Galle is a fortified town built by the Dutch back in the 16th century. It’s an hour south of Colombo and really worth visiting fort down on the west coast of Sri Lanka. It is a fascinating blend of South Asian and European influences seen in its architecture and cuisine. There are over 400 places of historical importance in Galle Fort town, so it will keep you busy for a day without question. Galle also has quite the food scene and seafood is a highlight of course.  It was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1988.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

City of Kandy

Kandy won its World Heritage status back in 1988 due to its Temple of the Tooth.  This is a special container that apparently holds a tooth of the Buddha. It is formally referred to as the site of Sri Dalada Maligawa.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Central Highlands hiking trails

Over 2,000 metres above sea level you find one of Sri Lanka’s natural UNESCO World heritage sites, The Central Highlands. This includes Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest. The highlight of the highlands are the hiking trails, a must for naturalists keen to escape the hustle and bustle of Colombo and Kandy.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Cats of Sri Lanka

Yala National Park is perhaps the best place to visit if you are wanting to see the big cats in Sri Lanka known as leopards. Yala has the highest concentration of leopard in the world per square kilometres and is also a significant sanctuary for Sri Lankan elephants, aquatic birds, monkeys and other plains game. It is located right down in the south east and combines beautifully with time out on the coast as your safari finale.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Can you hear waves calling?

Arugam Bay is located on the southeast coast of the country and this little town attracts big attention from surfers across the globe. Even if you are not one with a surfboard, you’ll enjoy time out on the beach, visiting the town’s historic temples or the Kumana National Park nearby.

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Things to do in Sri Lanka

Cameras ready for sea safaris

Mirissa is another coastal town in the Southern province and a really popular beachside village. There are little hideaway beaches tucked along the coastline and a thriving nightlife scene for young ones wanting to dance.  This is also the starting point for whale and dolphin watching.

Is Sri Lanka now on your bucketlist?

See our Sri Lanka Tour June 2020
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Sri Lanka things to see and do