Sri Lanka - Top Travel Destinations, Tourist Spots and Attractions

The amazing tourist destinations in Sri Lanka have boosted tourism in Sri Lanka by leaps. Known as the Tear drop of India or The Island of Dharma, this island country has lots of beautiful destinations for you to offer. You can enjoy the views of

• Hindu temples
• Buddhist monasteries
• Relics of ancient dynasties and civilizations
• Tropical forests, beaches, botanical gardens and much more. 

1. Colombo

Being the capital, main port, major commercial city and the largest city of Sri Lanka, Colombo has everything needed for a holiday destination. The city is a perfect blend of modern and historical views. There are beaches, temples, churches, shopping arenas as well as historical attractions.

Some of major highlights are the Fort, Pettah, National Museum, Dehiwala Zoo, Wolvendaal Church and Mount Lavinia.

2. Negombo

Negombo situated by the shores of a lagoon by the same name once has been a trading port for Portugese and Dutch. Negombo offers wide beaches, a great selection of hotels and guesthouses, excellent restaurants, well stocked supermarkets and many water sport facilities.

Attractions in the city are the Old Dutch fort gate built in 1672, the Dutch Canal, old churches and fishing villages.

3. Beruwela

Beruwela has maintained its small fishing village charm despite being next to the major beach resorts of Bentota and Aluthgama. You can see fresh catch brought by the fishermen early in the morning. Beruwela has a 130 km stretch of beach where you can enjoy swimming and stroll along the calm markets. There is also a turtle hatchery nearby. While he beach areas and surrounding residential areas are quiet and calm, the center of Beruwela is a busy commercial town.

1. Anuradhapura

It is the early capital of Sri Lanka and a place of archaeologist's delight since there are several monuments of historical importance. You can find here some of the most famous as well as the tallest dagoba of Sri Lanka, remains from palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths and the temple of the holy Bo-tree. The city is considered very sacred by the Buddhists.

Some of the nearby attractions are Aukana Buddha, Guard Stone of Thuparama, Isurumuniya Lovers, Ruwanveli Seya etc.

2. Buddha Kandy

Known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy has a very rich history. The place is nestled in the hills at an altitude of 488 m. The busy commercial city is famous for a huge cultural pageant that takes place in the month of July or August known as theKandy Perahara. It is a colorful procession where thousands of drummers and dancers perform in the streets of Kandy, accompanying a parade of ornamented elephants. The sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is carried by the leading tusker and the procession moves along the streets for seven consecutive nights and concludes on the day of the August full moon.

Some of the major highlights of this place are The Temple of Tooth, Gadaladeniya Temple, Peradeniya Gardens, Knuckle Mountains etc.

3. Dambulla

Dambulla is a small town which mainly consists of over 80 caves and has been used by monks for meditation. The place forms a part of the site declared as the World Heritage Site. Five of these caves are a must see for the tourists who visit this place since they consist of several statues and paintings.

Dambulla Viharaya is one of the major tourist attractions in Dumbulla, which is valuable treasure house of precious materials. Other places of tourist interest are Iron Wood Forest and Rose Quartz Mountain.

1. Galle

Galle has been declared as a World Heritage City by UNESCO and the tourist attraction of this place are many. Some of the major attractions of this place are Lighthouse, the Clock Tower, Dutch Creek, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Koggala Lake and the Museum of Folk Art And Culture. Tourists can enjoy water sports at the famous Hikkaduwa Beach in Galle. Ahangama is a popular surfing locale, a must visit spot during your trip to Galle. You can also learn about some of the famed and historically significant shipwrecks that have been unearthed from the sea near Galle.

2. Matara

Matara is one of the largest cities of Sri Lanka and is famous for its natural beauty-white sandy beaches, green paddy fields, verdant tea estates, and fragrant spice plantations. The diverse culture and historical tradition also attract tourists all over the world to this place.

Some of the highlights of this place are Matara Fort, Devinuwara, Weligama, Mulgirigala Rock Temple etc.

3. Unawatuna

Unawatuna is described as most wonderful beach location by the nature and rated as one of the twelve best beaches in the world. The beach is more suitable for swimming and snorkeling than most of the other beach destinations in Sri Lanka and you can also engage in scuba diving and surfing here.

Some of the attractions are The Jungle Beach, Roomassagla Hills, Kathaluwa Temple and the Galle Fort.

1. Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. It is a destination mainly meant for surfing and is often attracted to by low budget tourists. The bay hosts a large fleet of fishing boats which operates off the beach. Even though the main beach is a bit dirty, nearby beaches are more esthetically pleasing and also have excellent waves. Work is slowly under progress to renovate this area.

2. Trincomale

Trincomalee is a port city, built on a peninsula on the east coast of Sri Lanka, about 110 miles northeast of Kandy. It has one of the word's finest harbors with its long clean beaches, great surf, colorful town and shrubby park teeming with wildlife. The city is the main centre of the Tamil speaking people. The place was historically referred to as Gokarna and has played a major role in maritime and international trading history of Sri Lanka.

"The tourist attractions in Sri Lanka are really very interesting and informative. If you love traveling then Sri Lanka is one place that you must not miss visiting in your lifetime."

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