Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

At Anuradhapura, ancient city of the Sinhala kings, Buddhism was first founded in the third century BC. It is a important archaeological site with big artificial lakes, frescoes, temples, dagobas - solid hemispheres with spires), 1,600 square stone pillars that supported a 9-storied monastery, museums, royal baths and bas-reliefs of elephants. There is also the holy Sri Maha Bodhi Tree that flowered from a sapling of the original tree at Bodh Gaya in eastern India. Under this tree, the Buddha attained enlightenment. Anradhapura is 175 km to the northeast of Colombo.

Tourism in Sri Lanka : Aukana is the site of an impressive 13 meter statue of Buddha from the fifth century AD. There is another smaller stone statue at Aukana, 11 kilometers to the west. Aukana is 130 km to the northeast of Colombo. These are some of the good tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.

The capital of Sri Lanka has good restaurants, hotels and shopping. Galle Road is the north-south artery of Colombo and at its northern end is the Fort, complex of government buildings and Galle Sea Green which is in fact brown. There is also the famed colonial times Galle Face Hotel which predates the Peninsula in Hong Kong, Raffles in Singapore and Oriental in Bangkok. Do take time off to nurse a drink and admire the sunset from the hotel. Near the fort is also Pettah, the traditional bazaar district. 65 kilometers to Colombo's south is the beautiful sandy Bentota Beach, ideal for swimming and sun worshiping.

Sri Lankan Tourism : Galle on the southern coast, with a 17th century Dutch fort is a must for colonial architecture lovers. There are many old churches in the fort complex. Unawatuna, a cove protected beach five kilometers to Galle's south offers good snorkeling.

Sightseeing in Sri Lanka : The best game reserve is Yala National Park in souther most tip of Sri Lanka that offers wild boars, elephants, peacocks and other birds.

Nuwara Eliya town at 1990 meters is in hill country. The town is very English, home to mountains, waterfalls, tea gardens and the best golf course in the country and Hakgala Botanical Gardens with roses and rare roses and mountain orchids. While in the vicinity do visit the 2,245 meters sacred Adam's Peak and Horton Plains National Park, a plateau with grasslands.

Kandy (one of the best tourist attractions in Sri Lanka) is in rare hill country with a man made lake, Kandy was the last seat of Sinhala kings, site of Sri Lanka's greatest yearly extravaganza, Esala Perahera. The procession is grand the last few days with fire-jugglers, whip-crackers, flag-bearers, dancers and drummers and some 50 decked elephants ( in colored lights too). It is held in late July or early August. Also visit the Kandyan Art Association and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and the Buddhist artifact center, Samadhi Cultural Center.

From Kandy, do make a day trip to Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage and spice gardens of Matale with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, curry leaves, peppercorns and saffron growing wild. Kandy is 100 kilometers to northeast of Colombo and a train journey from Colombo to Kandy takes you through beautiful scenery.

There are also other good tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. It is no wonder then that Sri Lanka is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia.