Are You Looking to Relax Lazily on a Hammock?10 Cool Places to Visit in Sri Lanka (2020) and Enjoy a Great Time Away from the Hustle-Bustle!

The gorgeous landscapes of this island country have made it a prime tourist destination for travellers from across the world Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) is an island country situated just south of the Indian sub-continent to the south-west of the Bay of Bengal and south-east of the Arabian Sea. It is a democratic republic with a land area of about 65,500 sq. km. Sri Lanka became an independent nation on February 4, 1948, and today its legislative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte whereas it is the commercial capital and the most important city is Colombo.

Sri Lanka's history can be traced to nearly 500,000 years and its cultural heritage is also ancient going back to 2,500 years. Historically, Sri Lanka has benefited in a great way as a result of its strategic location on the maritime routes that connect Europe and the Far East. The beautiful country has been a renowned trading hub for spices, precious stones and luxury goods for centuries.

Sri Lanka has a deep and rich culture that has seen influences from Buddhism and Hinduism. Sri Lankans celebrate both Buddhist and Hindu festivals like a new year in April. One of their most popular and oldest Buddhist festivals – Kandy Esala Perahara or the “Festival of the Tooth” is celebrated in July-August every year with a grand procession featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers and elegantly decorated elephants which is a great tourist attraction.

Sri Lanka, being a separate island country is not connected with India by road and rail. There were some ferries plying between India’s southern port, Chennai to Colombo but they were suspended a few years back. Consequently, the best way to reach Sri Lanka is by air. Sri Lanka’s biggest and most popular airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (also known as the Colombo International Airport – CMB) in Colombo. This is well connected with all the major cities in India including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, etc. The travel time varies from approximately 1½ hours to 3½ hours, depending on the port of departure.

As compared to other countries, Sri Lanka has a relatively smaller landmass and hence travel time from one city to the other is short and gives ample opportunity to the traveller to soak in the natural beauty of the country. You can travel within Sri Lanka using the extensive bus network which connects all major cities with Colombo. Both public and private bus options are available. You also have the option of hiring a cab or minibus. Don’t forget to take a trishaw ride for short journeys. Popularly known as “Tuktuks” these are ideal for travel within cities and towns and fares are extremely economical.

You can also try taking a train ride while in Sri Lanka. The country has an extensive rail network consisting of main lines, coastal lines and up-country lines. The rail network connects Colombo to all major tourist destinations and the train journeys are more relaxed and comfortable as compared to other modes of transport. For the travellers who love train travel, don’t forget to travel in the Viceroy Express – an express train hauled by a vintage British steam locomotive.

Sri Lanka, also known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” is a land that offers so much in so little. Sri Lanka with an area of just about 65,500 sq. km. is home to as many as 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,300 km of coastline with pristine beaches, 15 national parks teeming with flora and fauna and rich history and culture going back several centuries. Sri Lanka, one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world, also has 500,000 acres of lush green tea-estates, numerous botanical gardens and rainforest peaks – the latter, a delight for avid trekkers and hikers. With friendly people, scenic train rides, untrodden white beaches, delightful cuisine, affordable and easy accessibility, Sri Lanka is a traveller’s delight like no other.

Sri Lanka, being close to the Equator, experiences a warm tropical climate, with temperatures remaining fairly constant all through the year. Most of the coastal and lowland areas see temperatures between 26°C – 30°C while hilly regions experience temperatures from 18° – 22°C. Your trip to Sri Lanka will, however, be governed by the 2 monsoons which the country faces. There is a southwest monsoon that brings rain to the west and southwest coastal region and the hilly region from April to June and the northeast monsoon which comes from the northeast but impacts the entire country from November – December.

Although Sri Lanka is an all-year-round destination, if you wish to travel through the entire country, the best time for you to travel is between January and March when it is warm and dry with a lot of sunshine and the inter-monsoon season during July – September when the beaches witness hot and dry weather.

Sigiriya (or Lion’s Rock) situated at a distance of 170 km from Colombo in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, is an ancient rock palace and fortress site on top of a massive rock column having a height of 200 m higher than the surrounding landscape. The rock plateau was formed from the magma of an extinct volcano. The Sigiriya complex, built almost 1,500 years ago, on top of the rock includes palace ruins surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, gardens, reservoirs, alleys and fountains. The entrance to the complex, located on the northern side was designed like a huge lion of which only the claws now remain. The other features of Sigirya are the beautiful frescos on the western wall and the Mirror Wall which used to be polished in ancient times to such an extent that the king could see his reflection in it. While you are here don’t forget to visit the Sigiriya Museum to get insight into Sri Lanka’s history and culture. Sigiriya is a World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.

Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful hill station situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka at an altitude of 1,868 m. Founded by the Britishers in 1846 it is also known as “Little England”. Known for its pleasant temperate climate, Nuwara Eliya is the most important tea production centre in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is home to beautiful colonial buildings (Queen’s Cottage and the General’s House), waterfalls, golf course, tea plantations, hills and the Pidurutalagala – Sri Lanka’s tallest mountain standing majestically at 2,524 m. In addition to seeing how tea is prepared in the tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, you can also visit Horton Plains National Park, a World Heritage Site and a super biodiversity hotspot. For incredible views of the surrounding areas and the ocean beyond, visit the “End of the World” cliff at a height of 1,200 m.

Just 65 km east of Colombo is one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful tourist destinations which also has tremendous religious significance – Adam’s Peak or Sri Pada (Sacred Footprint). Adam’s Peak is Sri Lanka’s 5th highest peak, a conical peak standing tall at 2,243 m. A rock formation (depression) near the summit, in the shape of a huge footprint (considered to be the sacred footprint of Buddha, Hanuman, Shiva and Adam depending on the religious beliefs of the believer) has considerable spiritual importance for Buddhists. Adams’ Peak is a World Heritage Site and a biodiversity hotspot and the spectacular views from the summit are one of the most mesmerizing in Sri Lanka. The 7 km trek over 5,500 steps is an exhausting one and most tourists and pilgrims start the trek from Dalhousie in the night so as to reach the summit just before dawn. As dawn breaks, the sun casts a spectacular shadow of the mountain on the clouds nearby which gradually moves towards the mountain as the sun rises higher in the sky.

Situated 260 km southeast of Colombo on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Yala National Park in Sri Lanka’s 2nd largest but most visited national park spread over 980 sq. km. Yala is full of grasslands, forests, lagoons and a beautiful coastline. It has the highest density of leopards in the world. Take a safari in the Yala National Park and you will be able to spot elephants, water buffaloes, monkeys, deer, crocodiles, etc., in addition to leopards. Yala is also home to 215 bird species. You can also visit Sithulpauwwa, an ancient rock temple and monastery which once housed as many as 12,000 monks. To plan your trip, visit Yala National Park official website.

Polonnaruwa was the 2nd ancient capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993 A.D. Founded by the Chola Dynasty it reached its peak in the 12th and 13th centuries under Sinhalese kings when it was an extremely important centre for trade, commerce and religion. Polonnaruwa has perhaps the best-preserved archaeological treasures in Sri Lanka. It is full of ancient temples, tombs, statues, a palace and other civic and religious sites. Important tourist attractions include the Archaeological Museum, Royal Palace, Audience Hall, Sacred Quadrangle, etc. Another World Heritage Site, your trip to Sri Lanka will be incomplete without a visit to Polonnaruwa.

Galle is an important city 160 km south of Colombo on Sri Lanka’s southwest coastline. Galle was founded by the Portuguese in 1588 but was taken over by the Dutch in 1640. The Dutch built the fortified town of Galle including the Galle Dutch Fort which is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on 3 sides and is a World Heritage Site. Galle is best explored on foot – walking past the Dutch colonial buildings, churches, mosques and mansions will take you to a completely different time and age. In addition to the Galle Fort, the other important attractions include St. Mary’s Cathedral, a natural harbour, Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse, a maritime museum and the Galle International Stadium – considered to be one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world.

If you wish to relax during your holiday without feeling too much pressure of running here and going there, then Mirissa is the place to be. About 150 km south of Colombo and just beyond the town of Galle is the beautiful fishing town of Mirissa where fishing is the livelihood of most of its people. You can spend your time relaxing in a hammock sipping your favourite cocktail, going dolphin and whale watching, walking on the beautiful golden beaches as the palm trees sway in the breeze, watching spectacular sunrises and sunsets or indulging in some water sports. While in Mirissa don’t forget to taste the delicious local cuisine.

Kandy, Sri Lanka’s 2nd largest city is situated in the central highland mountains of the Central Province. The last capital of the Sinhalese kings, it held sway over the land from 1592 – 1815. Kandy, set on a plateau and surrounded by mountains is home to numerous tea and rubber plantations and biodiverse rainforests. Kandy has the scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambra Lake) at its centre and the drive from Colombo to Kandy is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Kandy is, however, a World Heritage Site and is best known for the Temple of the Tooth – one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world. The temple has a container that holds a tooth of Lord Buddha. It is believed that whoever holds the sacred tooth has the power to control the entire Buddhist population. Don’t forget to participate in the Kandy Esala Perahara – the Festival of the Tooth organized every year in July and August.

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka about 320 km east of Colombo. Arugam Bay is considered one of the top surfing destinations in the world and is extremely popular with surfers. The biggest crowds are seen in April and October when the waves can reach as high as 1.5 – 2 m. The most popular surfing points are Main Point, Whiskey Point and Peanut Farm. The bay is also a great destination for relaxing and having a laid-back vacation. Take a stroll on the long and beautiful beach, lie in the shade or go on a short drive to Panama and Kumana National Park.

Dambulla is a town in the Central Province of Sri Lanka situated 150 km northeast of Colombo. The Dambulla Cave Temple Complex is the largest and best-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka and was conferred the World Heritage Site status in 1991. The cave temple complex is more than 2,200 years old and comprises of 5 caves. This place is a treasure trove of Buddhist culture with several beautiful statues, shrines and murals depicting the life and times of Lord Buddha. These include 153 statues of Lord Buddha and several statues of other Sri Lankan kings, gods and goddesses. The complex is situated 160 m above the road and presents a spectacular 360° view of the lush green countryside.