Trincomalee
The Trincomalee boasts a record as the fifth largest natural harbour in the world. The city is located on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. The Bay of Trincomalee provides security and is openly accessible to all types of sea crafts in all weathers. The beaches are used for recreational purposes such as surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching.The hot springs in Trincomalee is always a major tourist attraction. There are the seven hot springs of Kanniya on the way to Trincomalee. The water is worm while the temperature of each spring various from one another.
Yala
Yala National Park is the most popular and most visited second largest wild safari in Sri Lanka.Of all the National Parks in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park gives the best opportunity to witness Sri Lanka’s broad variety of wildlife. Yala is home to considerable population of elephants which varies seasonally. Yala National Park is rich in birdlife and around 130 species have been recorded.
Kithulgala
Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. A rain forestry area, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in Sri Lanka.The Kelani river is wide at Kitulgala.. Inside the jungles of Kitulgala there are plenty of camping opportunities which can be coupled with White Water Rafting, Bird Watching Jungle Walks, River bathing and many adventure activities. Kitulgala also attracts bird watching enthusiasts and nature lovers in addition to the White Water Rafters.
Galle
Galle is the fifth largest city in Sri Lanka and it attracts many travellers due to its location in the Southern part of the island. Galle is the best example of a city built by the Portuguese in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the city's natural harbour. Koggala, which is located close by to the Galle town, is popular for its Museum of Folk, Art & Culture. The Koggala Lake also attracts many visitors who love bird watching in the number of small islands that accommodates varieties of birds in Sri Lanka. Another famous tourist attraction in Galle is the Unawatuna Beach, which is rich in its bio diversity.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa, a popular tourist destination in the Galle District is renowned for its beach and corals. Coral Sanctuary is spread out a couple of hundred meters off shore from Hikkaduwa shore, it has approximately seventy varieties of multi coloured corals.The Coral Garden here is considered to be the best out of all such coral gardens found in Asia. Many species of fish and large turtles are found here. The beach - reputed as the second best surfing spot in Sri Lanka.
Mirissa
Located in the Matara District of the Southern Province. This small sandy tropical beach boasts some of Sri Lanka’s best and most stunning sunsets and sunrises. Mirissa is one of the island's main whale and dolphin watching locations. It is also a fishing port. The whale watching season starts in November and ends in April. Ocean is warm and calm during these months. Mirissa Beach is rapidly becoming a popular Surfer hangout during the months of November to March when it’s the rainy season on the East coast.
Galle Fort
This is one of the UNESCO heritage site, Basking on the southern coast of Sri Lanka in the bay of Galle. The Fort was first built by the Portuguese in 1588 before being extensively fortified by the Dutch in the mid 1600s. It is known as the oldest fort in Asia, named as a world heritage by UNESCO.Although the Galle fort is famous as a Dutch fort, the construction of the fort was started by Portuguese.Nowadays Galle city is famous all over the world due to Gall Dutch Fort stated facing the Indian ocean.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, situated about 5.5 km to the west from the city of Kandy, It is near to Mahaveli river which is the longest river in Sri Lanka It is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. The location and the environment of the garden are matching to spend a leisure time and it is a fantastic place to attract the tourists.
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993AD.It was first declared as the capital city by King Vijayabahu I and today is a showcase of the great ancient Sri Lankan architecture dating back to 12th Century AD ,which was interwoven with many Buddhist monasteries and monuments which were built by the King Parakramabahu. The ruins of the ancient city stand on the east shore of a large artificial lake, the Topa Wewa Lake, or Parakrama Samudraya built by King Parakramabahu I. The Council Chamber of the King Nissankamalla is of importance to learn about the, political structure of the State during the Polonnaruwa Era.
Colombo
Originally named Kolomthota, The name 'Colombo' was first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505 and is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhalese name 'Kolon thota'. The history of the city itself dates to the 5th century. Fort, which is located between the Colombo Harbour to the north and the murky urban lagoon of Beira Lake to the south, is known as the heart of Colombo. Due to its prime location on the western coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo grew as a seaport for trade between Asia and the West. It was used by the Moors, Romans, Arabs, Persians, and Chinese ships for the island's much sought after cinnamon and gems.
Horton Plains
The original name of the area was Maha Eliya Thenna ("great open plain"). But in the British period the plains were renamed after Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton. Horton Plains is well recognized for its rich biodiversity, it hosts a wide range of wildlife and Endemic species. The area is popular with birdwatchers and it contains 21 bird species which occur only on Sri Lanka. Horton Plains is a popular tourist destination, with World's End being the key attraction. Horton Plains was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the coldest and windiest location in the country.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura was the first royal capital in ancient Sri Lanka dates going back to the 3rd century BC, located around 205 kms north of Colombo.The ruins of Anuradhapura Buddhists Monasteries are one of South Asia’s most evocative sights. Once it was a major center of Sri Lankan civilization.It is a fascinating ancient city include Buddhist temple complexes, ruins and huge Pagodas with the first Temple named as Isurumiuniya.
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is the highest town in Sri Lanka, Situated at around 2000m above sea level and surrounded by lush tea plantations. It is only 180 Km from Colombo. Nuwara Eliya: the "city of lights," is the main hill resort of Sri Lanka and the heart of the tea industry. Nuwara Eliya is known as ‘Little England’ due to its climatic features and because the town has been designed and built to look like a typical English village. The Hakgala Botanical Gardens is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka and it is located in a scenic part of Nuwara Eliya. Famous waterfalls such as Devon,Ramboda and St.Clair falls are situated close to Nuwara Eliya and the Lake Gregory in the heart of the city is a much sought out tourist attraction. This is a famous city for epic Ramayanaya.
Kandy
Kandy has a rich history as it is the last kingdom of Sri Lanka and ruled by Sinhala’s Last king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. It was originally known as Senkadagala pura, Located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the activated Buddhist city in the Buddhist world and famous for its Daily Thewawa (pooja) and Esala Perahera One of the biggest Buddhist celebrations of the year that takes place in the month of August. It was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO
Dambulla
This Rock cave temple complex dates back to the first century BC. Major attractions of the area include the Fresco ceiling, largest and best preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings, which have been converted into shrine rooms. The caves, built at the base of a 150m high rock during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa period.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a rock fortress named as a world heritage site by UNESCO and the 8th wonder in the world, located in the cultural triangle formed by Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. It was the largest and most sophisticated single construction project ever undertaken in Ancient Sri lanka and one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning. The complex surrounding the famous rock was built by King Kashyapa in 5th century AD. Sigiriya is famous for its ancient frescoes of heavenly maiden Which are similar to those found at Ajanta Caves in India. Another interesting construction is the Mirror Wall. Sigiriya has its unique identity due to its Archaeological Wonder of Sri Lankan City Planning, Arts, Engineering and Hydraulic Technology of the 5th Century AD.
Pinnawala
Pinnawala is notable for having the largest herd of captive elephants in the world.The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was first established by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1975 for feeding and providing care and sanctuary to orphaned baby elephants that were found in the wild. The orphanage was established to feed, nurse and house young elephants found abandoned by their mothers. It’s the only place in the world where you can see hundreds of these majestic animals at close range.
Negombo
Negombo is one of the major cities in Sri Lanka, located on the west coast of the island and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in Western Province, Sri Lanka. The name "Negombo" was first used by the Portuguese. It is located approximately 35 km north of Colombo City. One of the most distinct tourist attractions in Negombo is the Old Dutch Fort. This is a structure that goes back to Sri Lanka’s colonial days when the nation was once under the rule of the Portuguese and then the Dutch. Negombo, is a multi-religious city But called “the Little Rome” as it is a Roman Catholic area with a large number of historical churches coming from Portuguese times. Negombo is known for its huge and old fishing industry and also home to the country's second-largest fish market, with traditional boat fishing harbour. Negombo offers one of the best beaches on the west coast of Sri Lanka.