PLACES TO VISIT
Stunning Views
Ella – Witness The Countryside Charm
Looking for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka? Get enamored by the stunning views through Ella Gap overlooking a spectacular gap in the southern mountain wall. Situated in the middle of beautiful countryside, with small vegetable plots, tea plantations on the hill slopes and forests on the tops this hill station is nothing less than breathtaking. Ella undoubtedly, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka.
Location: Town in Sri Lanka
Famous for: Hikes, mountain views, train rides
Best time to visit: January to March is the best time to visit Ella as the chances of rainfall are low and you can also enjoy hiking
How to reach: Ella is 235 km from Colombo. You can take a direct train to Ella from Colombo Fort Train Station
Where to stay: Blue Ribbon Homestay, Ella Tree houses and Cabanas
Tourist attractions: Ravana’s Cave, Nine Arches Bridge, Ravana Falls.
Covered With Lush-Greenery
Nuwara Eliya
One of the most beautiful Sri Lanka tourist places, this 19th century hill station Nuwara Eliya retains its colonial ambiance with its golf course, gentlemen’s clubs and mock-Tudor buildings. It is one of the most beautiful locations in Sri Lanka for a scenic rail ride. Experience the stunning views of the surrounding tea plantations, waterfalls and dramatic mountains the train takes you from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. You wouldn’t want the ride to end! You can enjoy trekking in Kandy and explore the beauty of nature. It is one of the safest places to visiting Sri Lanka during Covid.
Location: Nuwara Eliya District, Central Sri Lanka
Famous for: Stunning views of the surrounding tea plantations
Best time to visit: February to May is the best time to visit Nuwara Eliya as the chances of rainfall are low and so is the temperature.
How to reach: There are frequent buses from Colombo and Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. However, thge bus ourney between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya takes a lot of time.
Where to stay: King Fern Cottage, Paradise Cottage, Haven Backpackers
Tourist attractions: Lake Gregory, Victoria Park, Pedro Tea Factory
See The Giant Beasts
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Can you imagine anything as heartwarming as staring at baby elephants as they enjoy a river soak? The Pinnawalla Elephant Orphanage has many reasons to be called one of the beautiful places in Sri Lanka! It won’t be hard to believe if you wouldn’t want to leave this paradise.
This place is 13 km away from the town of Kegalle and one can come from any public transport. This is a very popular tourist destination and gives visitors a very different kind of experience. Watching the baby elephants doing mischief and moving here and there is a lifetime experience. One cannot get to see all this anywhere else.
When you will come to this place, you will get many small reasons that you will definitely love this place. Therefore, whenever you come to Sri Lanka do visit this place as it’s one of the best places to see in Sri lanka.
Location: B199, Rambukkana 71100, Sri Lanka
Famous for: Having the largest herd of captive elephants
Timings: 9 AM -1 PM is when elephants proceed with their daily activities. The park remains open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
How to reach: Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is just 37 km from Kandy. You could take a train towards Kandy and get down at Kegalle, the nearest village to the orphanage. You can take an auto or tuk-tuk from here to the park.
Where to stay: Hotel Lagone
Tourist attractions: Pinnawala Zoo
The Ancient Ruins
Polonnaruwa
The next place in the list is again a city that is popular for the temples and this has to be one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. You could easily spend your day imagining the ancient city life at the ruins of Polonnaruwa. Well preserved and full of archaeological treasures with hundreds of ancient structures like tombs and temples, statues and stupas it is difficult to not be amazed by the ruins here.
This is known to everyone that Sri Lanka is the country of temples and also it has many monuments and heritages that depict its history and culture, it is one of the best Sri lanka tourist places. Polonnaruwa is one such place that is very popular among the tourists and one will get to experience the real life of Sri Lanka here.
So, if you are a spiritual person and also you have an interest in knowing the history, culture, and tradition of different countries, then you must visit this place. This place will give you the exact glimpses of Sri Lanka history and culture.
One would wonder as what are the things here, which will give the sneak peek of the Sri Lankan history? The answer to this question is that there are the remains of the old buildings and monuments that were once standing here.
Location: Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Famous for: Its green environment attractive tourist hotels
Best time to visit: July, August, and January are the best months to visit Polonnaruwaa. Avoid May-June as these are the hottest months in Polonnaruwaa.
How to reach: There are no direct trains to Polonnaruwa but what you can do is take a train from Colombo to Habarana and then cover the onward journey by bus or taxi.
Where to stay: EKHO Lake House, Wildescape Polonnaruwa, Binara Home Stays
Tourist attractions: Sigiriya, Gal Vihara, Prakrama Samudra
The UNESCO World Heritage Site
Adams Peak
The next destination is one of the most mesmerizing Sri Lanka tourist places and is known as Adam’s peak. Adam’s peak is amongst the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka. Climb the slopes at night to watch a breathtaking sunrise at dawn that would be hard to forget.
A biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is difficult to match the spectacular views from Adams Peaks in the whole of Sri Lanka, making it one of the best Sri lanka tourist places. The name itself of this place is unique and so is the destination. This place is situated in middle Sri Lanka and that one thing for which it is known is called Sri Pada. Sri Pada is basically considered as the footprints of Buddha.
This is in the form of a rock creation at the mountain above. Apart from this spiritual and religious importance, this place is known for the beauty that the vivid greenery provides it. Along with that, if you will go to the top of the peak, then you will witness some really amazing views of the surroundings. So, the little difficulties that you will have to bear are worth for the kind of experience that the place gives you.
Location: Central Sri Lanka
Famous for: Its rock formation
Best time to visit: Weathe-wise, January and May are the best months. However, avoid full moon days and Sri Lankan holidays if you don’t want to wait in long queues.
How to reach: Thouugh you will have to climb the steps, you can take a train from Colombo to reach the base of the peak. Take a direct train to Hatton from Colombo, Kandy, and other cities. Then take a bus or an auto to Dalhousie that is the closest town to Adama’s Peak
Where to stay: Slightly chilled hotel, Grand Adams Peak hotel
Tourist attractions: Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Laxapana Falls
Amidst The Wildlife
Yala National Park
Get dazzled by the leopards at Yala National Park, home to one of the highest densities of leopard in the world. Full of grassy plains, forest, lagoons, and coastline, this National Park is no less than a big cat paradise. A complete package of natural beauty and heritage, Sri Lankan beautiful places will capture your heart and makes it one of the must visit places in Sri Lanka.
A visit to all these gorgeous spots will make a trip an unforgettable experience. This place again comes in the list of the most visited places of Sri Lanka. It is somewhat 200 KMs away from the town of Bentota.
This is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries not just in that particular area, but among all the sanctuaries of Sri Lanka. One should hire a jeep to have a ride across the jungles of the Sanctuary. This ride of yours will be full of fun and adventure.
One can even spot many elephants and leopards while the jeep ride in the jungle. By just reading this article one can imagine how adventurous it would be to have such a ride. Therefore, Yala National park is one such place that one cannot miss at any cost if they are in Sri Lanka.
Location: Yala, Sri Lanka
Famous for: Being home to large number of animals
Best time to visit: February to June is a dry season when the chances of spotting wildlife are high.
How to reach: The drive to Yala National Park from Haputale is only one hour. There are direct trains from Colombo, Ella, Kandy, etc to Haputale.
Where to stay: Kulu Safaris, Elephant Lake Yala, Ceylon Wild Safaris
Tourist attractions: Kumana National Park, Ruhunu Maha Katagrama
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