Anuradhapura , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka , world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. The Civilization which was built upon this city was one of the greatest civilizations of Asia and in the world. The city now a UNESCO heritage site, lies 205 km (127 mi) north of the current capital Colombo in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, which is sacred to the Buddhist world, which its surrounding monasteries covers an area of over sixteen square miles ( 40 km²) and is one of the world's major archaeological sites.
The second most ancient of Sri Lanka 's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 CE to reunite the country once more under a local leader. While Vijayabahu's victory and shifting of Kingdoms to the more strategic Polonnaruwa is considered significant, the real Polonnaruwa Hero of the history books is actually his grandson, Parakramabahu I. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned Archeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom's first rulers.The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is a world heritage site (1991) in Sri Lanka , situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km (92 mi) east of Colombo and 72 km (45 mi) north of Kandy . It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka . The rock towers 160 m (525 ft) over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. This paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses.
Sigiriya, considered by some as the eighth wonder of the world, consists of an ancient castle used by King Kasyapa of the 4th century AD. The Sigiriya site has the remains of an upper palace sited on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes, the lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock, and the moats, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of metres out from the base of the rock.
The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka . It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times, it's believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort. Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815, fortified by the terrain of the mountains and the difficult approach. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to the temple.
Galle is a town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka , 119 km (74 mi) from Colombo . Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (although Ibn Batuta in the 14th century refers to it as Qali) before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British, who developed the harbor at Colombo .
On 26 December 2004 the city was devastated by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia . Thousands were killed in the city alone.
Nuwara Eliya or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka . The town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala , the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka .
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage and breeding ground for wild elephants which is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle , Sri Lanka . It was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation on a 25-acre (10 ha) coconut plantation on the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2008, there were 84 elephants.
Yala National Park or Ruhuna National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka . It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province . The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo . Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka , having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds.
Bentota is a Sri Lankan coastal city located on the southern tip of the Galle District of the Southern Province , about 78 kilometres (4.35.0 mi) south of Beruwala on the A2 highway . Its population is estimated to be between 25,000-50,000. The name comes from a mythical story which dates back to kings time saying a demon called Bem ruled this river
Beruwala , is a small resort town in the south western coastal belt of Sri Lanka . The name Beruwala is derived from the Sinhalese word for the place where the sail is lowered. It marks the spot for the first Muslim settlement on the island, established by Arab traders around the 8th century AD. A large population of Sri Lankan Moors , many of them are gem merchants, still live in the town-- particularly in the "China Fort". Msjid-ul-Abrar , a landmark of Beruwala and Sri Lanka 's oldest mosque, was built by Arab traders on a rocky peninsula overlooking the town. Beruwala is also home to Al- Fasiyatul Nasriya Muslim Balika Maha Vidyalaya, which is the first and oldest girls school in Sri Lanka . It was damaged by tsunami on boxing day in 2004.Beruwala is the starting point of the 130 km long stretch of beach. In the past few years great strides have been made in the field of resort development in this area. The bay around remains ideal for bathing almost for the whole year.
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province , Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna . It has a population of approximately 100,000 (2007). [ citation needed ] The city is built on a peninsula , which divides the inner and outer harbours . Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay , Trincomalee is one of the main centers of Tamil speaking culture on the island . The city is home to the famous ancient Koneswaram temple alluded to in its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai from which its anglicized name is derived, and has been a sea port that has played a major role in the maritime and international trading history of Sri Lanka . It is referred to as Gokanna in Pali [1] or Gokarna in Sanskrit.
Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. The bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo . It is a popular surfing and tourist destination. Arugam Bay is Known as one of the best three surfing spots in the world. this typical fishing village to the south of the small town of Pottuvil can be reached via A4 from Colombo . The unspoilt town of Srugam Bay offers an abundance of opportunities for those with a passion for water sports and underwater photography.
Hikkaduwa is a very popular beach destination just a few hours from Colombo on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka . Tourists can enjoy days relaxing at the beach and dining on delicious Sri Lankan and western food. Fresh fish is the specialty. Glass bottom boats offer fantastic views of coral reefs just off shore. For thoses interested in diving, complete diving facilities are available. Be sure to watch the beautiful sunset where a dazzling show of colors lights up the sky.
Ella is liberally endowed with beautiful views, and Ella has one of the best. The sleepy village is nestled in a valley peering straight through Ella Gap to the plain nearly 1000m below, and across to the coast where, on a clear night, you can see the Great Basses lighthouse. And as if the views weren't enough, Ella is surrounded by hills perfect for walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka . It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO .
The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests eco-region , was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as Kingdom of the Lion .
The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species , including trees, insects, amphibians , reptiles, birds and mammals.