Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

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As it is a reasonably big island, tourist attractions abound in Sri Lanka.

Adam’s Peak (also called Sri Pada, Samantakuta, Samangira, and several other names), is a place where Buddha is believed to have placed his footprint on one of his visits to Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist pilgrimage site from December through April. There are many ways to get there, including through the Ratnapura District.

The Burduruwagala Rock sculptures, located near Wellawaya, are an excellent example of Mahayana Buddhist art from the 10th century C.E.

Dambulla Vihara, a UNESCO World Heritage site not far away from the city of Kandy, is considered by many to be at the precise center of Sri Lanka. It is a rock temple consisting of five caves and containing large statues of Buddhist deities.

Kataragama Devalaya is a holy place for Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus alike – especially the Shrine to the God Skanda. A festival takes place in the area in July and August.

Mahamega Gardens is the site of Ruwanveliseya, a large white stupa (the name for a building dedicated to Buddha bringing merit to the builder and those who visit it). Construction on the stupa was begun in the 2nd century B.C.E. by King Dutugamunu and later completed by his brother.

Sigiriya Rock was a capital for seventeen years in the 5th century C.E. The site is unusual in Sri Lanka because it contains possibly the only example of secular art in the country, a fresco depicting “heavenly maidens”. The “mirror wall,” a place where visitors to the palace could write their praises of it, is also well worth a look.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of gorgeous flora and fauna.

Tirukoneswaram Kovil is at the top of Swami Rock, a tall cliff that makes up part of Fort Frederick Promontory near Trincomalee. The original buildings were destroyed by the invading Portuguese, but a restoration of the site was completed in the early 1960s. It is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva, and the puja ceremonies on Friday evenings are not to be missed.

Wewurukannala Vihara, found in the town of Dikwella, which is not far from Mahara, is a temple that contains the biggest statue in the country: a Buddha approximately 50 meters tall. Aside from the statue, the most striking things about the temple the gruesomely detailed drawings of punishments dealt out in the Buddhist hells and the Buddha’s life in pictures on the walls.

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