Sri Lanka’s Top Attractions
The island state of Sri Lanka (the older name is Ceylon), located off the southern coast of India, is very popular among tourists from different countries.
Even the most sophisticated and demanding traveler will surely find what he likes: amazing culture, picturesque nature, golden beaches with incredibly clear water, exotic but very tasty cuisine and many different opportunities for outdoor activities and sports make this island a real paradise for guests from all over the world.
Sri Lanka attractions deserve special attention, among which there are many interesting architectural, historical, natural and religious tourist sites. Even travelers simply adore Sri Lanka for a truly luxurious selection of gastronomic natural resources – different varieties of tea and coffee, spices and coconuts are favorite souvenirs for foreign guests.
Speaking of cooking: local cuisine is another popular attraction in Sri Lanka. Bright, spicy, generously flavored with hot pepper dishes of Ceylon cuisine, these gourmets are called the unique food of the gods. Coconut oil serves as the basis for most local dishes, giving it a special, specific flavor.
If you are not a fan of food “with a twinkle”, while traveling in Sri Lanka, you should definitely try seafood dishes – Sri Lankans cook them really simply divine. The most popular drinks in Sri Lanka are coffee and tea.
What to see in Sri Lanka?
You can answer the question of what are the attractions in Sri Lanka for a very long time – at almost every step you can meet, see or try something unusual.
Many tourists, when asked what or who during the trip to this tropical country impressed them the most, confidently answer: local residents. Open, friendly faces with wide smiles invariably surround guests throughout their trip to Sri Lanka. Despite the rather difficult period of history, from which this country emerged only a few decades ago, Sinhalese remain friendly and friendly both to their fellow citizens and to foreign guests.
You can go on excursions to the sights of Sri Lanka both independently and with a group of other tourists – here you will always be offered many interesting options for excursion programs on natural, religious and cultural tourist sites.
List of Sri Lanka sights, top 5:
1. Peak of Adam (Sri Pada)
Sri Pada Mountain, which is also called Adam’s Peak and Butterfly Mountain, is today one of the most popular and tourist attractions in the country.
This mountain peak is sacred to the followers of four world religions at once: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. During sunrise, the imprint of the human foot begins to shine on top of this mountain peak, and each of the beliefs has its own, religiously justified explanation of who it belongs to and how it was left there.
2. Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is the ancient capital of Ceylon, located near Sigiriya and Dambulla. Those travelers who during their tour in Sri Lanka want to see the really best sights of this amazing Asian country should definitely include a visit to this ancient city in their tour program, devoting at least a couple of days to get to know it. There are so many ancient Buddhist temples, monasteries, statues and gardens in Polonnaruwa that it is simply impossible to see them all in one day.
3. Yala National Park
Sri Lanka is simply divinely generously endowed with natural attractions that are carefully preserved in their original form thanks to the fantastic National Parks: Horton Plains, Uda Valave, Bundal and, of course, Yala. They cover vast areas of the country and preserve many amazing species of flora and fauna.
Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is open to the general public recently, but is already incredibly popular. If you want to admire the majestic wild animals in their natural habitat, feel free to go here to see them in all their pristine beauty.
4. Sigiriya
The amazing mountain palace Lion Rock (Lion Rock), located at an altitude of 200 meters above the emerald forests, is considered one of the most precious pearls of Sri Lanka. The view from the top of this rock is simply breathtaking, and the mysterious ancient ruins of the palace complex create a special mystical atmosphere – the ringing silence around and the distant echoes of forest life, coming from the land stretching below, as if they bring echoes of noisy water in the long empty fountains and pools.
Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient frescoes, fragments of which are well preserved on the walls of ancient ruins.
