We tell you what is worth seeing in Sri Lanka: the main attractions of the island, the cost of visiting and how to get to them.
Sri Lanka is an island in South Asia near the Indian subcontinent. Surrounded by the waters of the Indian Ocean, it attracts tourists not only with a beach vacation, but also with the opportunity to get in touch with the amazing Buddhist world, different from the European one, through the sights.
They get to Sri Lanka from Russia by air, landing at one of three international airports. The largest of them is located in Colombo and is named Bandaranaike. The city is 35 km away. A direct flight from Moscow will take about 9 hours, with a change on the road, on average, you will have to spend a little more than half a day. Ratmalana airport is located south of Colombo, Kankesanturai - in Jaffna. There are also airfields on the island that are used for charter flights by Air Taxi: Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Amparrai (in Gulla), Sigiriya, etc.
Where and how to find cheap tickets? They are easily found on the search engines Aviasales and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check both and see tickets for different dates. Read also our detailed instructions on how to find cheap flights correctly.
What to see in Sri Lanka?
When planning a trip, the question of what to see in Sri Lanka should be taken seriously, because quite a lot of historical and natural attractions are concentrated on this small island, which ideally would like to be seen in one trip. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be possible in a short period of time, so we provide a short list of iconic sights of Sri Lanka that are worth seeing when you first visit the country.
Getting to know Colombo: attractions
The official capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, in fact, the capital functions are performed by the country's largest city - Colombo. Its main attractions are the most beautiful pagodas, primarily the Buddhist temple Raja Maha Vihara - the favorite place of parishioners and tourists. The iconic building is located in the suburb of Colombo Kelaniya at a distance of 9 km. In January, there is a fantastic festival in honor of the Buddha. The entrance to the pagoda is free. You need to take a taxi or bus number 235 northeast of the capital along Kandy Road.
Other Hindu temples are no less interesting, for example, Kanestan and Ganeshan. They are located on Sea street in the Pettah area of Colombo.
The main Muslim shrine of the city is the Jami Ul Alfar Mosque. It attracts everyone's attention with its red and white stripe façade. Other believers can also enter it in special shoes and closed clothes. The Temple of the Faithful is located on Second Cross Street. Any tuk-tuk will take you here for $ 1.
The sights of Sri Lanka and Colombo in particular include the Cinnamon Gardens, which offer tourists a stroll in the shade of exotic plants. A huge park in the fashionable southern part of the city is laid out on the site of former plantations planted with cinnamon. Those entering the park are greeted by a statue of a seated Buddha. Around it is a rounded pool, flower beds and shrubs. From the sculpture goes the main alley with fountains and green lawns. You can walk in the park at any time of the day or night without paying a rupee.
Find out the prices for holidays in Sri Lanka: the cost of the flight, prices for tours, transport and food. It is also helpful to read about hotel prices in Sri Lanka.
Attractions of the "cultural triangle"
First of all, in Sri Lanka, it is worth seeing the architecture of the ancient cities of the island. Speaking about the sights of Sri Lanka, one cannot fail to mention the "cultural triangle" of Ceylon. This "geometry" of Sri Lanka is formed by the cities:
- Anuradhapura is the first ancient capital of the state;
- Polonnaruwa - the main center of the country in the early Middle Ages;
- Kandy is the last capital city of the independent Sinhalese state, which existed until 1815 for 3 centuries.
Anuradhapura Museum City
Located in the north of the Central Province, the city welcomes tourists with a majestic pagoda in the form of the Ruvanovelli Dagoba (2nd century BC) with an 80-meter foot in diameter (the Great Stupa). She adorns the center of Anuradhapura. Two more Buddhist temples, 120 and 115 meters high, stand in the middle of the ruins of the Jetavana and Abhayagiriya monastic ensembles, and next to it is the largest hall in Sri Lanka, Sannipatasala, and the huge Et Pokuna pool. The Royal Copper Palace (2nd century AD) impresses with 160 columns set in 40 rows. Here is the famous Bodhi tree, under which, according to legend, Buddha plunged into nirvana.
Inspection of all the sights in Anuradhapura is free, except for Bodhi - those who pay 200 rupees are suitable there.
What else to see in Sri Lanka? You can go to Sigiriya, which is located 65 km south of Anuradhapura. Here, fans of historical relics have the opportunity to see the remains of the Royal Palace at the top of the Lion Rock. Fragments of walls and 11 frescoes show the beauty and grandeur of the building dating back to the fifth century. At the base of the cliff, there are the Water Gardens, consisting of man-made lakes. You can get here on an excursion by paying 3900 rupees, it is better to come to the foot on an inexpensive tuk-tuk.
Near Sigiriya, you can admire the Dambulla Golden Cave Temple. It is "imprinted" into a 350 m high rock and consists of 5 caves. The pagoda is over 2 thousand years old, its statues are included in one of the world's largest collections of sculptured Buddhas, 73 of them are covered with gold. That is why the temple is named golden.
It is better to get here by rented car or public transport from the town of Dambulla: a ticket costs 30 rupees. But there is no direct flight from Kandy.
From Colombo to Anuradhapura - about 200 km, you can get there by train or bus in about 5 hours. By taxi or a rented car, they get from Kandy along the A9 road.
You can get around the new city by buses and rickshaws, but most of the sights can be reached on foot. Traffic on the streets of the old part of the city is prohibited.
Landmarks of Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is located in the west of the Central Province. The city is interesting for the building of the Council of Ministers - Nissankamala, the Southern Monastery, the Parakramabahu Garden, the 3-storey ruins of the Parakramabahu Royal Palace, the Royal Pool, the Watadage Temple and the Tuparama Chapel. The most famous Stone Temple in Sri Lanka is famous for four giant Buddha statues carved into granite rock, immortalized in various poses.
People travel from Colombo to this city by bus or railway (approximately 214 km). There is a direct bus from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa (about 100 km, fare 110 rupees). Better to get off near Police Station (city center). From here you can start your acquaintance with the sights, which are preferable to walk to.
What to see in Kandy?
Kandy is located on the slopes of high hills in the central part of the island. It is surrounded by the Mahaveli-Ganga River, and in the middle of the city there is a man-made lake, on the coast of which the ancient palace of the Sinhalese rulers rises. It is now the National Museum. Nearby - the temple of Dalada Maligawa, where from the end of the XVI century. the sacred tooth of the Buddha is preserved. The pagoda is richly decorated with carvings and paintings, ceilings and doors are decorated with silver and ivory. Every year, before the beginning of the August full moon, the rarity leaves the temple for 10 nights to participate in the grandiose eastern procession - Esala Perahera. Among those involved in the celebration are dozens of elephants decorated in blankets, hundreds of torchbearers and musicians.
It is better to plan a free visit to the pagoda in the early morning, when there are still not many people in the queue: it works around the clock.
Another attraction of Sri Lanka and Kandy that is also worth seeing is Adam's Peak, a 2243 m high sacred mountain near Kandy. There is a mysterious Buddha footprint 1 m long. Believers flock here every year to worship the shrine and ask her to fulfill their cherished desire. A visit to the mountain is free and round the clock. In hot weather, it is better to climb in the early morning. In winter, you can observe an outlandish natural phenomenon called "The Shadow of the Peak". It looks like an isosceles triangle formed by the shadow of the peak of Adam during sunrise and reflected on the mountains around the peak.
During the pilgrimage season (from December to April), Dalhousie is reached by direct bus routes from Kandy, Nuwara, Eliya. At other times, you will have to get here with transfers via Hatton by train.
