Travel to Sri Lanka completely without tourist traps! Here you will find a list of the top 10 sights of Sri Lanka! Which highlights and attractions should you not miss on your holiday in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka, the island state in southern India, is a dazzling mix of fantastic nature, unique culture and imposing buildings. Sacred mountains, Indian elephants, magnificent temples, mighty fortresses and the end of the world await the visitor.
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Ruined City of Polonnaruwa
Once the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom, the ruined city of Polonnaruwa is now a fascinating archaeological park that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can see impressive ruins of stupas, temples, palaces, countless Buddha statues and a 25-ton history book.
Article: Ruined city of Polonnaruwa
Photo gallery: Ruined city of Polonnaruwa
Sri Pada (Holy Foot)
Sri Pada is a mountain a good 2,000 metres high, with a spectacular footprint on its summit. It is considered sacred by four world religions, as it was made by Buddha, Shiva, the Apostle Thomas or Adam, depending on the religion. The sacred site can be climbed on foot via 5,000 steps, which are particularly busy on full moon nights.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
In the middle of Sri Lanka sits the Sigiriya Fortress, a gigantic rock of solidified lava that was developed into a fortress in the 5th century by the then king of Anuradhapura and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name "Lion Rock" can still be traced today thanks to two enormous paws. Also worth seeing are the brightly polished "mirror wall" and the bare-breasted "cloud girls".
Dambulla Cave Temple
For over two millennia, the Buddhist cave temple of Dambulla was used as a monastery and place of prayer. During this time, elaborate frescoes and numerous statues of Buddha and kings were created, making the Dambulla temple the largest and best-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Ruwanwelisaya Stupa in Anuradhapura
The snow-white Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, one of the largest monuments in the world, is enthroned in the holy city of Anuradhapura. The architectural masterpiece is around 100 metres high and over 2000 years old. As one of the 8 places of worship in Anuradhapura, it is one of the great shrines of Buddhism.
Article: Ruwanwelisaya Stupa in Anuradhapura
Yala National Park
Yala National Park is the most visited national park in Sri Lanka thanks to its breathtaking wildlife. The leopards are the stars of Yala National Park; nowhere else in the world do so many leopards live in an equally large area. Besides the proud predators, you can also see crocodiles, buffaloes, bears, monkeys, elephants and lots of birds on safaris in Yala National Park.
Horton Plains National Park
The Horton Plains National Park in southern Sri Lanka is situated at an altitude of over 2,000 metres. Its stunning landscape, with the country's largest cloud forest, is roamed mainly by sambay deer and can be hiked on your own. Its highlights include the breathtaking "World's End" es carpment and the 200m-high Bakers Falls.
Article: Horton Plains National Park
Tooth Temple in Kandy
The most sacred tooth temple is located in the temple district of Kandy, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and owes its name to a priceless relic: a canine tooth of Gautama Siddharta, the first Buddha and founder of Buddhism, which is kept in a golden shrine on the top floor.
Article: Tooth Temple in Kandy
Elephant Orphanage of Pinnawala
Getting up close and personal with the grey pachyderms - that's what you can do at the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala. Elephants are not only taken in and cared for here, but also bred, and the world's largest captive elephant herd now lives here. Visitors can accompany the "mahouts" in their care and feeding and, as a highlight, observe the daily bathing ceremony at the river.
Article: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
National Museum in Colombo
The National Museum in the capital of the island state was opened in 1877 in a specially constructed building and has since presented the history of the country through cultural and natural history exhibits. Sri Lanka 's largest museum houses, among other things, the jewelled throne of the kings of Kandy, the gigantic skeleton of a blue whale and a huge library with half a million books.
