Introduction
Sri Lanka is one of the most diverse and picturesque countries in the world. It’s home to beaches like Unawatuna and yummy food like curry, but it also has some incredible ancient ruins and temples you won’t want to miss. Here are our top picks for must-visit destinations in Sri Lanka for first-time travelers:
Colombo
Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka, and it’s a great place to start your trip. It’s bustling with activity and full of things to do and see. You’ll be able to get your bearings here, find out more about this beautiful country and its history, as well as have some fun in between all that learning!
Kandy
Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka, famous for its beautiful scenery and tea plantations. It’s also a great place to start your trip to Sri Lanka as it’s close to many other popular destinations like Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple.
The Temple of Tooth Relic is one of the most popular attractions in Kandy and attracts thousands of visitors every year. This sacred temple houses an alleged relic of Buddha’s tooth which was brought over from India by monks during ancient times when Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka by King Devanampiya Tissa (250 BC).
Galle
Galle is a town in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, situated 3 km from the Fort. It was an important port in the medieval era and has a rich history and culture. The fort itself is well worth visiting for its architecture, with Portuguese influences evident throughout its walls. There are many things to do in Galle including visiting museums or exploring local markets where you can find handmade products such as jewelry and clothing made by local artisans.
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is the perfect place to go for a relaxing holiday. The cool hill station has been attracting travelers since colonial times and is famous for its tea plantations, which are some of the oldest in Sri Lanka. It’s also located in the center of Sri Lanka, making it easy to access other destinations like Hatton and Yala National Park by bus or train.
If you’re planning on visiting Nuwara Eliya, here are some things you should know:
- There’s no airport nearby; however there are several buses that leave from Colombo every day at 7 AM and take about 6 hours each way (depending on traffic). There are also trains that leave from Colombo Station twice daily–one at 5 PM arriving at 8:30 PM; another leaving at 9 AM arriving around noon.*
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s easy to see why. The ancient rock fortress has been used as a royal palace and capital city since the 5th century CE. It’s also famous for its frescoes–the largest collection of paintings from ancient Sri Lanka. If you’re interested in history or art, Sigiriya is an excellent place to visit!
Sigiriya can be accessed by cable car or footpath; if you choose this latter route (which we recommend), be prepared for steep climbs up staircases carved into solid rock faces as well as narrow passages leading through tunnels carved out of solid rock by ancient workers who lived here centuries ago. It might not seem like much now but once upon a time these structures were incredible feats of engineering–something worth remembering while hiking up from base camp towards your final destination atop Mount Lavinia Hill where there are spectacular views over surrounding countryside beneath blue skies filled with billowing clouds above golden fields full of crops growing tall beneath sunrays shining down upon them during long days spent working hard together building something great together as equals sharing common goals towards achieving greatness together too!
Yala National Park
Yala National Park, located in Sri Lanka’s southeast, is one of the country’s most popular wildlife reserves. The park spans more than 5,000 square miles and contains some of its most diverse ecosystems–from seashore to jungle to mountainside–and is home to over 50 species of mammals (including elephants) and over 300 bird species.
The best time to visit Yala National Park is between December and April when temperatures are cooler; however, depending on where you’re coming from this may not be an issue! The park has four main entrances: Udawalawe-Kapura Road (Udawalawe), Maha Oya-Maha Nuvara Road (Mahanuwara), Gal Oya-Kadulla Road (Katana) and Walikanda Gate near Karandeniya town entrance on A4 highway leading towards Nuwaraeliya Town or Kandy City
Unawatuna Beach, Matara
Unawatuna Beach is a popular beach destination in Sri Lanka, located on the southern coast of the country. The beach offers sandy shores and clear waters perfect for swimming, surfing and sunbathing. It’s also a great place to spend time with friends or family while you relax on vacation.
The town itself has plenty of restaurants where travelers can grab a bite before heading out onto the sand–or into their hotel room for some quiet time away from other travelers!
There are many must-visit destinations in Sri Lanka for first-time travelers.
- The Temple of the Tooth, located in Kandy, is one of the most important Buddhist shrines in Sri Lanka. It houses a tooth relic of Buddha that was brought over from India in 1815 by King Kirti Sri Rajasinha. You’ll find this temple surrounded by lush gardens and ancient buildings that date back to the 12th century AD. This location will give you an insight into Buddhist culture and history as well as provide you with some great photo opportunities!
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress – This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island because it’s such an interesting piece of architecture! It was built during ancient times when there were no cranes or machines available; instead they had people climb up ladders attached to ropes while carrying rocks up hundreds (or even thousands) feet high using their backs only – talk about dedication! Once inside this fortress there are several structures including caves where kings used them as hiding places during wartime attacks; however if those weren’t enough then we suggest visiting its highest point known today as Lion Rock where visitors can look down upon all other structures below them before heading back down again 🙂
Conclusion
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with many must-visit destinations for first-time travelers. It has so much to offer and can be explored by anyone who wants to experience it. If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, make sure that you don’t miss out on any of these places!
