Dambulla
The English-language displays here are a good primer on Sri Lankan wall art – from cave paintings to 18th-century frescoes – but the poor reproductions…
Must-see attractions in Sri Lanka
Jaffna & the North
The island is not endowed with beautiful stretches of sand, but Keeri Beach has good swimming, though no shade. Expect some trash. It's fringed by a small…
The South
This 14-hectare wet evergreen forest about 19km northeast of Galle has walking tracks, but traffic noise (and rubbish) are an issue and you'll probably…
Anuradhapura
South of the Isurumuniya Vihara are the faint remains of the Vessagiriya cave monastery, a series of evocative, gravity-defying boulder overhangs etched…
Colombo
Sri Lanka's Cinnamon Group is behind this vast mixed-use development that will overwhelm the west side of Slave Island. Its eye-catching modern design…
Anuradhapura
Built in 1070 (some 12 centuries after Anuradhapura’s heyday), this palace was an attempt by King Vijayabahu I to link his reign with the glories of the…
Ella
The tours at this green-tea factory are pretty rushed and the guide may or may not be informative – some are more intent on flogging leaves. Newburgh is…
Bentota, Aluthgama & Induruwa
This impressive Buddhist complex features a sacred bodhi tree and a huge hollow dagoba (stupa) with an interesting painted interior depicting scenes from…
Anuradhapura
In the Royal Palace area you can also find the Dalada Maligawa. The central relic chamber of this ruined temple may have been the first Temple of the…
The Ancient Cities
A path leads downhill from the back of the relic house courtyard, northeast of the Ambasthale Dagoba, for 10 minutes to a cave where there is a large flat…
Anuradhapura
Most tourists ignore this 2000-year-old stupa, but legend says it holds the cremated remains of King Dutugemunu (r 161–137 BC). It's now mostly used by…
South of Colombo
Ariyapala Traditional Masks is a small ground-floor museum starring a life-sized statue of the last king and queen of Kandy. It also has a shop selling…
The Ancient Cities
The bodhi tree to the left of the steps leading to the Mahaseya Dagoba is said to be one of the oldest surviving trees in Sri Lanka. The tree is…
Colombo
Just north of the lighthouse, you won't be able to miss this bombastic white dagoba (stupa) perched about 20m off the ground on huge, incongruous curving…
Anuradhapura
The 160-hectare Tissa Wewa is the southern tank in the old city. The dirt road around the lake makes for a nice bike ride. It's easily accessed from the…
Colombo
Once the centre of harness racing in Colombo (and a WWII airfield), the landmark grandstands here now face a posh rugby ground, while the buildings…
The Hill Country
There’s a full-size replica of the Aukana Buddha at this vihara on top of a hill overlooking town; you can walk to it through Pompakele Forest Park.
The Ancient Cities
This tiny museum on the main road next to the turn-off to the ruins has a modest collection of objects recovered from the Panduwasnuwara site, including…
The Ancient Cities
In a series of flights, 1843 ancient granite slab steps lead majestically up the hillside, passing the occasional rock inscription and side trail. The…
The South
The original vast complex of Tenavaram Dondra was destroyed in 1587, and this compound is now the the largest temple in town. Sadly, a couple of (chained)…
The East
The Sri Manika Pillaiyar, which boasts an array of Hindu statuary illuminated by fairy lights, gives Ganesh a lovely view across Ampara Tank. It's about…
Polonnaruwa
Set on a natural ridge, this was the monastery’s convocation hall, where monks met fortnightly. This building features a fine mandapaya (raised platform…
Negombo
Foreign tourists can normally access the beach in front of most big hotels even if you're not staying, but for a more colourful (and noisier) scene join…
Colombo
The grandest thing about the National Art Gallery is its name. Next to the National Museum, it has a small collection of portraits and landscapes shown…
The Hill Country
This small and beautifully melancholic cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is the final resting place for those who died…
Hikkaduwa & Around
This interesting Buddhist temple has lots of popular educational paintings that are the work of one man over nearly a decade. The monks are happy to show…
Anuradhapura
A short distance north of the Archaeological Museum is this dusty museum with mildly interesting exhibits of country life in Sri Lanka’s North Central…
Anuradhapura
The Mahapali refectory, or alms hall, is notable mainly for its immense trough (nearly 3m long and 2m wide) that the lay followers filled with rice for…
The Ancient Cities
This statue of king Devanampiya Tissa wearing traditional dress, situated next to the Ambasthale Dagoba, marks the spot where he met and was converted by…
Polonnaruwa
This 12th-century memorial slab records the oath taken by the Velaikkara royal guards to protect the Buddha tooth relic after an earlier rebellion was…
Anuradhapura
The oldest tank in Anuradhapura, probably dating from around the 4th century BC, is the 120-hectare Basawak Kulama (the Tamil word for tank is kulam).
Colombo
Located just south of the De Soysa (Lipton) Circus roundabout, this rambling structure dating to 1802 bustles with people following Friday afternoon…
Galle
A slim swathe of sand right on the east side of the Fort. However it's not that great for a dip as there are rocks offshore and the beach is often…
The Ancient Cities
This modern building houses an ornate golden relic casket flanked by elephant tusks. The trail to the Mahinda Cave starts from the back of the courtyard.
Colombo
The remaining structures of the 1871 Colombo Club face the green from the grounds of Taj Samudra hotel; the club’s rooms are still used for functions.
Tissamaharama
West of Tissa, the Hambantota–Wellawaya Rd runs over this large lake (via a causeway). It's home to resident waders and visited by migrating birds.
Colombo
The ragtag confection of red and white bricks that was once the Eye Hospital now houses the Coroner's Court while awaiting its own rescue from fate.
Colombo
The official prime minister's house has also been the residence for several recent presidents, including Mahinda Rajapaksa. It's heavily protected.
The Ancient Cities
This small museum on the road leading to the stairway base is worth a short visit for its modest collection of artefacts collected from Mihintale.
Negombo
East of the town centre the Angurukaramulla Temple, with its 6m-long reclining Buddha, is worth seeing; take a three-wheeler for around Rs 200.
