What to see in Sri Lanka
22 places, from the most famous to the lesser known, with how many ScratchyMapp travelers have visited them.
Adam's Peak
Nallathanniya, Sabaragamuwa Province
Adam's Peak is a 2,243-metre-tall (7,359-foot) conical sacred mountain and place of pilgrimage in central Sri Lanka, famous for the Sri Pada, a 1.8 m hollow, footprint-like rock formation near the summit whose name is…
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa, North Central Province
Poḷonnaruwa, also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla, Central Province
Dambulla cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country.
Diyaluma Falls
Koslanda, Uva Province
Diyaluma Falls is 220 m (720 ft) high and the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 619th highest waterfall in the world.
Gal Vihara
Polonnaruwa, North Central Province
The Gal Vihara, and known originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city Polonnaruwa, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, now present-day Polonnaruwa, in North…
Galle Fort
Galle, Southern Province
Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards.
Galle Lighthouse
Galle, Southern Province
Horton Plains National Park
Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
Horton Plains National Park is a national park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka that was designated in 1988. It encompasses an area of 31 km2 (12 sq mi) and borders Thotupalakanda Nature Reserve.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Anuradhapura, North Central Province
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Bo tree located in the Mahamewuna Garden, within the historic UNESCO World Heritage City of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Little Adam's Peak
Ella, Uva Province
Adam's Bridge, also known as Rama Setu, is a chain of natural limestone shoals between Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, off the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island, off the…
Mihintale
Mihintale, North Central Province
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of…
Mirissa Beach
Mirissa, Southern Province
Mirissa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara District of the Southern Province.
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
Jaffna, Northern Province
The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is a Hindu temple, located in Nallur, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The presiding deity is Murugan (Kartikeya) in the form of the divine spear vel in the sanctum, the primary shrine, and in…
Nine Arch Bridge
Ella, Uva Province
The Nine Arch Bridge also called the Bridge in the Sky, is a viaduct bridge in Sri Lanka and one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country.
Ruwanwelisaya
Anuradhapura, North Central Province
The Ruwanweli Maha Seya, also known as the Maha Thupa, is a stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Two quarts or one Dona of the Buddha's relics are enshrined in the stupa, making it the largest collection of his relics…
Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, North Central Province
Anuradhapura is a major city located in the north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province and the capital of Anuradhapura District.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya, Central Province
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Kandy, Central Province
Sri Dalada Maligawa, commonly known in English as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe, Sabaragamuwa Province
Udawalawe National Park is a national park on the boundary of Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces in Sri Lanka. The park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe…
World's End
Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
World's End is located within the Horton Plains National Park in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka. It is a sheer cliff, with a drop of about 1,200 metres (4,000 ft).
Yala National Park
Tissamaharama, Southern Province
Yala National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka, bordering the Indian Ocean and covering 979 km2 (378 sq mi). It was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900.
Jaffna Fort
Jaffna, Northern Province
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name.