Explore the Best Places in Sri Lanka

said to be the famous Tarshish of the Bible where King Solomon obtained gems and spices, this "Living" UNESCO World Heritage Site is the port where the Portuguese first landed in Sri Lanka in 1505. Captured and fortified by the Dutch who ruled maritime Sri Lanka in the 17th and 18th centuries, the city still retains the air of old Holland. Within the well preserved 90 acre fort and ramparts built in 1663 are Old Dutch churches and monuments with armorial bearings, an imposing crested and monogrammed gateway dated 1669, many well preserved Old Dutch houses and narrow alleys still bearing Dutch names. The New Oriental Hotel, built for a Dutch governor in 1684, a colonial gem now converted to the internationally renowned Amangalle Hotel and several other excellent boutique hotels are testimony to the importance of this location.

Called by many names including “The Lion Rock” for its initial name of “Sinhagiri”, Sigiriya is near the town of Dambulla and is a colossal column of rock nearly 200m high. It was a royal citadel for 18 years (477-495) when it was fortified by King Kasyapa. The architectural and irrigational technologies of Sigiriya, such as the Water Gardens, still baffle engineers. The climb up steep steps of metal with railings passes a wall decorated with frescoes of bare-breasted women. Art experts consider them unique.

The summit of the rock is a hectare in area and the outer wall of the palace was constructed on the brink of the rock with gardens and ponds softening the harshness of the eerie. Since it was constructed over 1,500 years ago, it is claimed by enthusiast as the Eighth Wonder of the World and is anyway a World Heritage Site.

The Hiriwaduna village trek experience begins with a morning walk to the scrub forests bordering the village of Hiriwadunna. This location is famed for the spotting of some 130-bird species and a variety of rare butterflies. In addition to this abundance of unique wildlife found, you can also experience canoeing and a bullock cart ride during the nature trek.

A venture initiated by the Sri Lankan Government to safe guard one of its National Treasures, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage has been operating for over 30 years, nurturing orphaned calves, treating the feeble and rehabilitating the injured. Today, the orphanage has 60 elephants, with hundreds coming to watch their antics during their bathing times! It is a definite treat watching them frolic in the water. The ideal time to watch them is 1000hrs-1200hrs and 1400hrs-1600hrs.