Sri Lanka attractions

Western Sri Lanka is famed for its river-fed lagoons, and Negombo is home to one of the country’s most picturesque wetlands. The area not only supports a wide range of land and marine biodiversity, but Negombo Lagoon is popular with local Sri Lankan fishermen, who still use traditional fishing boats and nets. Prawns, crabs, and fish are caught daily and grilled and boiled in local restaurants.

A cluster of ancient Buddhist cave shrines on a natural rock that rises 673 feet (205 meters from the jungle floor, the Mulkirigala Rock Monastery is one of south Sri Lanka’s must-sees. While temples have existed here for 2,000 years, the caves are brim with colorful Buddha statues and frescoes dating from the 1700s.

Running west of Kandy, the Alagalla Mountain Range is located deep in Sri Lanka’s heartland. At its northern end is Alagalla Mountain, a 3,740-foot (1,140-meter) peak that draws hikers eager to stand on its summit, the potato-shaped rock that gives it the nickname Potato Mountain and commands magnificent panoramic views.

Sri Lanka’s largest salt swamp, Muthurajawela Marsh, is a protected sanctuary in the western Negombo region that covers 7,580 acres (3,068 hectares). The coastal region is a biodiversity hot spot: It's home to almost 200 varieties of plant life and even more fauna, from monkeys and water monitors to crocodiles. Birders can try spotting some 100 avian species.

Jaffna’s Nallur Kandaswamy Temple (Nallur Kovil) is one of Sri Lanka’s most important Hindu places of worship. An opulent gate adorned with a soaring golden tower welcomes you into a vast compound, where the scent of incense swirls amid vibrant murals, echoing halls, a holy pool, and a sacred tree as worshipers clad in saris and sarongs perform puja.

Rising from the tip of a promontory in Trincomalee, Koneswaram Temple has roots dating back thousands of years. One of five Sri Lanka Pancha Ishwarams (abodes of Lord Shiva) and a major Hindu pilgrimage center, this multicolored temple attracts devout Hindus and non-worshippers coming to admire its shrines and cliff views.

Negombo—and its spectacular beaches—serve as the first port of call for many international visitors arriving in Sri Lanka. Located a few miles from Bandaranaike International Airport, Negombo Beach is a golden sand coastline popular with tourists and locals. It’s a great place to hang back and get acclimated.

Embedded in the mountain jungles of the Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, the Ritigala Forest Monastery is one of central Sri Lanka’s under-the-radar stars. Overshadowed by nearby UNESCO-listed Anuradhapura, the remains of this first-century BC Buddhist monastery resemble illustrations from an adventure book, revealing tree-tangled reservoirs, broken pillars, and crumbled buildings along a hillside path.

With its huge white dome shimmering in Sri Lanka’s sun, the Ruwanwelisaya, also known as the Great Stupa, is an unmistakable sight amid the parklands and ruins of the island’s UNESCO-listed ancient city of Anuradhapura. Dating from 140 BC, this revered temple contains relics associated with the Lord Buddha, making it intensely sacred for Buddhists worldwide.

A low mountain peak with ancient roots, Mihintale is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle; Sri Lankans consider it the birthplace of Theravada Buddhism. Along with stunning jungle views from the Mihintale meditation rock, you’ll find ancient stupas and a stark-white Buddha statue. Expect an off-the-beaten-track vibe as, unlike surrounding sights, Mihintale is mercilessly free of crowds.

Better known by its colonial moniker, Delft Island, Neduntheevu is a low-lying isle off the coast of Jaffna. It offers intrepid travelers a slice of small-island life, complete with roaming wild horses. Sights include a giant baobab, a ruined colonial coral-stone fort, a dovecote used for homing pigeons, and the remains of a Hindu temple that date back around 1,000 years.

Constructed by the Portuguese in 1623, Fort Frederick sits on a promontory in Trincomalee Bay. This semi-ruined fort doubles as a tourist attraction and Sri Lankan army base. Check out its colonial-era relics, walk its ramparts, and spot the samba deer and peacocks wandering its grounds.

Also called the International Buddhist Museum, the World Buddhist Museum in Kandy is the world’s first museum dedicated to the international story of the religion. Located within Kandy’s UNESCO-listed Temple of the Tooth complex, its exhibits chart the history, art, and practices of Buddhism worldwide, from China to Sri Lanka.

One of four devales (temples) in Kandy’s Royal Palace compound, the Buddhist Natha Devale stands at the front of the royal complex. Associated with the palace’s Temple of the Tooth and believed to be Kandy’s oldest temple, this 14th-century shrine was built by King Vikramabahu III and attracts both Buddhist and Hindu followers.

Located within the grounds of Kandy’s Royal Palace, the Maha Vishnu Temple (Maha Vishnu Devalaya) is one of four holy devales (temples) linked to the palace’s Temple of the Tooth. This small complex is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, a Sri Lankan deity who is also considered the guardian of Buddhism, so it draws both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims.