TOURIST SPOTS
Sacred Kingdom of Anuradhapura


Sacred Kingdom of Polonnaruwa


Sigiriya
initial name of “Sinhagiri”
“The Lion Rock”
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 UNESCO World Heritage Site. King Kasyapa selected the rock as the capital for his kingdom due to its strategic point when fending off invaders. A gateway in the form of an enormous lion was built and thus gave it the name Lion’s Rock. However after the death of the king the capital and kingdom were abandoned by its people and it served as a Buddhist monastary until the 14th century.


Kandy


Old Town and Fortress of Galle


Singharaja Rain Forest


Nuwara Eliya


Yala National Park


Udawalawe National Park


Wilpattu National Park


Bentota Beach


Unawatuna Beach


Arugam Bay


Kalpitiya Beach


Hikkaduwa Beach


Passikuda Beach


Trincomalee-Nilaweli Beach


Adam's Peak


Colombo


Ceylon Tea Museum


Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery


Ella


Mirissa


Kithulgala


Dambulla Cave Temple
The Dambulla temple has five caves and
157 statues of the Lord Buddha, many
paintings on the ceilings and walls that
emphasis the artistic talent of ancient
days.
The history of the rock temple dates from
the 1st century BC. The fascination of
these caves is not only the statues but also
the many intricate and delicate paintings
that cover the ceiling and walls, created
with indigenous traditional paints.
Because of the history, archaeological and
artistic implications, the premises were
declared as one of the UNESCO World
Heritage sites . The temple has been in use
for over 22 centuries and still holds a
sense of benevolence and spirituality.
Visitors may climb up steps to the temple
and the view from the top of the rock is as
inspiring as the temple’s golden interior.

