Top attractions in Sri Lanka

Editor's Choice: Sri Lanka

This selection spans Sri Lanka’s geographical and historical diversity, from the UNESCO-listed Sinharaja rainforest and the Knuckles Mountain Range to the ancient Buddhist monastery ruins of Ritigala. It includes colonial fortifications such as the 17th-century Jaffna Fort and Negombo Fort, alongside the vibrant Pettah Floating Market in Colombo. Architectural highlights include the Angurukaramulla Temple’s dragon-mouth entrance and the natural Thudugala Ella waterfall set within a historic rubber estate.

Editor's Choice: Sri Lanka — Map

Cherubino / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Knuckles Mountain Range

The Dumbara Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, in the Districts of Matale and Kandy.

Anuradha Dullewe Wijeyeratne / Public domain

B

Ritigala

Ritigala is a mountain in central Sri Lanka which is home to an ancient Buddhist monastery.

Sampathbandaraliyanage / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka.

Anton Croos / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort is a fort built by the Portuguese at Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in 1618 under Phillippe de Oliveira following the Portuguese invasion…

Z thomas / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Negombo fort

Negombo Fort was a small but important fort in Negombo, approx. 30 km north of Colombo, that was built by the Portuguese to defend Colombo.

Dan arndt / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Pettah Floating Market

The Pettah Floating Markets are located on Bastian Mawatha in Pettah, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and consist of 92 trade stalls,…

Z thomas / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Angurukaramulla Temple

This Negombo temple features a massive six-meter seated Buddha statue and a unique entrance through a dragon's mouth. The interior houses 300-year-old murals and intricate sculptures depicting the life of Buddha and the history of Sri Lankan royalty.

Chananand / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Thudugala Ella

The Thudugala Ella waterfall is located in Thudugala village in Dodangoda Divisional Secretariat in Kalutara District of Western Province,…

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