Hidden gems in Sri Lanka

Hidden Gems of Sri Lanka

Explore Sri Lanka’s lesser-known historical and natural sites. Buduruwagala features massive 10th-century Mahayana rock carvings, while Yapahuwa Rock Fortress showcases a 13th-century capital with intricate stone staircases. Discover prehistoric human history at Fa Hien Cave and explore the limestone depths of Waulpane Cave. The list also includes Bevis Bawa’s Brief Garden, a masterpiece of landscape architecture, and Jathika Namal Uyana, which preserves Asia’s largest ironwood forest alongside ancient pink quartz mountains.

Hidden Gems of Sri Lanka — Map

Pasan / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Buduruwagala

Buduruwagala is an ancient buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought.

Ji-Elle / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Yapahuwa Rock Fortress

This 13th-century royal capital and military stronghold features a steep, ornamental stone staircase decorated with intricate lion carvings. The granite rock fortress once housed the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha.

Rapa123 / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Fa Hien Cave

Fa Hien Cave, also Pahiyangala Cave, is situated in the district of Kalutara, Western Province, Sri Lanka and according to a rural legend,…

D

Brief

Brief Garden is a landscape garden and former home in Beruwala, Sri Lanka designed by landscape architect and owner Bevis Bawa.

E

ජාතික නාමල් උයන

Asia's largest ironwood forest and a 500-million-year-old pink quartz mountain range. This nature reserve contains diverse flora and archaeological remains within its 2,000-acre expanse.

F

Waulpane

Wavula Pane is a cave located in Bulutota Rakwana range, northwest of Embilipitiya one of the archeological site located in Sri Lanka.

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