Anuradhapura

Situated 206 Km from Colombo. Sri Lanka’s first capital in the 5th century B.C. The area in which the ruins of the ancient city are situated has been declared as a Sacred city. Amongst the many ruins that could be seen the most important attractions are :-The Sacred Bo Tree, Abayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanaramaya, Ruwanwelisaya Dagaba, Brazen Palace, Thuparama Dagaba, Samadi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna and Mirisavata Dagaba.

Beruwala

58 km from Colombo. The fine beaches here attract most of the visitors to the island, especially towards the end of the year, when the North-East monsoon ensures calmer seas this side of the island.

Bo-Path Ella

Makes a leap of 100 ft on the kurd gang a tributary of the Kalu ganga. A water fall not known for it's height but beauty of formation. The name Bo path Ella derives from its perfectly heart shaped head, much like the leaf of tree. It is one of the favourite picnic spots of Sri Lanka due to it's proximity to the city of Colombo, just 15 kms from the Colombo Ratnapura road, once reached the Higashena junction, and then branches off to the Agalawatta road.

Dambulla

148 Km from Colombo. Dambulla is a vast Isolated Rock Mass. King Valagam Bahu took refuge in the 1st century B.C. He later turned the Caves into a Rock Temple. Some of the Frescoes are over 2000 years old and there is a colossal statue of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock some 14 metres long.

Devon Fall

Viewing place for this lovely falls is from the 20th milepost on the Thalawakelle-Nawalapitiya road.
Height is 280 feet.

Diyaluma Fall

Diyaluma, on the Poonagala Oya off the Koslanda- Wellawaya road is another spectacular sight spilling on rock wall. 599 ft in height. Diyaluma is often rated as Sri Lanka's Highest water falls, upstaging Bambarakanda from Wellawaya town and 6 Km from Koslanda in the Hills and seen like a soft veil, is seen from the Balangoda highway too.

Dunhida Fall

Viewing place for this lovely falls is from the 20th milepost on the Thalawakelle-Nawalapitiya road.
Height is 280 feet.

Galle - Unawatuna Beach

Galle lies 115 km from colombo and greets visitors as the gateway to the South .Unawatuna beach is 5km East of Galle town and is the closest large beach with a wide sheltered bay good for swiming and a clear reef for diving.

Hikkaduwa Beach

100km South of Colombo is the very popular resort of Hikkaduwa, Known for its Wonderful coral gardens. The impressive coral reef runs just off-shove and is still populated by exotic fish and lazy turtles. This coral gardens can be visited with a glass bottom boat.

Horton Plain

Horton plains is the highest plateau or table land in Sri Lanka. It's elevation ranges between 1800m and 2300m and encompasses 3162 ha.

One of the most facinating and characteristic features of this beautiful landscape is its rolling hills,corvered in either forest or grasslands.The plains afford some exceller silent walks.The morst amazing feature of the Horton plains is the World's End where the southern part of the plains comes to sudden end and drown almost straight down for 700m. The plains are popular with bird watchers.With average temperrature of 15C-22C. it is home for Samber endemic birds of Sri Lanka.

Kandy

Kandy is the sweetest city on the Island.Kandy was originally known as Senkadagala. It become a religious center in the thirteenth or fourteenth century.It is the center of traditional Sri Lankan culture. The greatest property which is the tooth relic is placed in the temple of the tooth currently known as the Dalada Maligawa.

In order to pay the homage of buddha the dalada perahera is conducted annually according to the traditional customs and it has been a customary from the prehistoric era. The procession (Dalada Perahera)is conducted for seven days consisting two sectors as Kumbal perahera and Randoli Perahera.

Mihintale

Situated 217 Km from Colombo -11 Km from Anuradhapura. Mihintale is regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The Rock is dotted with Shrines and dwellings.A stairway of 1840 steps made of granite slabs, 5 metres, lead to the Summit with its splendid view of the surrounding countryside.

Negombo

Negambo is a major fishing town 29 km North of Colombothe closest beach to the Bandaranayake international airport.

Peradeniya Garden

The Peradeniya Garden is one of the best ofits kind in the world. The many beatiful avenues will lead one to section which provide a burst of tropical color.There are grate huge trees which you will surprised at the variety of bamboo that can be found in one place. Located 460 m above sea-level close to Kandy and surrounded from three sides by the river Mahaveli, One of the best and most valuable collections of Plants and Trees in the world (more than 4000 species, indoor and outdoor). Giant trees of "Ficus" family, different Bamboo and Palm trees of the world, rare Ayurvedic plants, Orchid House, spice garden, timber trees such as ebony, teak, satinwood, mahogany, tamarind and jak etc. can be seen here. The best know attraction of the garden is the Orchid House which are more than 300 varities.

Polonnaruwa

Situated 216 Km from Colombo. The Island's medieval Capital (11th to 13th century A.D.) Polonnaruwa rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. Amongst the many man made reservoirs the Parakrama Samudra is larger in size than the Colombo Habour. The important attractions are - The King's Council Chamber, The Royal Citadel, The Kumara Pokuna, Royal Pavilion, The Vatadage ( Circular Temple) Relic House lavished with Moonstones, Guardstone and Sculptured railing, Kiriwehera, the best preserved of all Sri Lanka's unrestored dagabas, The Gal Vihare - the most impressive sculpture is the colossal Buddha measuring 14 metres and the standing figure is 7 metres in height.

Ravana Ella

It is on the Ella- Wellawaya road and visible from the main road. Although the main drop is 30 ft in height, the water rushes over several steps adding to it's beauty. Ravana falls is closely linked in legend with the grate epic of the east. Ramayanaya. It's name is from Ravana, the demon king who once ruled Sri Lanka. The cave hidden behind the fall is still believed by many to be one of the caves he hid the beautiful princess, Sita, after her abduction from India.

 

Sigiriya

168 Km from Colombo. This Rock Fortress was built by King Kasayapa in the 5th century A.D and was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years. In a sheltered pocket, approached by a spiral stairway and the famous Frescoes. The summit of the Rock with an area of one hectare was the site of the Palace which also included the bathing pond and a Recreation area, the outer wall of which was built on the very brink of the precipice. The UNESCO Sponsored Central Cultural Fund has restored Sigiriya's 5th Century Water Gardens to their former glory.

Sinharaja

The legendary Sinharaja (Dense, dark, wet and mysetrious-Sinharaja is a primeval forest for meditation, relaxation and for scientific exploration. This relativelyy undisturbed expanse of primary forest is a Sri Lankan heritage-the last patch of sizeable lowland evergreen Rain Forest still remaining more or intact or undisturbed in our Island). Sinharaja Forest the only evergreen rain forest in Sri Lanka belongs to few remaining virgin forests in the World, is home to hundreds of indigenous flora and many kinds of birds, beasts and reptiles. The Sinharaja forest, 11 187 hectares in all was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in 1978 and it became a National Heritage Wilderness Area under the National Heritage Wilderness Area Act in 1988. The virgin forest was named World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1989.

 

Wilpattu

Situated 176 km north of Colombo. Wilpattu is approximately 1,980 sq.km in extent. It has a dense jungle cover which makes it more exciting park where animals have to be tracked. There are numerous delightful lakes known as Villus- and the leopard and sloth bear are the speciality rather than elephants.

Yala

It is one of the Island's best known and biggest wildlife reserves encompassing an area of 1300 square km (500 square miles). It is divided into Yala West (Ruhunu National Park) and Yala East.This park is popular for the defferent type of animals it inherits.Tuskers and. leopards are genarally found in yala.

It is considered the best park for viewing animals and birds. Animals include the elephant, leopard, sloth bear, spotted deer,barking deer, mouse deer, sambhur, grey langur, toque monkey, stripe-necked mongoose, ruddy mongoose, wild pig, jackal,water monitor, marsh crocodile and estuarine crocodile.