UNESCO World's Heritage Sites

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura became the capital of Sri Lanka in the 4th century BC. Sri Lankan history from the 4th century BC up to 10th century A.D is generally referred as "Anuradhapura" period. King "Pandukabhaya" the third king of Vijayan dynasty became the king after great struggle against his uncles. He is the one who formally planned the city, with gates, quarters for traders etc. Anuradhapura kingdom lasted one thousand and four hundred years until it was invaded by South Indian Chola forces in 1017. It was a very wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today Anuradhapura is one of the world's major archaeological site it is covered area about 40 km².

Polonnaruwa

The history Polonnaruwa goes as far as 6th century BC when a minister of the king Vijaya (From whom the Sinhalese race was born) established a town called "Vijitha Grama" on the area now called Kaduruwela. This is also the place for the famous "Battle of Vijithapura" between the Great King Dutugamunu (161-131 BC) and the Tamil invader Elara in his effort to re-unite the country under one Sinhalese King. This area was gradually developed as an influential agricultural town with large irrigation tanks and complex waterways built by various kings who ruled from Anuradhapura.

Dambulla

Sri Lanka has many cave temples but the Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya or the Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla is the most venerated, celebrated and most probably the most visited. The cave complex that consists of the five viharayas has a spectacular setting on a massive rock some 1118 ft. above sea level and surrounded by the plains of Kurunegala on one side and the rock of Sigiriya and the mountain of Ritigala on the other. The rock which soars upwards some 600 ft above the surrounding plains at one point, gape and enfolds to creates the caverns that mother the caves. Almost as if in thanksgiving to nature's gift the cave temples celebrate – a veritable art gallery filled with thousands of images of the Lord Buddha in sculptures and paintings.

Kandy Temple

Kandy was the capital of the Singhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815. Fortified by a terrain of mountains and the difficult approach Kandy managed to operate in independence from Dutch, Portuguese and the English till 1815. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to this temple. The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the one of the two surviving relic of the tooth of Buddha, an object of veneration for Buddhists. The other tooth relic is believed to be enshrined in a stupa called Somawathi Chethiya.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an archelological site in North Central Sri Lanka. It contains the ruins of an ancient palace complex, built during the regin of King Kasyapa (477AD – 495 AD). It is one of the 7 world heritage sites in Sri Lanka and is one of it's most popular tourist destinations. The Sigiriya site consistes of a 180m tall granite rock, whose sides are so steep that at some points the top overhangs the base. At the top of the site there is a palace complex. The ruines of various chambers, stairways and pools can be seen at the top. There is a stone stairway leading from the base to the top of the mountain.

Galle

The first yreferences of Galle port comes during King Solomons times which is believed to be "Tarish" in the Bible, and cinnamon has been the main export of Sri Lanka starting around 1400 years BC. Southern port of call for many ancient silk route bound ships, the Galle harbour or then known as "Gimhathitha" but the ancient mariner Ibn Battuta referes to it as "Qali" is located 119 kilometers from Colombo. The town reached its peak during the Dutch colonial period remnants' of it lies today in the form of the UNESCO world heritage site of Galle Fort, which is also acclaimed as the largest remaining fortification in Asia, fortified by every European nation that set foot on the Island such was the importance of this port to their spice trade. Site and sounds of Galle includes, National Maritime museum, St.Mary's cathedral and the Dutch fort built in 1663.

Sinharaja Rain Forest

The legend has it that the Sinhala people originated from a union between a princess and a lion king who once lived in the forest. One of the oldest forest reserves in Sri Lanka and named by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve and a world heritage site, a national heritage wilderness area, and preserved for future generations as one of the pristine rain forests in the word. Categorized as a virgin tropical evergreen rainforest, saved from commercial logging mostly due to its inaccessibility, is an ideal place to observe a bird watching phenomenon commonly found in rain forests of mixed species of birds foraging for food, most of the birds endemic to Sri Lanka can be observed here in their natural habitat, a famous endemic species to look out for is the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie.

Central Highlands

A bank of orange-yellow clouds in the East shooting beams of pale primrose light marks the beginning of another glorious day at Horton plains, where a little pond marks the entrance to the park, start early as possible and dress to avoid the morning chill, but you'll need to cover your head by afternoon from the burning blue skies. An arduous track often covered in mist and drenched in dew, the places to see are bakers' falls, the chimney pool done by a long forgotten colonial planter and the mini world's end and world's end. During the day time both mini and main World's Ends are covered with mist and clouds, however during the month of February, it's clear and offer a breath taking view across the southern parts of Sri Lanka, one must have the patience to wait at these points for clouds to clear to get a glimpse of a steep drop and a tea estate beneath World's End. To get to the Baker's fall's, you have to deviate from the main trail on a difficult downward path.