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The famous explorer Marco Polo of the 12th century wrote that Sri Lanka is the finest island in the whole world. For centuries it had been a great tourism destination particularly for European Travellers. However the 30-year-long internal conflict and terrorism had a negative impact on tourism and the growth of the industry stagnated. However, after the end of the conflict in 2009 the country’s tourism prospects look promising. In 2010 immediately after the end of the war Sri Lanka had a growth of 46% in tourism arrivals. From 2009 to 2011 the tourism arrivals doubled with the number of arrivals reaching 855,975 as at end 2011.
Firstly it is an authentic tourism destination. Secondly it is a compact island of 65,610 sqkm where a tourist can travel the length and breadth of the country within a few days, thirdly the diversity of the tourism product is unparalleled .
Beaches
Being an island Sri Lanka is surrounded by sea and a perfect destination for a beach holiday. When the seas are rough on one side of the island it is calm waters on the other side. So it is a year round beach destination.
West Coast
- Negombo (35 km north of Colombo)
- Kalutara (42 km south of Colombo)
- Kalpitiya -Despite its natural beauty, the western peninsular area ofKALPITIYA in the Puttalam district of Sri Lanka is remarkably untouched by tourism. But for those lucky enough to visit, there's a plethora of things to see and do! With the small close-knit fishing community dominating the lives of the local people, visitors can get a real insight into working life away from the city. After watching the night fishing boats return in the morning, a visit to one of the fish markets offers the opportunity to choose the evening meal direct from the fresh catch! The Dutch Fort and St Peter's Kerk church in the town itself are interesting examples of Sri Lanka's rich history and colonial past. Leisurely boat rides up the lagoon and canoe trips down the river are a pleasant way of exploring the coastline, whilst 4WD jeep rides along the deserted sand dunes between the ocean and the lagoon offer a unique way of watching the colourful evening sunsets.
South Coast
- Bentota (62 km south of Colombo) -A Sri Lankan coastal city famous for golden beaches, Bentota is situated on the southern coastal tip of the Galle District of the Southern Province . The town is a popular tourist attraction. It is especially famous among the foreign tourists. The name comes from a mythical story which dates back to kings time saying a demon called Bem ruled this river ( tota = river bank. Bentota hosts a handful of world proclaimed hotels. It is the hosting land for the famous Sri Lankan Jeweler Aida. Bentota also delivers an ancient art of healing called Ayurveda . Bentota is also famous for its production in Toddy. An alcoholic beverage made out of cocunut nectar. The city's population is estimated to be between 25,000-50,000.
- Hikkaduwa (98 km south of Colombo)- Hikkaduwa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province, about 20 km north-west of Galle. Hikkaduwa is famous for its beach and corals. Villages affected were Telwatta, Paraliya, Dodanduwa, Kahawa, Rathgama. The place is on the way from Colombo to Galle on the famous Galle road. It is primarily a tourist destination, and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel and enjoy the sun.
- Unawatuna (140 km south-east of Colombo)
- Arugam Bay (315 km east of Colombo)- Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. The bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination. Due to its popularity among low budget tourists, the area has managed a slow recovery. By private initiatives only. The main road through town has still not been repaved. Work is in progress to improve road access to the area. But in Arugam Bay itself, little has changed. As late as May, 2009 no help has been received from any official source or international organizations. An exception is uncoordinated support for fishing folk as well as many school rebuilding programs, resulting in a continuation to provide only separatist schools for each community.
North Coast
- Nilaveli & Uppuveli (280 km north-east of Colombo)- Nilaveli is a coastal resort town located about 20 km North-West of Trincomalee, Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka. It used to be a popular tourist destination, however due to 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Sri Lankan Civil War tourist numbers have declined.Nilaveli is a quiet pristine beach on the Northeast coast of Sri Lanka. It is a tranquil haven with soft waves, pure white sand, and the soothing sound of the sea.
Uppaveli is another beautiful and serene beach close to Trincomalee, which offers plenty of comfortable accommodation in the area, for those who can’t seem to get away from bliss. - Trincomalee (257 km north-east of Colombo)- Trincomalee is a port city on the east coast of Sri Lanka, about 110 miles northeast of Kandy. The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. It is one of the main centers of Tamil speaking culture on the island. Historically referred to as Gokanna, or Gokarna it has been a sea port that has played a major role in maritime and international trading history of Sri Lanka.It is a world renowned natural deep water harbour. The bay is large and secure and is accessible by all types of crafts in any weather. The Trincomalee beaches are popular for whale watching, fishing and scuba diving. Apart from its tranquil beaches, the city boasts of the largest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka, its naval bases and its air force base.
Heritage Sites
With a recorded history of more than 2500 years Sri Lanka has a rich heritage. There are 8 world heritage sites within the country which include; the hill capital kandy, the sacred city of Anuradapura, The Dutch fort of Galle, The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, The rock fortress of Sigiriya, The golden rock temple of Dambulla, the beautiful Horton plains and the Singharaja rain forest. Apart from these famous sites there are hundreds of heritage sites in the island which are frequented by tourists.
- Anuradapura - Ancient Kingdom
- Sigiriya - Ancient Kingdom & fortress-Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and castle/palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. It is a popular tourist destination, also known for its ancient paintings (frescos), very similar to those in the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiraya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
- Polonnaruwa - Ancient Kingdom
- Kandy - Ancient Kingdom with temple of tooth relic
- Galle - Fortress
- Dambulla - Rock cave temple-Major attractions of the city include the largest and best preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka, and the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, famous for being built in just 167 days. The city also boasts to have the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia, and the Iron wood forest, or Namal Uyana. Ibbankatuwa prehistoric burial site near Dhambulla cave temple complexes is the latest archaeological site of significant historical importance found in Dambulla, which is located within 3 kilometers of the cave temples providing evidence on presence of indigenous civilisations long before the arrival of Indian influence on the Island nation.
- Adam's peak- Known in English as Adam’s Peak, this 2,234-metre (7,329-feet) mountain has the remarkable distinction of being sacred to all of the major faiths in Sri Lanka. “Sri Pada is the only mountain in the world receiving veneration of devotes belonging to different faiths". To the Buddhists, this is Sri Pada, where Lord Buddha left his footprint on the summit during his third and final visit to the island. Hindus call the peak Shivan Adi Patham, “the creative dance of Lord Shiva”, believing that the footprint was left by Lord Shiva as he danced the world into existence. In clear weather, the distinctive shape of Adam’s Peak is visible far out to sea, and was used as a navigational aid for vessels sailing the Indian Ocean. Arab traders, seeing the mountain from afar, believed that its summit was where Adam first set foot on earth after being cast out from Paradise. To make his expulsion less of a shock, God chose the place on earth that most resembled Paradise. Thus it was that Adam was set down in Sri Lanka, on the summit of this beautiful mountain. Sri Lanka’s Muslims, for whom Adam is regarded as a prophet, therefore hold the mountain as sacred. Christians also revere what they call Adam’s Peak, believing that St Thomas, the apostle who brought Christianity to southern India in 50 AD, left his footprint on the summit.
Although there are three routes to the final summit trail, most visitors to Adam’s Peak join pilgrims taking the shorter (but nonetheless arduous) seven-kilometre (4.3 mile) climb not far from Maskeliya. Most pilgrims climb during the night, intent on reaching the summit to witness the miracle of a new day dawning and phenomenon known as the 'ira-sevaya', believed to be the Sun God showing reverence to the footprint atop this wondrous peak.
Wildlife
For a small island the biodiversity of the country is most impressive. Sri Lanka is home for a wide variety of mammals, birds, fish, butterflies and snakes. Three big five of Sri Lankan wildlife are the elephant, the leopard, the sloth bear, the blue whale and the sperm whale
Some of the wildlife parks in Sri Lanka
.*Yala National Park - yala National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka. The reserve covers 979 km², although only the original 141 km² are open to the public. It was established in 1894 as a Game Sanctuary. Much of the reserve is parkland, but it also contains jungle, beaches, freshwater lakes and rivers and scrubland. The latter zone is punctuated with enormous rocky outcrops. The range of habitats give rise to a good range of wildlife.
- Udawalawe National Park - Famous for Elephant watching
- Kumana National Park - Famous for Bird watching
- Bundala National Park - Famous for Bird watching-Located about fifteen kilometers east of Hambantota Bundala National Park is one of Sri Lanka's foremost destinations for birdwatchers, protecting an important area of coastal wetland famous for its abundant aquatic (and other) birdlife. The park is also home to significant populations of elephants, Marsh & estuarine crocodiles, turtles & other fauna, including the leopard. Stretching along the coast east of Hambantota, Bundala National Park is ideal for instant gratification: in a four hour jeep ride, we can see elephants, 8ft crocs, giant squirrels & flamingoes. Afternoon safaris in the dry season (December - May) provide visitors with the best chance of seeing the wildlife.
- Wasgamuwa National Park - One most attractive national park
- Wilpattu National Park - Wilpattu National Park is a park located on the island of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of “Willus” (Natural lakes) - Natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. Located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park is located 30km west Anuradhapura and located 26 km north of Puttalam (approximately 180 km north of Colombo). The park is 131, 693 hectares and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout Wilpattu. Wilpattu is one of the largest and oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world renowned for its Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) population. The Leopard population in Wilpattu is still not yet known.
- Minneriya National Park - Famous for Elephants
- Horton Plains National Park - Only national park in hill country and famous for sambar
Sports and Adventure
Due to varying climate conditions and geography Sri Lanka is an ideal destination for sports tourism. Some of the popular sports include golf, surfing, Diving & Snorkeling, Hot Air Ballooning, Rafting and Canoeing, Scuba Diving, fishing, Cycling, Hiking, Trekking and Rock Climbing
Locations popular for specific sports
- White water rafting - Kithulgala-Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rainforest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month. The Academy Award-winning "The Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed on the Kelani River near Kitulgala, although nothing remains now except the concrete foundations for the bridge Kitulgala is also a base for white-water rafting, which starts a few kilometres upstream.
- Surfing - Arugam Bay
- Boating - Bentota, Bolgoda, Madhu ganga, Koggala
- Trekking - Knuckles Mountain Range, Hortan plains, Sripada- Adam's peak
Scenic Beauty
Waterfall of Sri Lanka
- Bambarakanda Falls
- Dunhinda Falls
- Ramboda Falls
- Devon Falls
- St Clairs Falls
- Laxapana Falls
- Baker's Falls
- Ravana Falls
- Diyaluma Falls
Botanical Gardens of Sri Lanka
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Sri Lanka Peradeniya Botanical Garden
- Hakgala Botanical Garden Hakgala Botanical Garden
