Best and most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka

Boasting immaculate natural vistas and oodles of historic and culturally significant attractions, Sri Lanka, without a doubt, is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations! If you are planning to visit Sri Lanka anytime soon, here are a few of the island’s most beautiful places that you should not miss visiting!

1. Colombo

Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and being a metropolis that is in the making, the city is filled with varied and ambitious development projects. Apart from its towering edifices, Colombo is home to a wide range of attractions both modern and old. The city features an assortment of snazzy cafes, upscale malls, restaurants, Historic shops, colonial buildings and so much more! Some of the most notable and beautiful places that you should consider visiting are, Galle face, The Seema Malakaya Temple, The National Museum, Independence Square, and Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque

2. Sigiriya

Renowned as the eighth wonder of the world, Sigiriya is a magnificent rock fortress that towers at a height of 200 meters above the ground. It has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and many around the globe visit the site to witness its splendour up close and personal. The fortress is surrounded by an immaculate garden that features numerous ruins, sculptures, and water bodies –  in fact, it also showcases evidence of a well-developed hydraulic civilization that existed millennia ago. The fortress also features brilliant and well-preserved specimens of frescoes and sculptures that have a great resemblance to the artwork found in the Ajantha Caves in India. Ensconced in an air of mystery and enchantment, and boasting surreal natural beauty, Sigiriya is arguably one of the most stunning and awe-inspiring sites in Sri Lanka.

3. Galle Fort

Located in the southwestern coastal region of Sri Lanka the Galle fort was initially constructed by the Portuguese and then fortified by the Dutch. It was once used by the colonial rules as a stronghold and a region that was inhabited by the most prominent figures of the colonial hierarchy. Even today, many could sense the colonial vibes resonating all over the place – and in addition to that, the region is now home to numerous souvenir shops, cafes, and art galleries. Upon visiting, travellers could also see and awe at immaculate oceanic vistas, monumental structures that stand tall against the test of time.

4. Nuwara Eliya

Located right at the heart of the central highlands, Nuwara Eliya is the center of the Sri Lankan tea trade. The region is surrounded by both surreal tea hills and formidable mountains making it a region that boasts spectacular vistas. Nuwara Eliya boasts a fairly cold and salubrious climate all year round and hence the region was once the prime holidaying destination for the British planters. Also due to the region’s uncanny resemblance to Britain, both due to the weather and its natural beauty, Nuwara Eliya is also referred to by many as ‘little England’. Living up to its name the region is a prime tourist destination in Sri Lanka and it is home to some of the best hotels in Sri Lanka. The city and its surrounding regions are also home to four of Araliya Hotels & Resorts’ finest resort properties namely, Araliya Magnolia Mansion, Araliya Red, Araliya Green City, and Araliya Green Hills.

5. Kandy

Aptly known by many as Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, Kandy is home to some of the most eclectic religious and colonial attractions on the island including the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic! In the pages of history, it was mentioned as the last stood kingdom of Sri Lanka. The region is also home to serval other cultural attractions such as Gadaladeniya Temple, Embekke Devalaya, Lankathilaka Temple.