Polonnaruwa
A shrine for the tooth relic, the Atadage is the only surviving structure in Polonnaruwa dating from the reign of Vijayabahu I.
Must-see attractions in Sri Lanka
Jaffna & the North
Simply a very fine beach, not far east of the Point Pedro Lighthouse. It's often good for swimming when the water is calm.
The Ancient Cities
To the side of the Ambasthale Dagoba is a flight of rock-carved steps leading to this large white sitting-Buddha statue.
Kandy
A very well-maintained park and woodland, originally laid out by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, with good walking trails.
Jaffna
This is the grandest church in Jaffna, a classical Italianate edifice used by Anglicans that dates to 1827.
Colombo
Dedicated to the war god Murugan (Skanda), this is the middle of three adjoining kovils (temples).
Polonnaruwa
This water tank next to the EKHO Lake House has a stepped entrance and is fed from the nearby Topa Wewa.
Colombo
The turreted College House (1912) is a colonial building repurposed for the University of Colombo.
Jaffna
This unusual structure looks like a whitewashed version of a Gloucestershire village church.
Polonnaruwa
This is where you will have your Polonnaruwa ticket checked, before entering the main site.
Galle
Just inside the northern ramparts of the Fort, this large stone bell tower dates from 1883.
Colombo
The namesake goddess of this temple is thought to be responsible for many miracles.
Colombo
This temple in Kotahena, northeast of Pettah, is built of South Indian granite.
The Hill Country
This huge rocky outcrop looms over Ella. It's a popular hiking destination.
Anuradhapura
To the south of the Ratnaprasada is this whitewashed 1st-century-BC dagoba.
Negombo
Close to the seafront near the lagoon mouth are the ruins of the old Dutch fort, which has a fine gateway inscribed with the date 1678. Also here is a…
The Hill Country
Initially created to protect abandoned or orphaned elephants, this is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular attractions. It's a highly commercialised experience…
The Ancient Cities
This South Indian style temple consists of an entrance hall connected to a taller shikara (holy image sanctuary), with a courtyard for circumambulations…
Hikkaduwa & Around
Have you ever wondered where that pretty little moonstone on your finger actually comes from? Head inland 7km to Mitiyagoda and you can descend (not…
The Ancient Cities
The remains of a 9th-century hospital sit a stone's throw from the site museum. The hospital consisted of a number of cells. A bat oruwa (large stone…
Anuradhapura
So called because it once had a bronze-tiled roof, the ruins of the 'Brazen Palace' stand close to the bodhi tree. The remains of 1600 columns are all…
Colombo
The huge dredges you see working offshore of Fort and Galle Face Green are building the initial stages of this enormous 269-hectare addition to the city…
Nuwara Eliya
This lake is popular with domestic tourists who enjoy strolling the footpaths, taking out a swan-shaped pedal boat (30 minutes Rs 500) or trotting around…
The Hill Country
This cave is associated with the Ramayana story. Located in a cleft in the mountain that rises to Ella Rock, the cave is reputed to be where the king of…
Polonnaruwa
Standing nearly 4m high, this statue displays an unusually lifelike human representation, in contrast to the normally idealised or stylised Buddha figures…
The Ancient Cities
About 85km south of Anuradhapura and 25km northwest of Kurunegala, where the Puttalam and Anuradhapura roads meet, is this Kandyan-style temple, which is…
Kandy
Adjacent to the Audience Hall, the Rajah Tusker Hall displays the stuffed remains of Rajah, the famous Maligawa elephant who died in 1988. Rajah was the…
The Ancient Cities
On the road leading to Old Rd, west of the site proper, are the remains of a monastery enclosed in the ruins of a stone wall. Visible here are two dagobas…
The Ancient Cities
On the same level as the relic house, this hall, also known as the convocation hall, is where monks met to discuss matters of common interest. The raised…
Hikkaduwa & Around
Hikkaduwa Lake, with its monitor lizards and numerous birds, makes for a pleasant excursion away from the beach. Boat tours can sometimes be organised on…
Jaffna & the North
This museum is unlikely to impress if you’re arriving from the ancient cities, but some of the pinched-faced terracotta figures from Kilinochchi (4th to…
The Hill Country
This museum, on the corner of the main road from Wellawaya and the road to the Buduruwagala Buddhas, has stone and terracotta artefacts from nearby…
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