This Siva Devalaya is the oldest Hindu shrine found in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. It was built by king Raja Raja I (985 – 1014 A.D.). According to an inscription found, this place has been dedicated to the consort of the King. Read more...

The Lovamahapaya is one of the Eight Sacred places known as “Atamasthana” and it is located in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. When you walk towards Ruwanweliseya from Sri Maha Bodhiya, The Lovamahapaya can be seen on your right-hand side. According to the Mahawamsa, the Lowamahapaya was a nine-story building and It was built by the King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC). You can read more about this place by visiting the external links given below. Photo Credit:  Balou46, ChampikaG External Links: King Dutugemunu’s gracious gift to Maha Sangha The Entrance Into the Tusita-Heaven Read more...

Henarathgoda Botanical Garden (or Gampaha Botanic Garden) is one of the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The garden is located in the Gampaha District of Western Province, Sri Lanka and it is only 30km away from Pettah. It was established in the year 1876 by the British in order to conduct experiments on exotic economic plants. The first imported rubber tree to Sri Lanka was planted in this garden. The garden is now owned and maintained by the Department of National Botanic Gardens, Sri Lanka. it is spread over 43 acres and now it serves as a tropical low country Botanic Garden. Read more...

Kithulgala, in the Kegalle district, is the best and safe place for whitewater rafting. Rafting activities are done in the 8-10km section of the Kelani river. This place is located about 90km away from Colombo and it can be reached by Avissawella – Hatton – Nuwara Eliya (A007) road.  It is an ideal holiday haunt for both the young and the ‘young at heart,’ given the area’s ideal conditions for rafting or for a relaxing holiday away from the grind of everyday work.  The award-winning movie The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was filmed at this picturesque location. Whitewater rafting is Read more...

The Galle Fort, also known as Dutch Fort, located in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It was first built by the Portuguese in 1588 and then by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onward. UNESCO has inscribed this site as a cultural heritage. External Links UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka Read more...

A nice place to relax in busy and crowded Colombo. Diyatha Uyana is located in Polduwa Junction of Battaramulla town, just next to the Water’s Edge hotel. It is constructed on a marshy lands on the banks of the Diyawanna Oya. The park gives opportunity for visitors to hang around, have chats and even for jogging as there are jogging paths. You can go on boat ride and also there is floating restaurant which you can reserve for private functions.  The floating restaurant can accommodate 36 to 55 persons. Many people visit Diyata Uyana in evening hours. There number of good food stalls Read more...

Ranmasu uyana is pleasure garden of the ancient royals of Sri Lanka. It is located in between Thissa Wewa and Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province. The garden is spreaded over 40 acres. This is a good example of ancient Sri Lankan garden architecture. Establishment of this “Ran Masu Uyana” has been carried out to full fill the essential necessity of a royal park and this was built on the right side of the Maha Vihara premises. Inscription of Vessagiriya, established by King Mihindu IV in the 10th century A.D., has identified this as the “Ranmasu Uyana”. Meaning Read more...

Mini World’s End is a deep escarpment located in Pitawala Pathana of Knuckles Conservation Forest. This is another attractive location where you can have a panoramic view of nature’s beauty. You can access this location by the easily designated nature trail across the Pitawala Pathana and it is about 750m away from the main road. You can easily access the Pitawala Pathana from Matale – Illukkumbura-Pallegama road and it is 33km away from Matale city. If you are traveling from the Matale side,  you will meet Bambarakiri Ella Waterfall and Famous Riverston Peak before Pitawala Pathana. Read more...

Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) is an ancient pond with a unique design made by ancient Sri Lankan architects. It is located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The pond got its name because of its design which looks like a bloomed lotus flower. This pond is somewhat small compared to the other ponds found in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and it is built with stones. The structural design of the Nelum Pokuna Theatre also has been inspired by this Lotus Pond. This pond is unnoticed by many of the visitors since it is located somewhat away Read more...

Demalamaha Seya is an ancient stupa built by the King Parakramabahu (1153-1186). It is located in the main archaeological site in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. As it was described in the ancient chronicle Mahawansa, the stupa named “Demalamaha Seya” was with a height of approximately 1300 cubit (594.36 m). Presently this brick built stupa has a perimeter of 600 m and height of 25.65 m. The excavation and the conservation project of the Demalamaha Seya was commenced by the Central Cultural Fund in 2014. n.b. These photos were taken in October 2017 External Links Bringing back Read more...

Punchi Dambadiva is located in the Ratnapura District of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is Buddhist temple which hosts replicas of the sacred monuments found in the pilgrim site of Dambadiva. The Punchi Dambadiva project has been started in 1981 and currently consists of the replica of Buddhagayawa, Piriniwan Manchakaya depicting the passing away of Buddha located in Kusinarawa, a replica of the first dhamma sermon Buddha gave to his five disciples in Isipathanaramaya and many others monuments. Enter your current location in the search box under the map to find the best route to the Punchi Dabadiva.  Click here Read more...

Kallebokka viewpoint is one of the best viewpoints in Sri Lanka which gives 3600  magnificent views of the Kandy, Matale and the beautiful Knuckles Mountain Range.  From the viewpoint, you can also see the Sembuwatta Lake, Huluganga valley, Hunnasgiriya, Makulussa Mountain, and Dumbara Mountain range etc… The viewpoint is located in the highest peak of the Kallebokka estate which belongs to Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation. The estate is located between Kabaragala and Madolkele on the boundary of the  Kandy and Matale District. Therefore it can be accessed from both Mathale and Kandy directions. However, the route from Matale to Kabaragala is better in terms Read more...

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located in Pinnawala area of Kegalle District, Sabaragamuwa Province. The Elephant Orphanage was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation for feeding and providing care for orphaned/wounded baby elephants found in jungles. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage External Links Department of National Zoological Gardens Read more...

The Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens is located in Ilukovita, Avissawella of Colombo District. It was opened to the public in the year 2014 and it is the youngest botanical garden in Sri Lanka. The total land area of the garden is 105 acres. This is a nice place to escape from the busy Colombo within 1 to 2 hours. Because of the greenish surrounding and hilly areas you will feel like you are entering the up country when you go there. The park is mainly two parts. The lower part is well maintained with perfectly cut grasses and beautiful Read more...

Ritigala is a mountain range located in Anuradhapura District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The mountain contains ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery. The history of the monastery dates back to the 1st century BC.   Ritigala Read more...

Bambarakiri Ella is located beside the Matale – Illukkumbura-Pallegama Road. When you are approaching Riverston peak or Knuckle Conservation Forest from Matale side along this road, the waterfall is on the right-hand side and it is only 6km away from Rattota Town. The waterfall is popular among local tourist and it is one of the location they wait to refresh and have bath when they are coming back from the Riverston tour. Read more...

This is a very beautiful waterfall located in the Nuwara Eliya District of Central Province, Sri Lanka. The waterfall is a part of the Kothmale Oya,  a tributary of the Mahaweli River. The St. Clairs Falls can be easily seen from the Avissawella – Hatton – Nuwara Eliya road (see the map for the most suitable viewpoint).   Read more...

The Rajagala Monastery is a sacred site in which history dates back to the Advent of Arhath Mahinda Thera. This place is in the Uhana area of the Ampara District in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The archaeological excavation is still underway and it is one of the largest archaeological sites in Sri Lanka with 1025 acres. The rock inscription found here regarding the Arhat Mahinda Thera is the most valued inscription of archaeological interest. According to the archaeological discoveries, the area had been inhabited from the prehistoric times. You can read more about this site from the external links given below. Read more...

Among the number of hot water springs in Sri Lanka, the Mahaoya hot water springs are the hottest. These wells are located in Ampara District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. In Mahaoya, there are well-maintained 7 wells with different temperatures. The temperature of hottest well is around 56oC. Tourists throughout the world got attracted to this place due to its mythical healing powers. Enter your current location in the search box below the map to find the best route to the Mahaoya hot water springs. Click here to find a list of accommodations around Mahaoya, Sri Lanka.   Read more...

This picturesque location became popular over the social media from 2017 onwards. The water body is crystal clear and it is a great place to take colorful photographs.   A lot of local travelers attract to this location as the breathtaking photographs shared in social media. It is in the Rangala village which is about 20km away from the Theldeniya town and about 42km away from the Kandy City. The pool is a part of the Kotaganga Stream, and that can also be viewed from the Kotaganga bridge. Although it is so attractive, there is a hidden danger of Rangala Natural Pool. The pool is Read more...

Sigiriya is one of the best preserved examples which depict the engineering skills of ancient era of Sri Lanka. It is located in Matale district of Central Province, Sri Lanka. Today Sigiriya is one of the UNESCO listed World Heritage Site of Sri Lanka.   Sigiri Wall Paintings Mirror Wall (Kadapath Paura) Sinha Padaya Sigiriya Rock External Links SigiriyaTourism.com World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka Read more...

The Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple located in Kelaniya, Gampaha District,  few kilometers away from Colombo. You can access the temple within one hour from Colombo. According to Buddhist history the temple is dates back to the third and final visit of Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka. Which says that the history of this temple is go back to 500 BCE. According to the Mahavamsa the original stupa of Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached. External Links The Mahavamsa The Visit of The Thatagatha (Lord Buddha)   Read more...

Gadaladeniya temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the Pilimathalawa area in Kandy District of Central Province, Sri Lanka. The temple was done by king Bhuvanekabahu IV ( reigned from 1341 to 1351) in 1344. According to the historical evidence, the temple was done by a South Indian architect named Ganesvarachari. Therefore, the temple has built according to the South Indian tradition. External Links Department of Archaeology Read more...

Polonnaruwa Vatadage belongs to the Polonnaruwa Kingdom. It is a structure which is built encircling the stupa for protection. It is believed that the structure was built during the reign of King Parakramabahu I (1123–1186) to hold the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. However, this has been renovated during the reign of King Nissanka Malla (1187 – 1196). One of the four Buddha statues on the upper platform This is the most famous Vatadage among the other Vatadage structures found in Sri Lanka. It has two stone platforms and only single entrance is there to access the lower platform. Read more...