The Best Places To Visit In Sri Lanka

COLOMBO

Although it only became Sri Lanka’s capital in 1815 with the arrival of the British, Colombo had long been an important port for Indian Ocean traders, and Portuguese and Dutch settlers. Sadly, many visitors skip staying here and either spend their first night near the airport on arrival or head off to their first destination. However, this dynamic, bustling city is worth a night or two – you’ll find tree-lined boulevards, temples, churches and colonial buildings side by side with cutting-edge skyscrapers, as well as stylish hotels, buzzy restaurants and fabulous shopping.
 
Must-sees: A walking tour with a local guide of the area known as Fort will you give some historical background to the city’s Dutch and British legacies. Stops will include the Edwardian General Post Office, the old parliament building, the Cargills & Millers Building, originally a British department store, and the pomegranate-coloured Jami Ul Alfar Mosque in Pettah. The National Museum and the Dutch Period Museum are also both worth a visit.  Of course, you’ll see endless temples on your trip to Sri Lanka, but two you should not miss here in Colombo are the Gangaramaya Temple with its pagoda, assembly hall, shrines and rows of Buddha statues; and nearby, its sister temple, Seema Malakaya, with its collection of Buddhas arranged on a promontory on Bere Lake.

Where to shop: Pettah Market is a noisy maze of stalls and you’ll probably lose your bearings but it’s great for trinkets and spices. For more upmarket shops, head to the boutiques around Galle Road and Viharamahadevi Park, and the craft shops in Paradise Road. Some of our favourite include Barefoot Garden Cafe and Shop for handwoven silk and cotton clothing; Paradise Road for gorgeous homeware, including house linen, and hand-painted mugs and plates; TEAELI Tea Experience and Dilmah T-Lounge for tea lovers.

Where to stay – luxe for less: Located in the chi chi Cinnamon Gardens area of the capital, this stately 1930s heritage building and now a stylish boutique hotel, called Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, was once the home of the former president of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The ten rooms feature high ceilings, timber floors and colonial era relics.

Where to stay – uber luxe: You’ll find just eight colonial-chic suites at Maniumpathy, an exquisite 19th century home originally built by a doctor from Jafna, situated in the heart of the city’s trendy, leafy 07 district. A small, inviting pool in the courtyard is the perfect spot for a cooling dip and the personal butler service will cater for your every need. The food served in the Nandi Terrace Restaurant is fabulous - make sure to order the egg hoppers for breakfast.

THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE 

Any first-time visit to Sri Lanka cannot be complete without a trip to this picturesque region where you’ll discover the island’s cultural and religious history, lost cities, ruined palaces, cave temples and centuries-old frescoes and murals, as well as wildlife. Accessible either over land from Colombo, or via a short internal flight, there are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the triangle – the sacred cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, the rock fortress of Sigiriya and the cave temples of Dambulla. Three days would do this area justice, moving on to Kandy for one or two nights.
 
The capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th century BC, Anuradhapura sits on the banks of the Malvathu Oya and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. You’ll find a wealth of well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization and Buddhist monasteries. Both a working town and ancient city, Polonnaruwa is a must-see and still retains much of its ancient buildings, including the royal palace and statues of Buddha. The earliest cave temples at Dambulla are thought to date back to the 1st century BC and contain about 150 stunning Buddha statues and paintings. The complex of five separate cave temples sit under a vast overhanging rock which towers 160 metres over the surrounding plains.
 
Within the triangle you’ll also find the iconic Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka’s most recognisable landmark, which looms 200 metres above the plains. Built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century, the cliff-top fortress took seven years to construct. On the way up you’ll see beautiful and well-preserved frescoes painted on the sandstone, most notably the ‘celestial maidens’ in a cave halfway up. Be warned, the fairly challenging climb to the very top involves going up vertiginous staircases attached to sheer walls but is well worth it for the phenomenal views. Top tip – aim to get here by 7.30am so that you avoid the midday sun and the crowds.
 
Where to stay – luxe for less: With the majestic Sigiriya Rock fortress acting as the backdrop, the contemporary style Aliya Resort and Spa is set in the heart of the cultural triangle and is the ideal base to visit all the historic sites. The rooms overlook lush garden and feature either a private balcony or terrace; the suites are more secluded and have a private plunge pool. The spa has a range of holistic traditional Ayurvedic treatments to help you unwind after a busy day sightseeing.
 
Where to stay – uber luxe: Vil Uyana is set in fantastic purpose-built wetlands. The superbly comfortable rooms are stilted, over-water wooden dwellings sprawled across a vast area of the gardens, paddy fields and forest. You’ll be surrounded by nature so you may come across some unusual animals and insects; and look out for the friendly crocodile in the lagoon that surrounds the restaurant area. Though just ten minutes from Sigiriya, this is a place to relax, unwind, pamper yourself and get back to nature.