Things to Do in Sri Lanka

Tucked into Kandy’s historical Royal Palace complex, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is one of Sri Lanka’s top attractions. The 18th-century Buddhist temple, part of what was once Kandy’s royal court, is revered for housing a tooth reputed to have belonged to Buddha himself, with pilgrims and tourists flocking to it as a result.

Built by the Portuguese, the 16th-century Galle Fort occupies a promontory in Sri Lanka’s south-coast city of Galle. Developed into a walled town by the Dutch in the 17th century before the British arrived in 1796, the UNESCO-listed fort boasts cobbled streets and European- and Asian-style buildings enclosed by sea walls.

Situated near Beira Lake in central Colombo, Gangaramaya Temple is one of the city’s largest and oldest Buddhist temple copmlexes. Established in 1885 and composed of pagodas, courtyards, and shrines, it’s best-known for its beautiful lake temple (Seema Malaka), which stands on stone pillars above the waters and is reached via a walkway.

Looming 656 feet (200 meters) above central Sri Lanka, the UNESCO-protected Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a sheer volcanic outcrop crowned by a ruined fortress. Come to admire its wall frescoes, and experience the relics and bird’s-eye views at the summit.

Located in southern Sri Lanka, Udawalawe National Park is the island’s 6th-largest reserve, created in 1972 to house wildlife displaced by the building of the Udawalawe Reservoir. Spot animals such as elephant, buffalo, deer, crocodiles, leopards, and exotic birdlife among the park’s 119 square miles (308 square kilometers).

Fringing a stretch of Colombo’s southern coastline, Galle Face Green is the city’s largest open space, composed of 12-acre (5-hectare) lawns overlooked by the colonial-era Galle Face Hotel. The green, which is flanked by a promenade and narrow beach, is a popular spot for strolling, picnicking, and kite flying.

Founded in 1877, the Colombo National Museum in central Colombo chronicles the history and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. Also called the Sri Lankan National Museum, the institution occupies a 19th-century Italianate-style building and attracts visitors eager to view its wide collection of treasures.

Rising from Galle Fort’s ramparts on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, the Galle Lighthouse is one of the UNESCO-protected fort’s most photogenic spots. Built by the British in 1939 to replace an earlier light station, this functioning, 86.9-foot (26.5-meter lighthouse is the island’s oldest and a must-see for fort visitors.

Situated in Kosgoda on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project works to protect endangered sea turtles by conserving nesting sites and providing a hatchery for rescued eggs. Visitors can tour the small, beachside facility to see the turtles, learn about their lifecycle, and discover the project’s work.

Nestled in the town of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka’s hill and tea country, Gregory Lake was built as a reservoir in 1873 by the island’s British Governor, Sir William Gregory. Framed by mist-swathed hills, the lake and its park offers visitors plenty of activities, from watersports to footpaths and cycling trails.