Perhaps the most difficult stage when you are organize a trip to Sri Lanka it is the drafting of a rough itinerary.
Sri Lanka offers an incredible variety of things to see, is rich in culture, with temples and ancient cities, natural parks, with many animals including leopards and elephants, breathtaking views and paradisiacal beaches.
However, the time available is not always enough to visit everything that this magical island offers, you will have to make a careful selection taking into account the period in which you decide to visit Sri Lanka.
So today I want to talk to you about the main attractions, so that you can start making a list of what what to see in Sri Lanka.
What to see and do in Sri LankaThe Cultural Triangle
The cultural triangle is the main attraction of Sri Lanka. When we talk about the cultural triangle, we refer to the visit of Dambulla, Sigirya, Pollonaruwa e Anuradhapura.
Il Royal Rock Temple of Dambulla is one of the most important religious works of Sri Lanka, 5 caves with numerous statues representing the Buddha and suggestive paintings inside.
A Sigirya, do not miss the climb of the imposing rock formation 200 meters high, on the top of which are the ruins of a fortified palace, built between 477 and 495 AD.
Pollonaruwa e Anuradhapura are 2 ancient cities among the most fascinating of Asia, among whose ruins stand out gigantic dagoba. Both ancient ruins are so large that they turn in tuk tuk or even better in bicycle, preferably starting early in the morning.
If you want to visit the whole cultural triangle, I recommend dedicating at least 4 days. If, on the other hand, for reasons of time you have to discard something, I suggest you visit Dambulla, Sigirya and one between Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa.
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Kandy - Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
Another cultural and spiritual attraction not to be missed is the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy (Sri Dalada Maligawa), where the relic of Buddha's tooth is said to be contained.
The city of Kandy in addition to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth it does not offer much and in my opinion it is also ugly, so 1 day is enough. For Sri Lankan Buddhists, the Temple is of great importance and what impresses us tourists is precisely this great devotion and the strong and evocative atmosphere of spirituality that you breathe.
board of visit the Kandy Temple at sunset, when with the sunset the atmosphere becomes even more suggestive.
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I Safari in Sri Lanka
From the spiritual vibrations that the ancient temples arouse, we move on to the strong emotions that nature offers, with natural parks.
Sri Lanka has various parks where to go on safari, Minneriya, Uda Walawe, Wilpattu and the most famous Yala National Park. My partner and I have chosen the latter, for the great variety of animals that can be seen and for the opportunity to admire his leopard majesty.
As a base for visiting the Safari we have chosen the Lake View Cottage to Tissamaharama (1 hour from Yala). Excellent choice, thanks to an incredible view of the lake, a fabulous staff and a very good value for money. We also did the Safari with them and used the transfer service (Mirissa - Tissa and Tissa - Ella), finding ourselves really well.
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The Hill Country and the Scenic Train
After the safari in Yala we headed to Ella, pleasant town of the Hill country, where to relax and take walks.
But the great attraction of this area is the panoramic train that runs along the way da Ella a Kandy, climbing into the mountains and passing through the tea plantations.
The panoramic train was a unique experience, an incredible panorama, between tea plantations and waterfalls. We have booked a private carriage on the website www.exporail.lk and we drove up to Kandy.
An alternative may be to go down to Nuwara Eliya (Nanuoya Station) and continue by car with the driver, stopping to see waterfalls and plantations.
Do not miss a visit to a tea factory, we went to Ella's and it was a very interesting experience to discover all the various stages of tea production.
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The beaches of Sri Lanka
Between things to see in Sri Lanka there is no shortage of ancient temples and large statues of Buddha, but the island as well as for its culture is famous for its long white beaches fringed by palm trees and crystal clear sea.
The ideal is to organize the itinerary in order to take advantage of the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka for relax after tiring visits to the Cultural Triangle.
Usually the east coast, in particular the area of Trincomalee, Uppuveli e Nilaveli, it is perfect between May and September, when it almost never rains and the sea is calm and suitable for swimming.
If, on the other hand, you choose to visit Sri Lanka between December and April, do not miss the wonderful beaches of the South, I particularly appreciated Mirissa, even if I visited it in August, when the sea was more rough, but still beautiful.
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Galle Fort
A must-see attraction in Sri Lanka especially for those traveling to the South of the country is Galle Fort, the town enclosed within the walls, with a colonial charm and recognized as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
After a walk among the old walls of the fortress to observe the breathtaking view, I recommend a stop in one of the many restaurants and clubs in the old city.
We were staying at Unawatuna and we reached Galle Fort, in 20 minutes by tuk tuk. If you prefer you can choose to stay directly inside the Fort and immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere that reigns within the walls.
If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka and you have doubts or you need some advice to plan the itinerary, comment on the article or contact me in private.
