Eight sites of Sri Lanka have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage, namely, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa (1982), the ancient city of Sigiriya (1982), the Golden Temple of Dambulla (1991), the old town of Galle and its fortifications (1988), the sacred city of Anuradhapura (1982), the sacred city of Kandy (1988) etc...
Kandy is the hill capital of Sri Lanka with a great historical and religious background. It is a city of kings where the last of all was King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha and it was the last kingdom of the country prior to gaining independence from the British in 1948. The city holds one of the most important Buddhist pilgrim sites in Sri Lanka and the world, The Temple of the Tooth Relic. The tooth relic of Lord Buddha is kept in a shrine in this temple. Kandy is a city surrounded by hills and is a nature lover’s paradise. It is home to many beautiful waterfalls and mountains of Sri Lanka including the Hanthana mountain range. It is also in close proximity to the Knuckles Mountain Range which is a great hiking spot. Kandy has its own shopping mall in the form of the Kandy City Center and a cultural center which is the best place to see the Kandyan cultural dance show.
Galle is a city situated in the southern part of the island with a Dutch historical background. It is the capital city of the Southern province and a city known for fishing. Galle also boasts of its own natural harbor which is operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. It also has a naval base and headquarters due its location, being connected with the Indian Ocean. The Dutch Fort is a place not to miss when visiting Galle. The fortress has many remaining architectural buildings and structures from the Dutch colonial times. It is also the city of beaches with Galle Fort Beach, Unawatuna Beach and Jungle Beach for the beach lovers. The city also has quite a few forest reserves and sanctuaries surrounding it including the Kanneliya Forest Reserve, Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Rumassala Sanctuary etc.
Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka, is a historic city which has many attractions to see which makes it a must visit location. Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka which comes after Anuradhapura. There are many ancient ruins to visit in Polonnaruwa. These include the Gal Vihara, Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Thivanka Pilimage, Dalada Maluva, Nelum Pokuna, Sath Mahal Prasada, Parakrama Samudraya, Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Thuparama Gedige, Alahana Pirivena, Kiri Vehera and many more. Apart from these historically significant ancient ruins, there are few other attractions to visit in Polonnaruwa. These include the Manampitiya Bridge which is the second longest bridge in Sri Lanka, Flood Plains National Park, Maduru Oya National Park, Wildlife Museum Giritale and Maduru Oya Dam.
The quaint coastal town of Tangalle is well known for its turquoise blue beaches which attract a large number of tourists. Some of the beautiful beaches of Tangalle are the Tangalle Beach, Goyambokka Beach, Parawella Natural Swimming Area, Hirketiya Beach, Medilla Natural Swimming Area and Medaketiya Beach. It is one of the largest towns of the southern province of Sri Lanka with a mild climate which is also another reason many tourists prefer to visit and stay there. Out of the many attractions in Tangalle, the more popular ones include the historic Mulkirigala Raja Maha Viharaya, Wewrukannala Buduraja Maha Viharaya, Kasagala Raja Maha Viharaya in Angunukolapelessa, Hummanaya Blowhole, Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and Turtle Watch Rekawa. Tangalle also has many historic monuments such as the Old Dutch Fort and Tangalle Navy Monument which also serve as popular attractions of the area.
Anuradhapura is an ancient city which is home to some of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka. These include Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi – a branch from the Sri Maha Bodhi in India, under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, Ruwanweli Maha Seya – contains the largest collection of relics of the Buddha, Mihintale – location of the birth of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Thuparamaya – the first Buddhist temple in the country, Jetavanaramaya – one of the tallest stupas in the ancient world and many more venerated sites. In addition to being home to a large number of sacred and historical structures, Anuradhapura is also a city which bears evidence of the highly talented engineers of ancient times, who were responsible for the large irrigation tanks which are used to supply water to the city even today. Some of the large tanks which were built by various kings of ancient Sri Lanka are Tissa Wewa, Kala Wewa, Nuwara Wewa, Basawakkulama Wewa, Nachchaduwa Wewa and Yodha Ela.
The Dambulla Cave Temple is located 24 km (30 min) from Sigiriya in central Sri Lanka. Built in about 80BC It is the largest and best preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. Inside are 153 Buddha statues in various reposes, three statues of ancient kings, and four other statues including those of Vishnu and Ganesh. The ceiling and walls have been repainted over the centuries contain a juxtapose of imagery including those of royal life. Dambulla, located in Sri Lanka, is home to the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla. This historical site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consists of five caves filled with ancient statues and paintings related to Buddhism.
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple. The temple which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is one of the holiest shrines in the entire Buddhist world.