Set off the southern toe of India, the island nation of Sri Lanka is eye-catching in every way. Fresh off a decades-long civil war, the country remains unsettled in places, but tourism is on the rebound—no surprise, considering this verdant Indian Ocean isle boasts some of South Asia’s most arrestingly beautiful sights.
Since the 1800s, Sri Lanka's been synonymous with Ceylon tea—still grown on hilly plantations in the country's interior—as well as spices, which put a distinctively zesty spin on homegrown versions of classic South Indian fare. An equally strong flavor is the spiritual: This predominantly Buddhist country includes some deeply sacred sites such as Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, the Golden Temple of Dambulla, and the Bodhi Tree Temple of Anuradhapura (all UNESCO World Heritage Sites), and there’s a notable share of Hindu temples and Islamic mosques as well. The capital of Colombo, meanwhile, presents plenty of architectural remnants from Sri Lanka's European colonial period.
From outstanding beaches to rolling evergreen forest, Sri Lanka’s also an amazing place to tap into the wilder side of South Asia. The island claims outstanding biodiversity: There are more than 400 varieties of bird, for example—a slew of them found nowhere else—and a globally significant amphibian roster. In terms of charismatic megafauna, the Sri Lankan wilds shelter leopards, sloth bears, and a unique subspecies of Asian elephant. Sri Lanka’s impressive lineup of national parks range from the pachyderm-roamed grasslands of Udawalawe to the shark- and turtle-thronged reefs of Pigeon Island.
Whether you’re dozing off to the soporific surf of the Indian Ocean, exploring an old Portuguese fort, or polishing off a heap of spicy seafood curry, it’s mighty hard not to fall under the sultry spell of Sri Lanka.
13 things not to miss.
- Sigiriya rock fortressClimb Sigiriya rock fortress
- Temple of the Tooth in KandyVisit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy
- Ride the hill-country tea trainRide the hill-country tea train
- National Museum of ColomboThe Neoclassical building is a feast for the eyes; the wide-ranging exhibits within cover everything from homegrown nature to literature.
- Sacred City of AnuradhapuraThis UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses an ancient Buddhist city that grew up around a sacred Bodhi tree.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth RelicThis temple, named for a tooth of the Buddha it houses, is the most famous feature of centuries-old Kandy.
- Golden Temple of DambullaThis huge Buddhist cave temple, the biggest in Sri Lanka, includes lovely statues and paintings.
- Munneswaram TempleHindus and Buddhists alike worship at this ancient complex of five Hindu temples in Munneswaram.
- Galle FortThis well-preserved coastal fort is a major colonial monument, built by the Portuguese and adopted by the Dutch and British.
- Yala National ParkThis outstanding park stretches from seacoast to rainforest and shelters elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, sea turtles, and much else.
- Udawalawe National ParkThe broad tropical grasslands of this park make for unparalleled opportunities to observe free-roaming Sri Lankan elephants.
- Wilpattu National ParkSri Lanka’s largest national park is celebrated for its leopards, which belong to the island’s unique (and threatened) subspecies.
- NegomboSome of the finest beaches in Sri Lanka lie within easy reach of this city, set alongside Negombo Lagoon.
