Jaffna
The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, with its golden gopuram towers and elaborate ritual calendar, is one of the most important Hindu temples in South Asia and the anchor of the Jaffna Peninsula. The city’s ancient fort, vibrant market, and reconstructed public library, a symbol of cultural renewal, offer a portrait of Jaffna’s layered history and living […]
Kataragama
Kataragama is one of the most sacred multi-faith pilgrimage destinations, venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, and is one of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable expressions of spiritual coexistence. The complex centres on the Maha Devale, a shrine to the god Kataragama and the Kiri Vehera Stupa, an ancient Buddhist dagoba. Pilgrims arrive throughout the year, […]
Koneswaram Temple
Perched dramatically on Swami Rock above Trincomalee harbour, Koneswaram Temple is one of Sri Lanka’s most ancient Hindu shrines, dedicated to Lord Shiva and dating back thousands of years. Once known as the ‘Temple of a Thousand Columns,’ it was partially destroyed by Portuguese colonisers in 1624 but was faithfully rebuilt and remains a living […]
Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya
Kelaniya is a site that tradition holds was visited by the Buddha himself during his third and final journey to the island. Set on the banks of the Kelani River just outside Colombo, the vihara’s gilded dagoba, vivid murals, and resident elephants draw devoted pilgrims and quiet first-time visitors alike. The annual Duruthu Perahera, held […]
Temple of the Tooth
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is one of the most venerated Buddhist shrines, housing the left canine tooth of Gautama Buddha. The temple draws millions of pilgrims and visitors each year, with the daily puja ceremonies at dawn, midday, and dusk creating moments of spiritual atmosphere. The Esala Perahera, held annually in July […]
Sinharaja Rainforest
Covering 11,187 hectares in the island’s southwest lowlands, Sinharaja is home to 60 percent of Sri Lanka’s endemic tree species and a concentration of rare flora, including epiphytes, ferns and towering dipterocarp trees. Birdwatchers come from around the world to spot the 21 endemic bird species found here, which are best seen on guided forest […]
Yala National Park
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most visited and most famous wildlife sanctuary, covering over 97,000 hectares of diverse terrain spanning dry-zone forest, coastal lagoons, scrubland and rocky outcrops. The park is celebrated for having one of the highest leopard densities, particularly in Block 1, where leopards are a regular feature of early-morning safaris. Elephants, […]
Minneriya
Minneriya National Park is home to one of the most spectacular wildlife events, ‘The Gathering,’ when hundreds of elephants congregate around the Minneriya Tank between June and October to feed on the fresh grass exposed as the ancient reservoir recedes during the dry season. The park covers 8,890 hectares of mixed forest, wetland, and grassland, […]
Udawalawe
The park is home to the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, a rehabilitation centre where orphaned elephants are cared for and eventually released back into the wild. In addition to elephants, Udawalawe supports large populations of water buffalo, crocodiles, and eagles, as well as diverse birdlife across its grasslands, wetlands, and forest patches.
Wilpattu
Wilpattu is Sri Lanka’s largest national park, covering 1,300 square kilometres of forest, scrubland, and the distinctive ‘villus’, natural, lake-like plains filled with rainwater, that make its landscape unique among the island’s wildlife sanctuaries. The park is best known for its leopards, which can be spotted resting in trees or stalking the open plains in […]