500px provided description: Sigiriya [#mountain ,#sri lanka]

Explore the remains of ancient kingdoms, royal capitals and hydraulic civilisation.

CategoryCultural and Heritage
Featured places5
Generally bestYear-round
Famous destinations

Where to go — our favourite places for this experience, ready to fit into a route that suits your dates and pace.

  1. 01

    Anuradhapura

    Anuradhapura's sacred city brings together ancient monasteries, reservoirs and pilgrimage sites, including Ruwanwelisaya and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.

    The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa, a hemispherical structure containing relics, in Sri Lanka, considered sacred to many Buddhists all over the world
    Anuradhapura
  2. 02

    Polonnaruwa

    Polonnaruwa preserves the palace ruins, Sacred Quadrangle and Gal Vihara rock sculptures of Sri Lanka's medieval capital.

    Royal Palace, Polonnawura, Sri Lanka
    Polonnaruwa
  3. 03

    Sigiriya

    Sigiriya's rock citadel rises above landscaped water gardens in Matale District; the ascent passes the lion-paw entrance to the summit ruins.

    500px provided description: Sigiriya [#mountain ,#sri lanka]
    Sigiriya
  4. 04

    Yapahuwa

    Yapahuwa is a former royal capital near Maho, distinguished by an ornamental stone staircase climbing towards its rock fortress.

    A view of the Buddhist Yapahuwa rock fortress complex Staircase in Sri Lanka. This fortress was the site of the Kingdom of Dambadeniya located here at Yapahuwa.
    Yapahuwa
  5. 05

    Dambadeniya

    Dambadeniya, in Kurunegala District, was a medieval royal capital; its rock and temple sites preserve traces of that period.

Good to know

Dress modestly at temples and sacred sites — cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes and hats where asked. Opening times and entry fees change, so we confirm them when we plan your trip.

From the first idea to the final detail, we design Sri Lankan journeys you'll remember forever.