The Pearl of the Indian Ocean, as Sri Lanka is commonly referred, is arguably the most underrated country in Asia in terms of history.
Despite being a small country, similar in size to Ireland or Tasmania, Sri Lanka has 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some of which rival the famous Angkor Wat.
From the ruins of ancient cities, to 2000-year old cave temples, to extensive colonial forts, this country has a lot to offer for history buffs.
I’ve spent months travelling across the island exploring its top historical attractions, and I’ve narrowed down its many highlights to the top 10 historical sites in Sri Lanka.
Contents
Sri Lanka Historical Sites on a Map
The 10 Best Historical Sites in Sri Lanka
1 | Polonnaruwa
📍Polonnaruwa was once the capital of Sri Lanka during its golden age in the 11th and 12th centuries. The sheer size and scale of this UNESCO World Heritage site makes it hard not to compare it to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
1000 years ago this city was the largest and most sophisticated in on the island and, when it came to agriculture & irrigation, one of the most technologically advanced in Asia.
The ruins are spread out across an area more than 4kms end-to-end and contain some of the most well-preserved ancient structures in the country.
You can spend at least a full day exploring its many palaces, stupas, rock-carved buddhas and grand temples.
2 | Anuradhapura
Before Polonnaruwa, the long-time capital of Sri Lanka was 📍Anuradhapura.
This ancient city traces its origins back to at least the 5th century BCE, and served as the capital forvarious different kingdoms over 1500 years,
After it was burned down by the Chola Empire from India, the capital was shifted to Polonnaruwa.
In terms of history, Anuradhapura holds a lot of records. It’s the oldest city in Sri Lanka and amongst the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Asia. It has what was once among the world’s tallest structures (Jetavanaramaya) and has the world’s oldest planted tree (Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi).
Unlike Polonnaruwa, the ruins of this city are not contained to one archaeological park, but are spread over 40km² amongst the modern-day city of Anuradhapura.
A popular experience for tourists is to rent a bicycle or scooter and spend a day or 2 exploring the many stupas, temples and parks.
3 | Sigiriya
This ancient fortress at 📍Sigiriya sits atop a rock almost 200m high, towering above the surrounding jungle. It was built during the 5th century CE after the king, paranoid about an attack, moved his capital from Anuradhapura to build a more defensible one here.
It was short lived, with the capital being returned to Anuradhapura after the kings death, but a lot was built in that time.
Around the base of the rock are the ruins of the royal gardens and waterways. As you climb the 1200 steps to the top, you’ll pass by colourful frescoes, the ancient Mirror Wall and the remains of the lion statues that guarded the entrance.
Its a long climb to the top, but absolutely worth it. Here you can explore the remains of the expansive royal palace, and get an unbeatable view of the surrounding landscape.
Sigiryia is one of the pricier historical sites in Sri Lanka. If you’re on a tight budget, you can still enjoy watching the sunset over Lion Rock from the nearby 📍Pidurangala Rock.
Planning to visit Sri Lanka soon?
🛏 Booking hotels: Trip.com and Booking.com are the best resources for finding and booking hotels in Sri Lanka.
🏄 Booking tours: GetYourGuide is the best resources for finding guided tours to Sri Lanka’s historical sites.
🚅 Booking transport: 12Go is the best online resource for booking trains and buses in Sri Lanka, and Asia.
🏥 Travel insurance: Heymondo covers medical, theft, cancellations and more in Sri Lanka.
4 | Galle Fort
With so many ancient ruins and temples it’s easy to forget Sri Lanka’s colonial heritage, which covers almost 500 years of its history, and there’s no better place to experience it than at 📍Galle Fort.
Galle Fort is a fort-town on Sri Lanka’s south coast. The first settlement here was built by the Portuguese in 1588, although it was the Dutch that constructed most of what you see today after they took over in 1640.
The town has a charming European aesthetic that makes it stand out from the rest of Sri Lanka, making it a popular tourist draw.
There’s a lot to see inside the fort. Aside from its many trendy cafes and artisan stores, there’s also:
- Old Dutch Hospital | Check out the shops & restaurants in this restored hospital, built in the 17th century.
- Walls | Explore the fortifications that surround the old town.
- Lighthouse | Visit the picturesque lighthouse, built by the British in 1848.
- Dutch Reformed Church | Built in 1755, it’s one of the oldest churches in the country and still used today.
- Clock Tower | Check out the clock tower at the fort entrance, built by the British in 1883.
As a bonus, Galle Fort also has some of the best sunsets in the country.
Discover more of Sri Lanka
5 | Temple of the Tooth
According to legend, when the Buddha died and was cremated in 543 BCE one of his teeth remained in the ashes. Considered a holy relic, the tooth was passed all over India before reaching Sri Lanka around the 4th century CE.
The relic played an important role in Sri Lankan politics for centuries. It was long believed that whoever possessed the tooth had divine authority to rule.
Everytime the capital of Sri Lanka moved, a new temple was built for the relic. You’ll find such temples at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, but today the tooth rests in the 📍Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
The tooth itself is kept hidden inside the inner sanctuary, but for a fee visitors can explore the temple, which features some stunning wooden architecture.
For the best experience, visit during the Pooja Ceremony, when you can catch a glimpse of the inner sanctuary. The ceremony takes place 3 times a day.
6 | Dambulla Caves
The 📍Dambulla Cave Temples form a part of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, and boast the most well-preserved cave temples in Sri Lanka.
The origins of this UNESCO World Heritage Site are a little blurry, but it’s generally believed that these natural caverns were first used as temples as early as the 3rd century BCE, and were gradually extended over the centuries.
The 5 cave temples are located inside the base of a large rock almost 200m tall. Inside you’ll find a wealth of Buddhist artwork, with intricately carved statues colourful murals..
Being protected within a cave, the temples have been kept remarkably well preserved. The caves were supposedly most recently painted in the 1700s, although you could easily mistake them for being painted yesterday.
After visiting the caves, you can also hike to the top of the rock for some amazing views of the surrounding landscape
7 | Yapahuwa
The rock fortress at 📍Yapahuwa is like the forgotten middle child of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, often overshadowed by nearby Dambulla and Aduradhapura, but it’s starting to gain notice.
The 800-year-old fortress sits atop a 300ft rock overlooking the surrounding region. For a brief period it the capital of Sri Lanka.
At the base of the rock you’ll find a museum, a cave temple and the ruins of various other structures.
From there its a roughly 20min climb to the top of the rock where you’ll find the fortress ruins and an amazing 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.
From being situated a large rock, and guarded by lion statues at the entrance, Yapahuwa shares a lot of similarities with Sigiriya, but far cheaper and less crowded.
8 | Jaffna Fort
If you make the journey to Sri Lanka’s northern tip, you’ll find one of its most historical cities.
Jaffna has a rich heritage, and there are a number of historical sites scattered around the city but the biggest and best is 📍Jaffna Fort.
This large star-shaped fort was originally built by the Portuguese in 1618 after they invaded the Jaffna Kingdom, though it would soon be taken by the Dutch in 1658 who built most of what you see today.
Many of the buildings inside the fort are long gone, but you can still explore the remains of the old governors residence, a church, some administrative buildings, and the walls, which remain intact.
9 | Delft Island
Just off the coast of Jaffna is a small island that is brimming with history.
📍Delft Island is rarely on travellers’ maps when visiting this Sri Lanka. It’s pretty much the definition of ‘off the beaten path‘, but for any history lover willing to make the journey it’s got plenty to see.
On the island you can explore a varied mix of historical sites. The ruins of a 10th century Chola temple. A 400-year-old African Boab tree planted by Arab sailors. A 17th century Dutch/Portuguese fort. A gigantic footpront said to belong to the Hindu diety Hanuman. Take your pick.
A lot of these historical sites are in dire need of some preservation, but that just adds to the experience. No crowds, no tickets, just exploring largely untouched historical sites. At least for now, as the island is becoming increasing more known among travelers.
Your journey to Delft Island begins at 📍Kurikadduwan harbour with a ferry that takes about 1 hour. Once there, you’ll have need to hire a tuk tuk driver to take you around the island.
10 | Ritigala Forest Monastery
If you embark on a scenic hike through the 📍Ritigala Nature Reserve, you’ll stumble across the ruins of a 2000 year old buddhist monastery.
The origins of these ancient ruins are largely unknown, but it’s assumed to have been a secluded Buddhist monastery since the 1st century BCE.
Here they built temples, bathing pools, libraries, reservoirs – essentially a small town.
At some point the site was abandoned but the stone ruins can still be found today spread out within the reserve, making it a scenic hike through nature that happens to pass through some of Sri Lanka’s oldest monuments.
Ritigala Nature Reserve is located about 40km from of Anuradhapura, and is easy to visit as a daytrip.
Planning your trip to Sri Lanka
Now that you have all the information on visiting Polonnaruwa, it’s time to start planning your trip to Sri Lanka. Here are some resources to help you get started:
✈ Flights: Trip.com and Skyscanner are the best resources for finding cheap flights to Sri Lanka.
🚅 Transport: 12Go is the best online platform for booking trains and buses in Sri Lanka, and across Asia.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is the best resource for finding amazing hotels in Sri Lanka, while Hostelworld is the best for finding hostels.
🏥 Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers all the essentials in Sri Lanka, including theft, medical and cancellations.
🛜 Internet: To stay connected in Sri Lanka, you can use Airalo. They offer an eSIM, meaning all you need is a smartphone and and the app.
🌐 VPN: To stay connected and access service that may not be available in Sri Lanka, use NordVPN.
🏄 Tours & Day Trips: GetYourGuide and Viator are the top platforms for tours and activities in Sri Lanka.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Further reading on Sri Lanka
Here are more guides on Sri Lanka to help you plan your trip:
⬤ While in Sri Lanka, be sure to visit its best ancient city: Polonnaruwa – A Travel Guide to Sri Lanka’s Ancient Capital.
⬤ To learn the best way to discover Sri Lanka’s historical sites, check out: 10 Day Sri Lanka Itinerary for History Buffs.
⬤ For more historical travel guides on Sri Lanka, check out our Sri Lanka page.
