Discover Sri Lanka: Where to Stay, Places to Visit & Things to Do

While Sri Lanka’s beaches hue the country golden and turquoise, the Hill Country colours it green with a large tapestry of tea plantations, scenic misty mountains and gracious waterfalls.

Kandy, home to the last standing kingdom in Sri Lanka, is the major city in the northern part of the Hill Country, nestled in a plateau surrounded by verdant hills. The Temple of The Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, Peradeniya Botanic Garden and Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage are some of the greatest places to visit around.

In the tea-growing south region is Nuwara Eliya, also known as “Little England”. This former British hill station is the common base to hike along the Horton Plains to World’s End, a steep cliff with some jaw-dropping views (when not engulfed with an obscuring mist).

East of the Horton Plains, picturesque Sri Lankan villages can be found and among them is Ella, a hilltop gem surrounded by endless tea plantations and stunning waterfalls. From climbing up Ella Rock or little Adam’s peak, cooling down at Ravana Fall or Diyaluma Falls, enjoying the views from Lipton’s Seat or watching the train pass by in the Nine Arch Bridge, if it’s an adventure you’re looking for, then Ella can cater to you just that.

On the southwest of Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura guides visitors to the nearby Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the iconic Adam’s Peak. Further south, in Udawalawe National Park, join a wildlife safari tour for plenty of elephant sightings.

Jaffna is the centre of the north, seized by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British, the LTTE (the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and even the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force). The closest Sri Lankan region to India is an arid place heavily occupied by the Tamil immigrants. One of its biggest appeals is a distinct culture, cuisine, and unique heritage that has only recently become accessible to travellers.

The most vibrant place in the region is the capital, but the more off-beaten Jaffna Peninsula, remote Vanni region (where Kilinochchi, the LTTE war capital is located), the salt pans in Vanni and the western islands (Punkudutivu and Nainativu i.e.) have a promising appeal that may prove itself in years to come.

Visitors often start exploring the south of Sri Lanka from Galle, one of the most well-preserved colonial cities in the country, famous for the Galle Fort (a seafront walled city built by the Portuguese and extended by the Dutch).

Heading southeastwards from Galle, one finds several idyllic beaches, beautiful resorts and quaint little towns – such as Mirissa, Unawatuna and Tangalla – before reaching Tissamaharama, a great starting point to explore the pilgrimage town of Kataragama, Yala National Park (the country’s prime wildlife park) and Bundala National Park (a bird lover’s paradise).