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 only 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 all of its top historical attractions, and now I’ve created this list where I’ve narrowed it down to the 10 best historical sites in Sri Lanka, which includes all of its UNESCO Cultural Heritage listing.
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Table of Contents
Sri Lanka Historical Sites on a Map
The 10 Best Historical Sites in Sri Lanka
1 | Polonnaruwa
Most will claim that the best historical site in Sri Lanka is Anuradhapura, but I have to respectively disagree.
While Sri Lanka’s original capital may be more historically significant, it doesn’t compare to the amazing ruins at Polonnaruwa.
This ancient city was once the capital of Sri Lanka’s 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 3kms from end-to-end and contain some of the most well-preserved ancient structures in the country, which include palaces, massive stupas, rock-carved buddhas and grand temples.
It’s such a massive historical site and can be a little tricky to visit, but you can learn everything you need to know in my guide to visiting Polonnaruwa.
2 | Anuradhapura
While Polonnaruwa may be the best Sri Lankan historical site to visit, Anuradhapura is the most significant.
This ancient city traces its origins back to at least the 5th century BCE. It served as the capital of Sri Lanka, in the form of various different kingdoms, for over 1500 years, until it was burned down by the Cholas and the capital was moved 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).
The ruins of this ancient city are found in the modern-day city of Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. The complex is massive, spread out over 40 square kms, and requires a couple of days to fully explore all that it has to offer.
With its age, size and historical significance, Anuradhapura is certainly among the best historical sites in Sri Lanka.
3 | Sigiriya
Sigiriya is undoubtedly the most picturesque historical place in Sri Lanka.
This ancient fortress 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 sprawling ruins of the royal gardens and waterways. As you climb the 1200 steps to the top, you’ll pass by colourful frescoes (wall paintings), the ancient Mirror Wall and the remains of the massive lion statue that guarded the entrance.
The climb to the top is absolutely worth it, not just to explore the remains of the royal palace that once sat here, but also for the unbeatable view of the surrounding jungle.
It may not be cheap, but Sigiriya is such an incredible sight and one of the best historical sites in Sri Lanka, so it’s well worth the price.
If you’re on a tight budget and want to save your money for other nearby historical sites like Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura, you can still enjoy watching the sunset over Lion Rock, for cheap, from the nearby Pidurangala Rock.
4 | Galle Fort
With so many ancient ruins and Buddhist temples it’s easy to forget Sri Lanka’s colonial past, which covers almost 500 years of its history, and there’s no better place to experience it than at Galle.
Galle Fort is a walled-off old 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 the fort in 1640.
Because of this, the town inside the fort has a distinctly European aesthetic, and with its charming and vibrant streets, it’s become a tourist hotspot.
As a tourist, there’s a lot to do inside the fort, with its trendy cafes and artisan stores, but for you history buffs, here are some of the highlights you can expect:
- 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. Find a comfy spot along the fortifications around 5:30pm and enjoy the show.
If you’re travelling along Sri Lanka’s south coast, you can’t miss Galle Fort.
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5 | Temple of the Tooth
According to legend, when the Buddha passed away 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, as it was believed that whoever had possession of the tooth had divine authority to rule.
Everytime the capital of Sri Lanka moved, a new temple was built for the relic, before finally it found itself in the city of Kandy, where it remains today.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, as its formerly named, is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular cultural attractions.
In my experience, you can’t actually see the tooth itself, with it being tucked away in a golden casket, but you can explore the historic, centuries-old building.
For the best experience, visit during the Pooja Ceremony, which takes places 3 times per day.
6 | Dambulla Caves
The Rangiri Dmbulla Cave Temples form a part of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, and boast the largest and 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 added to over the next few centuries.
Throughout this time the caves were one of the most important religious centres in Sri Lanka, and to some extent still are.
The temples are located inside the base of a large rock almost 200m tall, consist of 5 caves. Inside you’ll find a wealth of Buddhist artwork, with dozens of intricately carved statues and walls covered in colourful murals.
Being hidden inside caves has helped to protect the temples from the elements and keep them preserved, and in the 1700s the caves were supposedly re-painted by the Kingdom of Kandy, so the artwork still retains a lot of its colour.
After visiting the caves, you can also hike to the top of the rock for some amazing views of the surrounding landscape.
7 | Yapahuwa
Yapahuwa is Sri Lanka’s most underrated historical site, and a true historical hidden gem.
The rock fortress at Yapahuwa is like the forgotten middle child of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, forever 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 built atop a massive rock, to the lion statues guarding the entrance, Yapahuwa shares a lot of similarities with the famous Sigiriya rock fortress, but has the added bonus of being much cheaper and far less crowded.
8 | Jaffna Fort
If you’re willing to make the journey to Sri Lanka’s northern tip, you’ll be treated with one of its most historically significant cities.
Jaffna is full of history, and there are a number of historical sites scattered in and 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, although it would soon later be taken over by the Dutch in 1658 who would build most of what you see today.
Jaffna Fort is huge, and one of the best examples of colonial history in Sri Lanka. You could spend a couple of hours here walking along the walls and checking out the remains of some of the military buildings within the courtyard.
9 | Delft Island
Off the coast of Jaffna, in the waters between Sri Lanka and India, 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.
It’s hard to even know where to start. The ruins of a 10th century Chola temple, a 400-year-old African Boab tree planted by Arab sailors, a 17th century Dutch fort, or 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 this only adds to their untouched charm.
Your journey to Delft Island begins at Kurikadduwan harbour with a ferry that takes about 1 hour. Once there, you’ll have no problem finding 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 still 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.
Being an ancient ruin swallowed up by a jungle, it’s hard to deny the Indiana Jones, ‘lost city’ experience that comes with Ritigala, making it one of the most unique historical sites Sri Lanka has to offer.
Ritigala Nature Reserve is located 40km outside of Anuradhapura, and is easy to visit as a daytrip.
