The Pearl of the Indian Ocean, as Sri Lanka is commonly referred, is arguably the most underrated country in Asia in terms of history.
The island has become a tourist hotspot in recent years, known for its tropical beaches, tea covered hills, elephant safaris, and so much more. But among all that is a land brimming with history, one that boasts some of the largest and most well-preserved ancient ruins in the world.
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 massive colonial forts, this country has a lot to offer for history buffs. In this list I’ve broken it down to the absolute 10 best historical places in Sri Lanka.
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Table of Contents
The 10 Best Historical Places in Sri Lanka
1 | Anuradhapura
If we’re forced to choose the best historical place in Sri Lanka, it’s hard not to pick Anuradhapura.
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 the world’s tallest stupa (Jetavanaramaya) and has Asia’s oldest tree (Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi), the very same under which the Buddha was said to have sat when he became enlightened.
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 places in Sri Lanka.
Where | Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $25 USD
2 | Polonnaruwa
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa contains the ruins of Sri Lanka’s former capital 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 Sri Lanka 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.
If you want to visit the best historical places in Sri Lanka, you can’t miss Polonnaruwa.
It’s such a massive historical site and there’s a lot to know about visiting it, to make sure you check out our comprehensive guide to visiting Polonnaruwa here.
Where | Polonnaruwa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $25 USD
3 | Sigiriya
Sigiriya is undoubtedly the most majestic, and photogenic, historical place in Sri Lanka.
This ancient fortress, built during the reign of Kashyapa I (477 to 495 CE) sits atop a rock almost 200m high, towering above the surrounding jungle.
This ancient fortress sits atop a rock almost 200m high, towering above the surrounding jungle. It was built during the reign of Kashyapa I (477 to 495 CE) after the king, paranoid about an invasion from the old king he took the throne from, moved the capital from Anuradhapura and built a whole new one atop of this rock, somewhere that was more defensible. It was short lived, with the capital being returned to Anuradhapura after Kashyapa’s death, but what was built in that short time was significant.
Around the base of the rock is 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 places 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.
Where | Sigiriya, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $36 USD
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, but that part of the country’s history is alive and well at Galle.
The Galle Fort is a walled-off old town on Sri Lanka’s south coast. The settlement here was first built by the Portuguese in 1588, although it was the Dutch that built most of what you see today after they invaded and 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 and one of the most popular places in the country.
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 photogenic 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 the South coast of Sri Lanka, you absolutely must visit Galle Fort. It’s definitely the top historical colonial places in Sri Lanka.
Where | Galle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | Free
5 | Temple of the Tooth
In the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital tucked away in the hills of the central highlights, is a temple containing one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics.
According to legend, when the Buddha died and was cremated in 543 BCE one of his teeth remained in the ashes. It was kept in royal possession in India and, sometime during the 4th century CE, found its way to Sri Lanka.
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, which is why you can also find ruins of ‘tooth temples’ in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
Now the tooth remains in Kandy, and the surrounding temple is one of the most popular places in the country, not just for tourists but also for practising Buddhists. It’s tucked away in a golden casket, inside a golden roofed structure in the centre of the temple, and is only opened for public display during a ceremony (the Pooja) 3 times a day. Once per year, during the Festival of the Tooth, it’s even paraded around the city alongside 65 elephants.
In addition to the beautiful structure, which is an attraction in itself, the temple also houses a museum on the 1st and 2nd floors, dedicated to the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Where | Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $3.20 USD
When | At the time of writing the temple is open 5:30am to 8pm, with the Pooja at 5:30am, 9:30am & 6:30pm
6 | Dambulla Caves
The Royal Rock Temples of Dambulla 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 1st 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, which are inside the base of a large rock almost 200m tall, consist of 5 caves, and when you enter them you’re transported into another, somewhat psychedelic, world where you’ll find a wealth of Buddhist artwork, with dozens of intricately carved statues and the walls & roofs 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.
Where | Dambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $4.80 USD
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 the more nearby Dambulla and Aduradhapura, but it can be only a matter of time before its popularity takes off because this site boast some of the most picturesque ancient ruins in the country.
The fortress, which sits atop of massive 300ft rock, was built in 1273, during the post-Polonnaruwa period of Sri Lanka’s history, a time of instability where the capital was moved every few years. For a brief 11-years, Yapahuwa served as the capital and in that short time an extensive amount of construction took place, leaving us with some impressive ruins.
At the base of the rock you’ll find a museum, a cave temple and some other beautiful ruins. From there is a 20min, steep 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.
Where | Yapahuwa, North Western Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $3.50 USD
8 | 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 country. Being a sparsely populated island off the coast of Sri Lanka’s north, a region which still doesn’t see many visitors, makes Delft Island the definition of ‘off the beaten path’, but for any history buff willing to make the journey, you won’t be disappointed.
There are all manner of historical sites on this island. A few of the highlights include…
- Chola Ruins | The ruins of an ancient buddhist temple, built by the Cholas (from India) in the 10th century.
- Colonial-era Fort | The ruins of a fort built by the Portuguese in the 17th century.
- Dutch Hospital | The remains of a hospital built by the Dutch in the 17th century, and maintained and used by the British up until the 20th century.
- Boab Tree | A boab (native to Africa) planted on the island by Arab sailors in the 16th century.
- Giants Footprint | A large footprint-like impression in a rock believed by the locals to belong to Hanuman, a major deity in Hinduism.
Your journey to Delft Island begins at Kurikadduwan harbour with a ferry that takes about one hour. Once there, you’ll have no problem finding a tuk tuk to drive you around to all the island’s attractions, which should take around 5 hours.
Where | Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | Ferry (one way): 100 LKR ($0.32 USD). Tuk tuk around the island: 1500 to 2500 LKR ($4.80 to $8 USD).
9 | Jaffna Fort
If you’re a history buff travelling Sri Lanka, you’ll definitely want to make your way up to Jaffna, located at the island’s northernmost point.
Jaffna is full of history, and there are a lot of small historical sites scattered in and around the city, both traditional and colonial, but the biggest and most preserved of these is Jaffna Fort.
This massive star-shaped fort was built originally by the Portuguese in 1618 after invading 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. Like all of Sri Lanka, it would later fall under the control of the British, who would continue to use it all the way up until independence in 1948.
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 that used to stand inside the courtyard.
After visiting the fort, here are some other smaller historical sites you can find around the city:
- Mantri Manai | The dilapidated ruins of the palace of the Kingdom of Jaffna, from before the Portuguese takeover.
- Kadurugoda Viharaya | The remains of a 10th century temple complex.
- Naguleswaram temple | The oldest temple in Jaffna. Although the present-day structures are 19th century, a temple has existed here for at least 2500 years.
Where | Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $4 USD
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.
Built on the side of a mountain in the 1st century BCE, the archeological site at Ritigala was once a quiet escape for buddhist monks to practise their religion. Here they built temples, bathing pools, libraries, reservoirs; a whole town.
At some point the site was abandoned but the stone ruins can still be found today, spread out over almost 40 hectares inside this reserve, making it a scenic hike through nature that just happens to pass through one of the oldest historical sites in Sri Lanka.
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. For around 5000 LKR ($16 USD), you can hire a tuk tuk to drive you to the site, wait for you, and drive you back to Anuradhapura. The hike itself should take you 2 to 3 hours.
Where | Ritigala Nature Reserve, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Cost | $5 USD
