Things to do in Sri Lanka

Scenery: Don't have too high expectations; the infrastructure isn't great, as shown in the pictures. Fun: Quite fun. Value for money: Very good; the price is reasonable, a must-do for tour groups. Suitable for group tours.

Sigiriya Rock is a beautiful and impressive place with amazing views and rich history. Climbing the rock and experiencing its natural beauty is worth it. I highly recommend visiting Sigiriya to anyone traveling to Sri Lanka. It’s a wonderful place with so much history and beauty to explore!

Kandy Lake, nestled in the heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka, is a serene and picturesque destination perfect for a leisurely stroll. Surrounded by lush greenery and historic sites, the lake offers breathtaking views, especially at sunrise and sunset. The peaceful atmosphere, diverse birdlife, and charming lakeside benches make it an ideal spot to relax. While the walk around the lake is pleasant, occasional traffic noise can be a minor drawback. Overall, it’s a must-visit for nature lovers.

We visited Minneriya hoping to see the famous elephant gatherings, but there were surprisingly few. The park’s terrain is mostly forested, with limited open plains for wildlife viewing. In contrast, Yala National Park offered a much richer experience with more wildlife sightings, including elephants.

Watching the stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka is like witnessing a living painting—grace, balance, and tradition suspended above the sea. Perched on slender poles as the sun dips low, these silent silhouettes tell a timeless story of resilience and harmony with nature. It’s not just fishing—it’s an art form passed down through generations, standing tall against tides and time. A truly humbling and poetic glimpse into coastal life that stays with you long after the waves fade.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage offers a unique chance to see rescued elephants up close. Watching them bath in the river was a highlight. Arrive early to avoid crowds and get the best views from nearby cafés. Such a memorable experience!

“The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is a sacred Buddhist site with beautiful architecture and deep cultural significance. It houses the relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth and offers a peaceful, spiritual experience. The evening prayer ceremony is a highlight. A must-visit for those interested in history and culture.”

The Dambulla Caves, a world cultural heritage, is the largest, most famous and best-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. A half-day tour of the caves was arranged, and 4 impressions are still fresh in my memory. 1. The antiquity of the caves. The Dambulla Caves were built in 89 BC (some say 1st-2nd century AD), earlier than the Mogao Caves built in 366 AD in my country. After more than a thousand years of unremitting efforts, a spectacular pattern of 5 caves connected to each other was formed between the rock walls on the hillside of the giant stone (186 meters high). 2. The beauty of the statues. The 2,100 square meters of murals and 157 Buddha statues in the caves are all treasures of Buddhist art. The most beautiful murals. The Buddha murals in Cave No. 2-Great King Cave, from the cave ceiling to the cave wall, are completed in one go, and are magnificent. The most beautiful statues. The 14-meter-long reclining Buddha in Cave No. 1-Heavenly King Cave is huge in size, peaceful in expression, and graceful in lines. 3. Fun of monkeys. It takes more than 20 minutes to walk up the mountain road with more than 400 steps from the foot of the mountain to the cave. All the way up, the view is wide, the air is fresh, and monkeys can be seen everywhere in groups, playing, being coy, or exercising, which are very cute. The locals told us: the reason for depositing shoes is not to prevent people from stealing, but to prevent monkeys from snatching them. 4. Pain in feet. You can only enter the cave after taking off your shoes to show your piety. The hot sand and the stones hurt your feet. My feet hurt so much... No one ever reminded me to wear thick socks.

The ancient city reflects the most primitive living conditions of the local people