8 Magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Sri Lanka

Home » 8 Magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Sri Lanka

There is more to Sri Lanka than just rich wildlife and mesmerizing beaches. You will instantly fall in love with this place. This place is filled with culture, temples, national parks, ancient cities, and so on. If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, you should definitely pay a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites here. UNESCO has picked up eight major sites here that should be on your must-visit travel list. Out of 8 sites, six are Cultural World Heritage Sites while the other two are Natural World Heritage Sites. Your Sri Lanka tourism should include a visit to these these heritage sites:

• Ancient City of Sigiriya
• Sacred City of Kandy
• Anuradhapura
• Old Town of Galle
• The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
• Dambulla Cave Temple
• Sinharaja Forest Reserve
• Central Highlands

Ancient City of Sigiriya

You will love every bit of Sigiriya. It is home to ancient remains of King Kassapa’s palace. You can easily reach the top by the stairs which are built on the side of the mountains. Besides, it features the beautiful Lion Rock and the remains of the fortress and the palace. You get to witness the magnificent views once you reach the top. Do not miss the 360-degree view of the jungle that lies below.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 1982

Sacred City of Kandy

Kandy is considered to be the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. This beautiful place is home to the famous Temple of the Tooth, also popularly known as Sri Dalada Maligawa. It is one of the holiest shrines of Sri Lanka. It is a pilgrimage site and is visited by devotees all over. You should visit Kany during July or August for you get to be part of the famous Kandy Esala Perehera.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 1988

Anuradhapura

This place is home to magnificent palaces, monuments, and monasteries. These are preserved examples of the ancient civilization of Sri Lanka. It is basically a sprawling complex which is beautifully built around a cutting free the tree of enlightenment – The Buddha’s Fig tree. This place now serves as the pilgrimage site for the Buddhists from all over the world.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 1982

Old Town of Galle

Built in the year 1588 by the Portuguese, Galle is the major city and a port on the southeast. During the 17^th century, it was fortified by the Dutch. You should pay a visit to the old town of Galle and its fortifications that showcases beautiful European architecture and rich South Asian traditions. The streets are filled with beautiful art, decoration, and so on.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 1988

The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is the second capital of Sri Lanka, after the destruction of Anuradhapura. You get to witness the remains of Bhramanic constructions from the Cholas civilization. Apart from this, there is also a garden city that was beautifully built on the site in the 12^th century. You are advised to use the cycle for touring this place.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 1982

Dambulla Cave Temple

For the past 22 centuries, the Golden Dambulla Cave Temple has been a major pilgrimage destination. This is also the most preserved temple on the island. In the year 1991, this cave temple was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site so that the magnificent wall paintings and the 150 statues could be preserved.

Year Inscribed By UNESCO – 1991

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

The famous Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of the two natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is a biodiversity hot spot and a national park. It is home to a number of a rare endemic species which includes butterflies, mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and so on. You should visit this forest reserve between August and September and January and April to witness the natural beauty of this place.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 1988

Central Highlands

Another natural UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sri Lanka is Central Highlands. It is made up of three wet zones – The Peak Wilderness Protected Area, the Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Conservation Forest. This site joined the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the year 2010. You will find a number of hiking trails here and is a biodiversity haven for the naturalists.

Year Inscribed by UNESCO – 2010

Apart from being home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Sri Lanka is also home to a number of other attractions. Whether you are looking for places to visit in Sri Lanka, or would like to know the best time to visit Sri Lanka, we’ve got you covered. We offer multiple Sri Lanka tour packages that let you explore the beauty of this place. Additionally, we also offer multiple tour packages and international honeymoon packages for a completely hassle-free and memorable vacation.

SOTC