20 Attractions to Explore Near Sinharaja Forest Reserve

You will see fishers on the beach with fishing rods in hand seated on stilts without moving, a unique fishing method in this area. This is a great place to learn surfing.

Udawalawe National Park is located on the border of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, south Sri Lanka. The national park was established to be a sanctuary for wild animals. It has the Udawalawa Elephant Orphanage- to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for release back into the wild.

It is the best places to see one of the only recorded resident blue whale colonies in their natural habitat. You could also see dolphins on whale the watching trips from Mirissa and Dondra head on the south coast.

Galle Fort in the Bay of Galle was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then widely fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument. The fort has recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO.

It is reputed as the second best-surfing spot in Sri Lanka. The beach is known for its Coral Reef that visitors can access.

Adam's Peak is located 2,243 meters above sea leavel in the south of central Sri Lanka. It is known for as Sri Pada, a sacred footprint, a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, which in Buddhist tradition is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Hanuman or Shiva, and in some Islamic and Christian traditions that of Adam, or that of St. Thomas.

Tangalle Beach is a perfect breathtaking place to go for a quiet and calm vacation. The beautiful white sand beach is like paradise, which goes on for kilometers. Originally, Tallanga was a fishing village but suffered hugely in the tsunami in 2004, and they have been rebuilding ever since.

It is two hours away from Colombo and is a place popular for water sports. The Bentota River is the third largest river in Sri Lanka. On this spectacular river safari, you can see crocodiles, snakes, bats, and lizards and you can ride the boat under the canopy of the mangroves.

45 Minutes away from Colombo near the Southern expressway, Bentota Beach area is recognized as a premier resort town with at least 15 Star class Hotels and many small boutique style hotels. The beach has many activities like speed boats and jet ski riding, windsurfing, boogie boarding, water skiing, kite surfing, to the rides on a banana boat.

It is a national park located 2,100–2,300 meters above sea leavel, in the central highlands in Sri Lanka and designated in 1988. It has a richly diverse ecosystem and many species spotted here are endemic to the region.

Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens situated on the Puwakpitiya-Thummodara main road, at Illukowita. The garden has an area of 106-acre and its home to a vast collection of endemic plants. The place has a summit that offers a nice view of the garden.

Gregory Lake is a reservoir located in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. The lake was constructed in 1873, in the era of the British and was named after Sir William Gregory. You can rent a bicycle or a boat and explore the lake, there are also a few restaurants around the lake.

It is an old Buddhist temple in the Uva Province that consists of seven statues that are dated back to the 10th century. The huge Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe. The name means the rock of Buddhist Sculptures.

The Lipton’s Seat is one of Sri Lanka's most impressive viewpoints. Dambatenna Tea factory is close to the famous Lipton Seat viewpoint, that built in 1890 by the Scottish tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton.

Bolgoda Lake is located 45 minutes' drive away from Colombo. It is the largest freshwater source in the western districts of Sri Lanka. Bolgoda lake offers options for water adventures such as kayaking, jet-skiing, and boating. The lake also provides breathtaking views in early mornings.

Located in the south of Sri Lanka, it was designated in 1995 to be a national park to protect the catchment Lunugamvehera reservoir and its wildlife. This national park is an essential place for water birds and elephants.

A famous wintering ground for migratory waterbirds in Sri Lanka. Bundala shelter 197 kinds of birds, highlighting the greater flamingo, which migrates in large flocks. The Park designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and got a redesign to a national park in January 1993 and become a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2005.

Ravana Falls is famous waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is one of the widest falls in the country and the waterfall is about 25 m in height. It falls from part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, located 6 km away from the local railway station at Ella. According to the Indian epic, the Ramayana, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and hid her in the caves behind this waterfall.

Around 8km from Ella town and 50 minutes walking, you will reach this rock, 1,041 meters above the sea. It is a great destination for hiking and discovering beautiful scenaries in the way.

It is located in Ella and has its name from the Holy Mountain "Adam's Peak" because of the similarity in the shape. To go there, you need to travel to Ella, a gorgeous small town and hike through gorgeous tea plantations.