A Glimpse At Sri Lankan Cities - The Most Divine Cities In Sri Lanka To Visit 

Sri Lanka is undoubtedly known for its stunning natural attractions, lush landscapes, scenic beauty and pristine beaches/islands. However, at the centre of all tourist destinations lies the mesmerizing cities/towns in Sri Lanka.

These cities are worth exploring at least once in everyone's lifetime as they are a testament of Sri Lanka's struggle to obtain freedom/independence from colonial rule/power and a testament of Sri Lanka's rich history and cultural diversity.

These cities are also filled with architectural masterpieces and incredible urban destinations to enjoy a luxurious touring experience. To prepare an incredible itinerary to explore the best cities in Sri Lanka, this list will come handy!

Kandy

Kandy, for many decades, is considered as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. This city shows-off picture-perfect places to explore and stunning architectural build-up. Vibrant houses, forest dominant hills, divine buildings, etc are just some highlights of this beautiful city in Sri Lanka. A glittering lake in the centre of Kandy adds 10× more beauty to the charm of the city. Kandy is also an open book for history lovers to read as it has been a capital city for many ancient/historical kings who dominated power in the country. One of the most prominent tourist attractions in Kandy is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This temple exhibits excellent Kandyan architecture that is age-old but legendary to this date. One of the most popular festivals/celebrations in Kandy is the Esala Perahera Festival.

Galle

Galle is one of the most significant cities in Sri Lanka as it sings the lore of the rich history and culture/traditions of Sri Lanka. Stunning mosques, gorgeous churches, beautiful colonial-age villas, knowledge-filled museum locations, elegant forts, etc are just some attractions to catch a glimpse of in Galle, Sri Lanka! This city is situated in the Southern-West coast of Sri Lanka. Along with being an important symbol of Sri Lanka's history/culture, Galle is also a well-known destination for enjoying unique cafes, stylish boutiques and stunning art galleries. The main highlight of this city is:- The 17th century Dutch Fort. This fort is an incredible destination to enjoy some of the most scenic sunsets and sunrises in Sri Lanka.

Colombo

Did you know that Colombo was once referred to as ‘The garden city of the East’? This was due to its mesmerising and appealing appearance. Even to this day, Colombo never fails to impress nature lovers with leafy boulevard and stunning gardens even though it has become Sri Lanka's top urban city. Colombo is a mind-blowing combination of modern malls/tall skyscrapers and ancient colonial-age buildings. A vast variety of architectural designs can be observed in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The best example for this is The Murugan Hindu Temple. Colombo is hands down one of the most mesmerising urban cities in Sri Lanka that offers the best ‘bustling/busy city’ experience with top-rated restaurants, incredible museum destinations, mesmerising night-life and mind-blowing shopping centres.

Ella

If you are looking for a peaceful and tranquil getaway in Sri Lanka, Ella is the perfect city for you! This impressive city homes many forest-dominated hills, stunning valleys, mesmerising tea plantations/fields and much more! Ella is also considered to be one of the best cities to visit for families as it is a famous hill country village with tons of attractions to visit as a group or couple. Since Ella has been gaining a lot of attention from international tourists, many hotels and eateries are now focused to become more tourist-friendly. The surrounding countryside and scenic beauty is the best driving force for most international travellers. To make the most of Ella and its beauty, visitors are recommended to plan hiking trips to close-by waterfalls and temples.

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While being at a beach in Sri Lanka, travellers will get to enjoy the highest levels of peace/happiness and tranquillity that they may have never experienced before! If you wish to visit some of the most pristine beaches in Sri Lanka as an avid beachgoer, then here is a list that will benefit you

Anuradhapura

No list about ancient cities in Sri Lanka is complete without a mention of Anuradhapura as it is one of the most age-old cities in the country whose existence dates back to the nine-hundred BC. This city shows-off some of the most incredible ancient ruins and archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura is a must-visit city in Sri Lanka as it houses numerous beautiful places to explore, divine temples for spiritual rejuvenation, ancient buildings to learn about Sri Lanka's imperial history and much more! Anuradhapura's local/regional markets are a great destination to get your hands on some of the most authentic Sri Lankan commodities. An interesting tourist attraction to visit in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is the Archaeology Museum.

Trincomalee

The location of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka is on a peninsula. Trincomalee is a well-known city in Sri Lanka for its splendid natural harbours and divine bays. Trincomalee is famous among international tourists for being a city full of pristine beaches with turquoise waters and golden-sand beaches. Along with that, beautiful temples and colonial-age forts add to the beauty and historical significance of the city. To get the best views of Trincomalee, visitors are advised to visit the splendid waterfronts. This offers a great insight into the people of Trincomalee and their rich local culture.

Unawatuna

One of the most gorgeous cities in Sri Lanka is hands down Unawatuna. This city is glittering and shimmering due to its beautiful beach locations and other must-visit attractions that are rarely found in Sri Lanka. Unawatuna is a picture-perfect city in Sri Lanka as it houses tall palm trees/plants, golden-shaded sands, crystal-clear emerald blue waters and much more. To enjoy some of the most delectable Sri Lankan delicacies in Unawatuna, visitors should head to the beach-side restaurants and hotels. The beaches in Unawatuna are splendid places to enjoy tranquillity and peace as you can witness some of the most stunning sunsets and sunrises in Sri Lanka.

Jaffna

Jaffna holds a lot of importance in Sri Lanka as it is the homeland of culture, spirituality and politics for Sri Lankan Tamilians. Jaffna has an incredibly polite and hospitable crowd which will make all visitors feel like they are at their home. Visitors can do a plethora of activities in Jaffna's temples, churches and colonial-age buildings than simply visit it. The culture of Tamil is easily learned from Jaffna as it hosts many local festivals and ceremonies that are a symbol of the Tamil traditions/values and culture in general. When it comes to tourist attractions in Jaffna, visitors can treat themselves with Jaffna's stunning islands and close-by lagoons.

Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is situated in the Northern-West Galle in Sri Lanka. The main reason why this city is so popular among foreign visitors is the abundance of beaches that are not only stunning to watch, but relaxing and peaceful too. Since Hikkaduwa is one of the most beach-blessed cities in Sri Lanka, visitors are offered a wide range of water sports and other adventure-filled activities such as:- 1. Scuba diving. 2. Surfing, etc. Even though Hikkaduwa is becoming a splendid tourist destination in the modern time, it still has its age-old charm and elegance that was observed many decades ago. One of the most time-less activities to enjoy in Hikkaduwa, Sri lanka is watching sunsets and sunrises in the stunning set-up of beaches and beachside restaurants/hotels.

Top Tips For Exploring Sri Lankan Cities

• Language - Try to learn some basic sentences and phrases of the Sri Lankan local language. This will allow travellers to communicate better with shop owners or restaurant workers who do not speak English or the language the traveller is aware of. It is advisable for the traveller to be aware of the local language of the cities they are visiting for an enhanced travelling experience.
• Cultural Difference. - Sri Lanka is a vast country with incredible cultural diversity and unity in all cities. No matter what city the traveller visits, they are recommended to do some research before-hand about the culture and traditions of that city for a successful touring session.
• Religious Places - Almost all cities in Sri Lanka have various religious places such as temples and churches. There is a very specific and strict code of conduct for these places that should be followed under all circumstances. Some basic etiquette of visiting religious places in Sri Lanka include leaving footwear outside the temple, dressing appropriately and modestly, etc.
• Respect The Environment - No matter what city is on the travel itinerary of the visitor, they are suggested to make sure that they are respecting the environment by not dumping trash in public places, walking paths and lakes. They should also ensure that they are using reusable bags and bottles to reduce wastage. And are saving water and electricity as well.

Conclusion

This informative and comprehensive post about the most majestic cities in Sri Lanka helps us to understand the diversity of beauty and culture in all Sri Lankan cities that should be explored by all travellers at least once in their lifetime! Along with that, creating a travel itinerary for visiting Sri Lankan cities is helpful in covering all the best destinations in Sri Lanka!