The 3 Sites to Visit to Absorb Sri Lanka’s Rich History

Published On December 6, 2017 | By Staff Writer | Travel Planning
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Like the rest of Asia, Sri Lanka has an old and rich history. While many visitors will just want to stay in the beaches or take treks in the beautiful mountains, the rest should definitely check out some of the important historical sites of the country!

No one can deny the fact that Sri Lanka is an island paradise. It has lush mountains, sandy beaches, friendly locals, and fantastic food. But what about the history of this stunning country?

The incredibly interesting history of Sri Lanka is evident everywhere in the island. In fact, there at least 10 must-see sites all around the island as you can see at www.takemetosrilanka.com.

Today, we have picked 3 of the most impressive and unique historical sites which will let you take a glimpse at an ancient Sri Lanka while taking in the breathtaking scenery.

Sigiriya – a rock fortress that’s certain to take your breath away

rockfort-front

Often referred to by local people as the Eighth Wonder of the World, Sigiriya is also one of the most visited sites in Sri Lanka by tourists and locals alike.

Everything about Sigiriya is absolutely stunning: from the near-vertical walls to the seemingly perfect merge between human ingenuity and a natural wonder that demands respect.

After moving in through the breathtaking entrance of the stone lion, prepare to walk through walls with ancient frescoes which celebrate female beauty and religious rituals. Then, go towards the Mirror Wall, once polished to an incredibly fine detail so that the king could see his reflection as he walked by.

Finally, make sure to take a stroll through the gardens which just so happen to be some of the oldest landscaped gardens worldwide, complete with pools and complex irrigation systems.

Anuradhapura – visit one of the world’s oldest living cities!

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Though ancient cities exist worldwide, only a select few of them merge the old and new as seamlessly and beautifully as Anuradhapura.

The site is separated into the Old and New Towns. The latter is quite small and is more like a large village than anything else. The real wonder, however, resides in the Old Town.

There, you will be able to find one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka, the Bodhi Tree Temple, which houses a branch from the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. In fact, this site has been guarded for over 2000 years without a single break!

Worshippers are all over the Old Town with ancient stupas being restored and used as places of worship. On top of that, you will find numerous other museums, monasteries, and a ton of souvenir markets.

Polonnaruwa – the second ancient capital is an archeological goldmine!

After the ancient city of Anuradhapura was destroyed way back in 993, Polonnaruwa became the second capital of the ancient kings. Today, it is a goldmine of archeological wonder that will give you a very good look of how life looked like during that time.

Often, visitors in Sri Lanka will only have time to visit either Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa. The choice will mostly rely on one thing: time. Polonnaruwa is equally beautiful but is much more compact so you will be able to visit most archeological sites in a shorter amount of time.

 

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