Sri Lanka is one of the few countries with a very vast and rich cultural diversity and boasts a written history of 2,500 years, and it is supported by a trail of impressive ancient ruins. Some of the ancient cities hold the splendor of these historical monuments and buildings, and most have earned the title of world heritage sites. It has unique art, architecture, colorful festivals, sculptures, and even food. Religion plays an important role in molding the Sri Lankan culture and traditions and is influenced by the prominent religions prevailing in the country such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam.

Colonization of Sri Lanka by South Indians, Dutch, Portuguese, and the British also contributed towards the Sri Lankan history and culture, as they gave some of their cultural traits resulting in a mix of unique art, architecture, and much more. Hospitality is also one of the prominent characteristics of the Sri Lankan culture, making it one of the friendly nations in the world.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya rock fortress is the most visited tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya Rock or the Lion Rock is an ancient fort located in the Matale District in central Sri Lanka which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name comes as the palace entrance has a massive brick sculpture of a lion’s head. However, only the paws of this sculpture remain at the foot of the rock today. King Kashyapa built it after he shifted his capital to Sigiriya. It consists of a citadel, ruins of palaces, the Lion Gate, gardens, moats, the Mirror Wall, and many beautiful frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya. These frescoes are believed to be painted in earth pigments plastered on the wall.

Apart from the Sigiriya Rock, there are many more places around Sigiriya town to visit such as the Pidurangala Rock, Cobra Hood Cave, Dambulla Rock Temple, Minneriya National Park, etc.

Mahiyanganaya

When travelers visit Mahiyanganaya in the Badulla District, they will be able to witness the charm and beauty of the indigenous people in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s Aborigines, or the Veddha’s (people of the forest) in Sri Lanka. They are believed to have a history much older than prince Vijaya’s landing in the 5th century BC and the origins of the Sinhala race. This community is truly interesting, and their lives are wonderfully intertwined with nature. Originally, Veddas are hunters, and they use bows and arrows to hunt and also gather wild plants and honey. They have a traditional way of invoking the blessings of the gods, which is a famous dance called “Kiri Koraha”.

There are more other traditional activities that are a part of their lives that are worth seeing. Visiting their village gives visitors a unique opportunity to get a firsthand experience of the Veddas culture.

Galle

The historic city of Galle is located on the country’s southwest coast and is famous for its Portuguese heritage and Dutch colonial buildings. The infamous Dutch fort is considered a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a walled enclave surrounded on three sides by the ocean and with Cobblestone streets and beautiful bungalows built initially by the Dutch. The site itself holds archaeological, historical as well as architectural significance.

There are other worth seeing places such as the Maritime Archaeology Museum, Unawatuna beach, rainforests of Kanneliya and Hiyare, Flag Rock famous for cliff jumping, and Mirissa to see Whales and Dolphins.Most travelers are utterly seduced by Galle’s ambience, so no tour is complete without visiting this premium tourist magnet in Sri Lanka.