During our last trip, we learned that Sri Lanka is famous for so many great things!
Nobody told us that you can experience several ancient wonders, visit national parks full of elephants, leopards, and crocodiles, watch the most breathtaking sunsets by the ocean, go on beautiful hiking trails, and eat incredible curries made by the friendliest locals – all in one rather small country.
And that’s not all. Sri Lanka just has so much to offer, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
We’re still dreaming of Sri Lanka, and that’s why we’ve decided to write this blog post to let you know all the great things you can look forward to before your next trip.
So here are 22 great things that Sri Lanka is famous and known for.
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1. Sri Lanka is known under many names
The Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Serendib. The Teardrop of India. Ceylon.
Sri Lanka has many names.
Take the Pearl of the Indian Ocean for example. This nickname refers to the beauty of Sri Lanka. Being compared to a pearl is definitely not a bad thing, and we can confirm that Sri Lanka’s beauty lives up to the nickname.
Ceylon, on the other hand, was forced upon Sri Lanka when the Portuguese colonials conquered the island in the 16th century. The name remained under the British rule up until Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972, and the government changed the name to Sri Lanka. Just as we know it today.
2. Sri Lanka is famous for its different landscapes
We’ve never traveled to a country where we experienced so many different landscapes by traveling such a short distance.
You have the pristine beaches by the South Coast, the mountainous landscapes in the Hill Country, and the lush jungles full of wildlife located all over the country. All of Sri Lanka’s landscapes are very close to each other, yet the climate and weather is completely different in each area.
In one day, we went from cool and lush Ella in the mountains, which is located more than 1000 meters above sea level, to dry and hot Yala National Park right next to the ocean. The climate and landscape of the two places couldn’t have been more different.
Sri Lanka is definitely famous for its many landscapes, and it’s one of the things that surprised us the most when traveling here. We love how you can see so much in such a short amount of time.
3. Sigiriya Rock is Sri Lanka’s most famous landmark
When listing Sri Lanka’s most famous things, you cannot NOT mention Sigiriya Rock.
Sigiriya Rock is an incredible ancient rock fortress located in the middle of the jungle. A king once built his palace on this rock, and today you can climb the 1200 steps to the top and see the ruins and experience one of the best views in the country.
We can’t recommend this majestic UNESCO site enough! Climbing to the top of Sigiriya Rock is definitely one of the best things you can do in Sri Lanka.
4. The locals of Sri Lanka are the friendliest
By now, we call ourselves “well-traveled” as we’ve experienced many different countries and cultures in the world. Over the years, we’ve also met many locals and had so many positive experiences.
However, we think that Sri Lanka is famous for its hospitality.
We can’t remember last time we went to a country where the locals were so eager to help us. Especially in the area around Sigiriya and Ella. Here we had some incredible experiences with local people whether it was eating corn on the side of the road with the locals or getting cared for when sick.
Glenn, who takes all the beautiful pictures for our blog, also says that he’s taken some of the best pictures of his photography career in Sri Lanka because it’s so easy to talk to the locals and they don’t mind posing for a picture.
We absolutely love the people of Sri Lanka, and we can’t thank them enough for opening up their country and their hearts to us.
5. Sri Lanka is famous for its wildlife
We’ve never seen so many wild animals in one trip.
During our trip to Sri Lanka we saw the following: Leopards, elephants, crocodiles, boars, water buffalos, deer, monkeys, lizards, palm squirrels, snakes, jackals, turtles, and not to mention several bird species like the kingfisher, the Indian Paradise Flycatcher, and countless of Peacocks.
We saw most of the large animals in Yala National Park, but we were just constantly bumping into monkeys, snakes, lizards, and so many colourful birds while traveling through the country.
So make sure to bring your binoculars because Sri Lanka is famous for its abundant wildlife.
6. The largest elephant gathering in the world
Sri Lanka is famous for having the largest elephant gathering in the world.
Also nicknamed “The Gathering” this event takes place every year in Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka.
During the dry season, more than 300 elephants gather at the national park’s water tank to drink, bathe, and eat the freshly grown grass. It’s basically one big elephant party where you can both spot matriarchs with their babies and bull elephants searching for females.
It should be one of the most incredible things to experience in Sri Lanka, so make sure to visit Minneriya National Park if you’re in Sri Lanka during August/September when the gathering should be at its highest.
7. Sri Lanka is famous for its safari opportunities
One of the ultimate best things to do in Sri Lanka is to go on a safari.
We went on a safari at Yala National Park, and it was one of the highlights of our trip!
On a safari you get the opportunity to see the wild animals close up without interfering with their natural habitat. You’re actually not allowed to get out of the jeep once you’re in the national park.
Yala is probably the most popular place to go on a safari in Sri Lanka because it’s where you have the best chance to see leopards. However, it’s also more expensive and you’ll have to share your experience with many other jeeps.
So make sure to also check out Minneriya National Park, which is located close to Sigiriya, or Udawalawe National Park, which is located close to Ella. Both of these parks are great for elephant safaris.
8. Sri Lanka is known for The Cultural Triangle
The Cultural Triangle is the name of an area in Sri Lanka that stretches from Kandy to Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa. Within the triangle of these 3 cities, you’ll find some of Sri Lanka’s finest ancient monuments including Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which we mentioned earlier.
There is a total of 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites placed within the Triangle, so it would take days trying to uncover the history and discover all the areas of The Cultural Triangle. Below is a list of some of the most famous ancient Sri Lankan monuments:
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Dambulla Cave Temples
- Dalada Maligawa Temple of the Tooth
- Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
- The Stupas of Anuradhapura
- Polonnaruwa Royal Palace
We only made it to 2 of these ancient monuments, within Kandy and Sigiriya, and we can’t wait to head further North in the triangle on our next trip to Sri Lanka.
9. Surfing is very popular in Sri Lanka
If you’re into surfing, then Sri Lanka is just right for you.
Along the popular South Coast or on the less-visited East Coast, you’ll find some of Sri Lanka best surf spots.
To be completely honest, we never tried surfing before. So we can’t really share our recommendations with you, but we met many people who enjoyed surfing in Sri Lanka. It should also be a great place for beginners to learn, so why we never tried surfing, is still a mystery to me.
We saw that especially in Hiriketiya Bay and at the long beach strip next to Hikkaduwa, the ocean was filled with surfers trying to catch the waves.
We really liked the laid-back vibe at Hiriketiya Bay, so we recommend you to try out surfing here.
10. Adam’s Peak is Sri Lanka’s most famous mountain
At 2243 meters height you’ll find Sri Lanka’s most famous and sacred mountaintop, Adam’s Peak.
Adam’s Peak is only the fifth highest mountain in the country, yet it’s without a doubt the most popular one to visit, even though you have to climb a whopping 5500 steps to reach the top.
Every day, Buddhist pilgrims flock to the mountain to see “Sri Pada”, which means “Sacred Footprint”. It’s believed at that Buddha himself left a footprint on a rock at the summit of the mountain.
Apart from being a sacred place, Adam’s Peak is also popular among hikers who go to watch what should be an incredible sunrise from the peak.
So Adam’s Peak is both loved by Buddhist pilgrims, sunrise seekers, and worldwide hikers alike. While we haven’t had the pleasure of ascending the thousands of steps to the peak, we can’t wait to do the journey some day ourselves.
11. Sri Lanka is famous for tea
Tea was first introduced in Sri Lanka in the late 1800s when the coffee production took a big hit from a fungus disease that spread throughout the plantations.
The tea plants were quickly thriving in Sri Lanka’s cool mountainous Hill Country, and it didn’t take long before the country became one of the most important tea producers in the world.
In fact, today Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer in the world, which says a lot for such a small country.
The tea in particular, which Sri Lanka is famous for, is the Ceylon Tea. Ceylon Tea is only produced in Sri Lanka and it has to meet many quality standards to acquire this name.
We enjoyed many cups of tea in Sri Lanka, especially at the Dilmah T-Lounge in Colombo where the friendly staff go the extra mile to brew an amazing tea for you.
If you want to dive deeper into tea production in Sri Lanka, then make sure to visit some of the tea plantations in the Hill Country. The Nuwara Eliya District in particular is known for its tea plantations, so not only do you get to enjoy amazing tea here, you can also see some of Sri Lanka’s most amazing landscapes.
12. One of the World’s most beautiful train rides
Sri Lanka is known for being home to one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.
The Kandy-Ella-Badulla Train line is absolutely stunning. The infamous train rides through the Hill Country of Nuwara Eliya, which means you get to see mountainous hills covered in tea plantations.
You really get to experience Sri Lanka’s incredible nature first-hand when riding this train.
The train has also become famous amongst influencers as you can hang out of the moving train while taking pictures. We saw several people do this, but we found it a little bit too much, and too misleading about what this train ride is actually about.
We rode this scenic train from Kandy to Ella in 2nd Class without a seat for 9 hours. However, we were sitting at the open door during the whole ride and looking at the scenery while sharing the space with a lot of friendly Sri Lankan people. So we really can’t complain. What an experience!
However, it’s definitely not for everyone to sit on the floor for so many hours. The seats sell out quickly, so you should definitely make sure to book ahead if you want to secure a seat during the journey.
You can either book seats in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class carriers. In 1st class you will have constant A/C running, but we don’t recommend this option since it means you can’t open the windows. Instead you should book a seat in 2nd or 3rd class or just jump on the train without a seat reservation like we did.
13. Rice & Curry is the national dish of Sri Lanka
One simply cannot travel to Sri Lanka without trying the famous Rice & Curry. This particular dish is considered the national dish of Sri Lanka, and it won’t let you down!
Rice & Curry is a dish of rice served with Sri Lankan coconut sambal and up to 5 different curries on the side. The curries are often different from restaurant to restaurant and they’re mostly vegetarian.
We tried banana flower curry, sweet potato curry, pineapple curry, pumpkin curry, different types of Dahl, and many more! You really can’t go wrong with ordering a Rice & Curry since you will have so many different flavours that you’re bound to fall in love with something on your plate.
The best tasting Rice & Curry we had in Sri Lanka was at Kenoli Restaurant in Sigiriya, and the most interesting one we had was the Rice & Curry in Lucky Fort Restaurant in Galle. So we can definitely recommend those two restaurants if you’re in the area.
14. Kottu Roti is a must-try famous Sri Lankan dish
Another well-known dish that Sri Lanka is famous for is the Kottu Roti.
Kottu Roti is Sri Lanka’s version of stir-fry. It’s basically a roti, which is a piece of flatbread, that is cut into pieces and fried on the pan with meat or veggies or even cheese.
Glenn was a big fan of Kottu Roti, but I personally found it a bit boring after devouring countless of spicy curries.
However, never mind my opinion, Kottu Roti is a must-try when you’re in Sri Lanka! It’s easy to find as they serve it in most restaurants, it’s affordable, and it never tastes bad.
If you want to learn more about the different famous Sri Lankan dishes, which we haven’t mentioned yet, such as Hoppers and Lamprais, then we suggest you either go on a street food tour or do a cooking class. That way, you can ask all the food questions to a local and you get to try many Sri Lankan dishes.
15. Sri Lanka is well-known for practicing Ayurveda
Sri Lanka is famous for still practicing the ancient and alternative form of medicine named Ayurveda.
Ayurveda can be roughly translated into “The Science of Life” and is a holistic approach to health. The aim of Ayurveda is to re-establish balance in life through specific diets, herbal medical treatments, and spiritual healing.
Many Sri Lankans still choose to turn to Ayurvedic treatments before trying out Western medicine whether they’d be trying to get rid of stress, stomach pains or migraines.
I experienced this first hand when I got sick in Sri Lanka and our beautiful guesthouse hosts in Ella gave me some herbal medicine for my stomach and fever.
Today, however, most tourists think of Ayurveda as a spa treatment. In many luxury hotels, you’ll therefore find Ayurvedic massage spas that are aimed at tourists.
But the truth is that Ayurveda is much more than a spa treatment. So if you have an issue and want to dive into the world of Ayurveda, then you should go see the local Ayurvedic doctor – I’m sure you will find one in most places in Sri Lanka.
16. Sri Lanka is famous for being home to Buddha’s Tooth
One of the most famous and sacred Buddhist sites in the world is located in Sri Lanka, and it’s of course one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites that are located in the Cultural Triangle, which we mentioned earlier.
Sri Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Tooth, is one of the world’s most important Buddhist sites because it’s home to one of Buddha’s teeth.
Every day, both Sri Lankans Buddhists and pilgrims from all over the world, flock to the Temple of the Tooth to offer flowers and say prayers.
We experienced this first hand when visiting the Temple of the Tooth during one of the daily pujas, which is when the doors to the Tooth Relic are open to the public. It was a pretty hectic, yet very interesting experience that we can only recommend you to do if you find yourself in Kandy.
17. The Lotus Tower is the tallest building in South Asia
Did you know that Sri Lanka is home to the tallest building in all of South Asia?
The recently opened Lotus Tower in Colombo has taken first place in the rankings of South Asia’s tallest buildings with its 350 meters height.
The lotus Tower is shaped like a lotus flower with its green stem and pink crown. It’s a pretty incredible sight and you cannot miss it if you find yourself in Colombo. The lotus flower symbolises Sri Lanka’s flourishing development and the antenna on the top is broadcasting radio and television around the city.
We had the pleasure of visiting the Lotus Tower on our own trip to Colombo where we went to the observation deck at a 244 meters height. We recommend you to go around sunset, so you can see the beautiful colours in the sky and watch the city turn dark. What an experience!
18. Galle Fort is like nowhere else in Sri Lanka
Another incredible UNESCO site in Sri Lanka is Galle Fort.
Galle Fort is located at the South Coast, and it’s like nowhere else we’ve been to in Sri Lanka. The minute you walk through the gates of the fort, you feel like you’re in another country.
Galle Fort was first built by the Portuguese colonists in the 16th century, then later conquered and strengthened by the Dutch colonists in the 17th century. So the architecture here is completely different from the rest of Sri Lanka.
The little city is surrounded by ramparts that used to protect it from enemies, and today you can follow the ramparts around and circle the city on foot. On top of that, there are so many historical buildings you can explore in Galle Fort. It’s a true gem.
We really enjoyed exploring Galle Fort, and we can definitely recommend you to stay here for a couple of nights during your trip to Sri Lanka.
19. Sri Lanka is known for its exotic beaches
You can’t make a list of things Sri Lanka is famous for and not mention the beaches.
Being an island, Sri Lanka has a coastline that’s longer than 1300 kilometers, which means that you’re most likely to see the ocean and experience some incredible beaches at one point or another.
We went to several beaches one the South Coast such as Hikkaduwa, Galle, Dikwella, and Hiriketiya. All of them were really nice, although, we found the ocean to be quite rough sometimes, which made it ideal for surfing.
The beach in Negombo, located closely to the international airport, was rather disappointing compared to the South Coast. However, we still really enjoyed our visit to Negombo and recommend you to stop by either at the beginning or at the end of your trip.
20. Sri Lanka is famous for its spices
If you’re on the lookout for some new spices to bring home, then make sure to visit a local market in Sri Lanka and look at the spice section. It’s incredible what you can find here!
Sri Lanka is known for cinnamon, cloves, pepper, cardamom, turmeric, curry leaves, chilli, cumin, coriander, and many more! You can basically find the perfect spices to create a wholesome curry.
We also quickly learned that Sri Lanka is famous for spicy food. We’ve tried a lot of spicy food around the world, but Sri Lanka is the first country in which my Danish potato belly simply gave up. And that says a lot since I LOVE spicy food.
Apart from the incredible spices, you can also find many different types of rice, which are grown around the island. So it’s no wonder that with all the spices and rice you can find, the dish Rice & Curry is so popular in Sri Lanka!
21. Sri Lanka has oldest human planted tree in the world
If you’re traveling to Anuradhapura, then make sure to visit the oldest tree in the world that was planted by a human.
In Mahamewuna Garden, you’ll find Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which is a sacred fig tree that was planted 2300 years ago. It was planted in year 288 BC to be exact. It’s an important piece of history to Buddhism, so make sure to act respectful and follow the guidelines if you plan a visit to the tree.
We never made it to Anuradhapura in our last trip, so we sadly didn’t get to see the tree, but there is always a next time!
22. Colombo is Sri Lanka’s modern capital
While traveling around Sri Lanka, we noticed how many travelers choose to skip Colombo.
We simply don’t get this.
Colombo is both the capital, the most modern city, and the biggest city in all of Sri Lanka, yet it’s still full of historical and religious places to visit. And the hustle and bustle of the city is actually a nice change from exploring the rural areas in Sri Lanka. Or at least that’s how we feel when looking back.
So we decided to end this blog post on a positive note about Sri Lanka’s capital now that we’ve mentioned all the other great and famous places in Sri Lanka.
We’d recommend you to spend 2 nights in Colombo when flying into Sri Lanka so that you will have a full day to explore before moving on to the beaches, the cultural triangle, the hill country, or the national parks. We really enjoyed our days in Colombo and we’re happy that we decided to visit during our trip.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post about all the great things we found that Sri Lanka is famous and known for. We love that Sri Lanka has so much to offer for travelers, and we honestly cannot wait to see more of this beautiful country.
Hopefully, this list has got you excited about your own visit to Sri Lanka. If you have any questions or if you want to share your own favorite thing about Sri Lanka, then make sure to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading and happy travels!
