10 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Visit Sri Lanka

From eye-popping temples and tea estates to jaw-dropping national parks and natural wonders, the "teardrop island" has it all

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Ask the uninitiated about Sri Lanka, and they’ll likely come up with “tea” and “cricket”. After all, it’s almost impossible to have enjoyed a nice cuppa without noticing where those cherished leaves originated from, or to have even a passing interest in the “gentleman’s game” without knowing that the onetime British colony got rid of the colonisers but clung feverishly to their national sport. And yet, while visitors to Sri Lanka can certainly enjoy an authentic cup of Ceylon tea or catch some quality cricket played in a stadium or on the street, this “jewel of the Indian Ocean” has so much more to offer the more adventurous traveller.

With hundreds of miles of often-scenic railways – another legacy of colonial rule – and a well-developed, if at times impressively potholed, road network, this compact island invites visitors to give the picturesque beaches and luxury hotel chains a break, and venture into its historic temples, sprawling wildlife sanctuaries, and charismatic, bustling cities.

1 DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE

Sri Lanka has no fewer than eight properties inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and one of the most important is the mind-blowing cave-temple complex at Dambulla in the country’s centre. If you only visit one temple in Sri Lanka, make it the Dambulla Cave Temple.