Polonnaruwa is an ancient city in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its extensive ruins, well-preserved structures, and early engineering.

The site contains ruins of royal palaces, Buddhist monasteries, religious monuments, and a complex irrigation system that supported agriculture across the region.

Kandy is a sacred city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, surrounded by mountains and valleys. It is best known for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, believed to house the left canine tooth of the Buddha.

Originally called Senkadagalapura, the city served as a secondary residence for the Gampola Kingdom during the 14th century.

Arugam Bay is a coastal town on Sri Lanka’s south-east shore that is widely known as one of the country’s main surf destinations

The town is recognised for its long, crescent-shaped beach and right-hand point breaks, which are considered among the best in the region for consistent surfing conditions.

Once a quiet fishing village, Arugam Bay began to gain international attention in the late 20th century.

Galle is a fortified port city on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast, best known for Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that reflects centuries of European colonial rule and maritime trade.

The fort stands at the heart of the city and preserves a layered history shaped by Asian and European powers along the Indian Ocean routes.

Galle began as an ancient harbour known as Gimhathiththa and served as an important stop on the Maritime Silk Road long before European arrival.

Anuradhapura is the first capital of Sri Lanka, located in the north-central part of the island, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ancient ruins, Buddhist stupas, and advanced irrigation engineering.

The city was established on the banks of the Malwatu Oya and was formally made a royal capital during the reign of King Pandukabhaya in the 4th century BCE.

Sigiriya is best known for two major rock formations: Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which contains the remains of an ancient palace complex, and Pidurangala Rock, which offers wide panoramic views across the surrounding plains.

Sigiriya Rock is most notable for the 5th-century remains of a palace complex built by King Kashyapa I, rising about 200 metres above the surrounding plain, and before becoming a royal capital the site functioned as a Buddhist monastic centre.

Colombo is the commercial capital of the island, located on the island’s western coast, and reflects both its colonial heritage and modern growth.

Throughout history, the city’s strategic position along major maritime routes shaped its role in trade, particularly in spices, attracting Arab, Chinese, and Indian traders long before European arrival.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official legislative and administrative capital of Sri Lanka, home to the national Parliament, key government institutions, wetlands, and urban parks.

In 1982, the country’s legislative capital was shifted from Colombo to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte to ease the pressure, which prompted the relocation of major state institutions and the Sri Lankan Parliament.

Mihintale is an ancient monastic complex near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province and is widely recognised as the place where Buddhism was first introduced to the island.

The site is traditionally linked to a meeting in the 3rd century BCE between the Buddhist monk Mahinda Thera and King Devanampiya Tissa, an encounter that led the ruler to adopt Buddhism and provide royal patronage to the new faith.

Jaffna is the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province and is located at the northern tip of the island on the Jaffna Peninsula.

Surrounded by lagoons, wetlands, and small islands, the city’s population is largely Tamil-speaking.