In today's video, we'll be exploring the 10 Best Cities To Visit In Sri Lanka. Welcome
back to FTD Facts. I'm Sarah Carvalho and today I have the pleasure of taking you on a journey
as we explore the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. I was so fortunate to visit Sri Lanka
a few years back and I can confirm that the country really is as beautiful, vibrant, and
friendly as it sounds. In recent years, the tourism industry in Sri Lanka has really taken off,
and it's easy to see why. The cities in Sri Lanka, are home to friendly and welcoming people.
While their ancient temples, Colonial-era forts, and intricate architectural wonders, are just some
of the sites, you can expect to see. Sri Lanka's cities offer the best of both worlds, while the
country's rich cultural heritage, shines through wherever you go. So tell me, are you excited yet ??
Without further delay, let's dive into our video about the 10 Best Cities to Visit in Sri Lanka.
Alright, the first city we're looking at today is called "Trincomalee." Located on a peninsula,
Trincomalee’s spectacular natural harbor and glorious bays have long made it sought after.
Whereas once, colonial powers flocked to its shores, nowadays, tourists have replaced them. Now, while
most people prefer to head to the nearby beaches, Trincomalee is more than just a pretty place.
Beautiful temples and the Colonial-era Fort Frederick, represent just some of its 2,500
years of history. Its delightful waterfronts offer incredible views, and its lively port provides an
exciting mix of people and cultures. Alright, next, we're going to the city of "Dambulla." Located in the
interior of Sri Lanka, Dambulla is famous for its incredible Cave Temple Complex which is full of
well-preserved and beautiful statues of Buddha, as well as, fantastic wall paintings. While the complex
certainly is impressive and worth a visit, it is in stark contrast to the city itself -
an often chaotic, traffic-filled place. In addition to the Cave Temples, the nearby "Ibbankatuwa Burial
Site," has some interesting tombs for you to explore, providing evidence of the presence of Indigenous
civilizations long before the arrival of Indian influence on the island nation. When in the area,
you must also check out some of the nearby attractions, such as the "Sigiriya Rock Fortress,"
one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Alright, moving on to "Anuradhapura."
First settled around 900 BC, Anuradhapura is home to some of the most impressive ruins in the country.
As such, there are a wealth of amazing archaeological sites for you to explore.
In addition to the fabulous array of palaces, temples, and ancient buildings, the city itself is
a laid-back place with a couple of local markets to check out. The Archaeology Museum is well worth
a visit, to see its interesting collection of local artifacts. The former capital of the Sinhalese,
is also home to one of Buddhism's most sacred sites in the form of the, Bodhi Tree Temple.
It is still in use, and some colorful festivals take place here during the year. Definitely worth
taking a look at. Coming in at number 7, we have the city of "Ella." Located in a beautiful setting
with forest covered hills, sweeping valleys, and picturesque tea plantations, Ella is a
lovely place to spend time, and is one of the most popular hill country villages. Due to its recent
surge in popularity, most of Ella's hotels, bars, and restaurants are now aimed at tourists. It can be
quite hard to find the authentic side of the town. Although, it is certainly there if you look hard
enough. In any case, the surrounding countryside and stunning scenery are what most people come for.
Make sure to hike to some of the nearby waterfalls and temples, as well as to the top of Ella Rock
for incredible views of the hill countryside. And next, we have, "Nuwara Eliya," also known as, the city
on the plain, or city of light. With its landscaped gardens, colonial-era buildings, Tudor-style hotels,
well-tended hedge groves, and temperate climate, it is no surprise that Nuwara Eliya has earned itself
the moniker of "Little England." Lying in Sri Lanka's scenic hill country of the Central Province,
the city is surrounded by tea plantations and forest blanketed hills. The slow-growing tea
bushes of this highland region produce some of the world's finest Orange Pekoe tea. Several tea
factories offer guided tours and the opportunity to sample or purchase their products. Due to the
unique feel and look of the place, Nuwara Eliya is an interesting site to visit. The surrounding
countryside is home to some fabulous mountains and waterfalls. Lover's Leap is a spectacular waterfall.
Set among the tea plantations. It falls a height of 30 meters in a long cascading sheet of water.
It is said to be named after a young couple who decided to be bound together forever, by jumping
off the cliff together, to their demise. So, it's a bittersweet story. Alright, bringing us to the
halfway point of our video today, we have the city of "Hikkaduwa." Located just to the northwest of "Galle,"
Hikkaduwa's glorious beaches make it a popular tourist destination. And, there are loads of
excellent scuba diving and surfing spots to boot. While Hikkaduwa has become a little more touristy in
recent years, it has still managed to retain much of its charm. Watching the sun go down over the
ocean will never get old here. And again, this town too, has a peaceful laid-back vibe about it. You can
relax on the beach and get your tan on during the day, and then party it up in the evening at
the many local beach bars and parties. A visit to the National Marine Park, with all of its brightly
colored corals is a must. As well as. checking out the Island Temple, the Turtle Sanctuary known as
Turtle Hatchery Hikkaduwa, and the Community Tsunami Museum. Next, we're heading to "Negombo." Although it
does not have much in the way of sites to see, Negombo is a pleasant beach town that is the
perfect place to head if you want to just chill out on the golden sands of the wide, sandy, beaches,
or, relax in bed at one of Sri Lanka's most popular resorts. In the past, Negombo was fought
over by the British, Dutch, and Portuguese, who wanted to control its cinnamon plantations.
The old quarter is still home to a Colonial-era Fort and Dutch Canal. You can also check out the
lively fish market, lined by traditional fishing communities, and a wildlife-rich lagoon. Now, lying
just north of Colombo, this city has lots of restaurants, bars, and accommodation options.
Its tropical climate is ideal for lounging on the beach. So, what are you waiting for?? Alright, coming
in at number 3, we have "Colombo." Once known as, "The Garden City of The East," due to its pleasant
and verdant appearance, the nation's largest city still retains many of its leafy boulevards and
landscaped gardens, despite its urban sprawl and rapid growth. This commercial center of Sri Lanka
seamlessly mixes modern malls and skyscrapers, with beautiful colonial buildings. A range of
architectural styles can be found in the city with the "Murugan Hindu Temple" being one of the best.
While Colombo can be a chaotic place, especially in terms of traffic, it has everything you could want
in a city. You'll undoubtedly come across fantastic restaurants, fascinating museums, and a plethora of
great stores. There's also lots of great nightlife to be had. Alright, and next up we have, "Galle."
With beautiful mosques and churches lying next to elegant colonial-era mansions, interesting museums,
and a crumbling Fort, Galle is full of history, and is one of the country's most impressive cities.
Located on the southwest coast, Galle is lovely to wander around. Amidst all the historic sites and
cultural landmarks, you'll find lots of atmospheric cafés, trendy boutiques, and little art galleries.
And of course, the highlight is the 17th century Dutch Fort that lies on a peninsula, jutting out
into the ocean. Particularly spectacular at sunset, the fort is a living monument. Its interior, houses
lots of souvenir stands and little bars. Okay, and coming in at number 1 today, we have "Kandy." So,
considered by many to be the cultural capital of the country, Kandy is a picturesque place
to visit. Brightly colored houses dot the forest-covered hills. And at the center of town, majestic
buildings can be found bordering a glimmering lake. As the former capital of Sri Lanka's ancient
kings, there is loads of history to devour, as well as, lots of fantastic colonial-era architecture.
"The Temple of The Sacred Tooth Relic," one of the most important Buddhist sites in
the world, exhibiting some beautiful kandyan architecture that dates to the 16th century.
The glorious Tooth Temple, is located in the Royal Palace Complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, and
houses the Relic of The Tooth of The Buddha. In addition to spectacular palaces and temples, kandy
also hosts the annual Esala Perahera Festival, which showcases the rich kanyan culture in all its
splendor. A fascinating place, with lots to offer, Kandy's beautiful scenery, interesting history,
and rich heritage, make it one of Sri Lanka's most enticing cities to visit. Alright friends,
this brings us to the end of the 10 Best Cities to Visit in Sri Lanka. I hope that you enjoyed
the video as much as I did. It was certainly a blast from the past for me, as it brought up so
many memories and experiences from my own travels around this gorgeous country! Now, I want to hear
from you. Have you been to Sri Lanka before? If so, what are some of your favorite places to visit? If
you're from Sri Lanka, let us know if we may have missed any hidden gems on our list. We always love
hearing from you. As always, if you loved this video, I've linked some similar videos down below for you
that you are sure to love. So, click on those videos. And, don't forget to like and subscribe
if you haven't already. And of course, check back daily for new videos made just for you. Bye.
you