World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka – 7 sites

Virgin forests, royal and sacred cities, cliff top citadels, colonial strongholds and temple caves – with no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites declared and listed by UNESCO, Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s richest treasure troves of both natural and man made wonders.

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Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve

The Sinharaja Forest Reseserve This tropical rain forest is a living heritage. Bio diversity of the forest is very high and a large proportion of the flora in this forest is endemic to the country and some endemic to the Singharaja Forest itself. This is a very good place to see many endemic birds such as Ceylon Lorikeet, Layard’s parakeet, Jungle and Spur Fowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Grey Hombill, Spotted wing Thrush, Rufous and Brown- capped Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, White Headed Starling, Ceylon Hill Mynha, Legge’s Flowerpecker. The clear cut roads in to the jungle provide easy access to the forest. This important forest is a Man and Biosphere Forest reserve and it is considered as a World Heritage Site.[/column]

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The sacred city of Anuradhapura (4 BC)
The sacred city of Anuradhapura
(4 BC)
The Cave Temples of Dambulla (1 BC)
The Cave Temples of Dambulla
(1 BC)
The Medieval capital of Polonnaruwa (10 AD)
The Medieval capital of Polonnaruwa (10 AD)

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The Sigiriya rock fortress (5 AD)
The Sigiriya rock fortress (5 AD)

 

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The Royal City of Kandy (17 AD)
The Royal City of Kandy (17 AD)

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The Duch Fortifications at Galle (17 AD)
The Duch Fortifications at Galle (17 AD)