Sri-Lanka is not all about beaches

Polonnaruwa is the second most important ancient city in Sri Lanka. It existed from the 10th to the beginning of the 14th century and has been lost for a time in the jungle. It became the capital after Anuradhapura. The historic city of Polonnaruwa is part of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ruins of the old garden city, built in the 12th century, as well as the man-made lake Parakrama Samudraya (King Parakrambahu Sea), which covers over 2,500 hectares, are two of Pollonaruwa's key attractions. Exploring the old garden city, as well as the architectural marvels of ancient Indian civilization during the reign of the Cholas, takes at least half a day. So good advice - you should rent a bike.

Lion Rock is the nickname of the rock formation in Sigiriya. The ancient city of Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is widely regarded as Sri Lanka's most iconic monument. There is a palace on top of the cliff, interesting buildings at the foot of the cliff, and gardens with multiple artificial ponds and a running water system.

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You can get to Sigiriya by bus or by bus, so this trip takes almost the whole day. Or you can rent a car with a driver. It's better to get to the fortress early to get away from the burning sun and the crowd of tourists—box offices in the park open at 7 o'clock. The ticket costs $ 30 and can be paid in rupees, euros or dollars. The journey to the top will take about 40 minutes.

A view from the mountain is worth seeing for yourself. First, the fortress-palace. This is something extraordinary. The mystery of its creation is still unsolved. In addition, the top offers a fantastic view of the island, its mountains, and national parks. Bring a bottle of water, and the park will not sell. There will also be no need for sun protection and a cap or hat.

Ella is a city located in Sri Lanka's highlands. This region has a cool climate with a big temperature range between day and night.

In Sinhala, the word "Ella" means "Waterfall," which is entirely appropriate with the region's number of waterfalls of all heights and in full flow.

Ella's greatest attraction is the natural beauty of the Ella Gap mountain range, which carries the same name. Many visitors come to the city for the chance to go on interesting hiking tours across the mountains to see numerous natural features.

You may walk from Ella to popular tourist attractions such as Ella rock, little Adam's Peak, Ravana waterfall, and the Nine Arch Bridge. The city is within walking distance of the bridge, which connects Ella and Demodara.

The 25-meter Nine Arch Bridge, also known as the "Bridge to Heaven," connects the small mountain towns of Ella and Demodara. It has a height of 945 meters above sea level.

The bridge is closer to Ella and may be visited by walking along the railway tracks for about 3 kilometers. The nine-arch bridge is functional, with trains running several times per day.

The bridge's unusual feature is that it was constructed without the use of steel in its framework. It was created during World War I and commissioned in 1921.

Adam's Peak is a 2.243-meter-high cone-shaped rock with a temple on top that holds a sacred footprint. It is also known as Sri Pada.

Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians all worship Sri Pada. Climbing Adam's Peak is best done late at night, before sunrise, to catch the time when the rock creates an even triangle shadow on the clouds.

Yala is Sri Lanka's most well-known and second-largest national park (the first is Wilpattu). Since 1938, Yala has been a national park.

Yala National Park is located near the cities of Kataragama and Tissamaharama in the southeast of the island. The territory of the park is modeled as a miniature copy of the entire island; it presents all the natural landscapes of Sri Lanka.

Yala National Park is divided into five parts, two of which are open to visitors. Tourists are regularly asked to go on a jeep safari in the park. There are a high number of dangerous wild animals, walking tours of the park are not possible.

There are 215 bird species, including flamingos and peacocks, 44 mammal species, including leopards, bears, elephants, and deer, as well as many reptiles, crocodiles, and other animals.

There is even own Yala Beach.

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is halfway between Kandy and Colombo, the country's two major towns. The wild Asian elephant nursery is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for visitors.

Every day from 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. and from 12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., elephants are fed fruit. Elephants are also bathed every day from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00.

Sri Lanka's National Zoo is in Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo, the island's capital. The Sri Lanka Zoo, which covers more than 10 hectares, was established in the early twentieth century.

The zoo includes a huge collection of animals and birds from throughout the world, as well as an aquarium and a terrarium with a variety of snakes. The zoo is home to elephants, orangutans, tigers, leopards, giraffes, rhinoceroses, hippos, flamingos, parrots, pelicans, owls, crocodiles, turtles, deer, and other animals.

You even may see sea lions and elephants perform at the zoo.

Galle is a city famous for its fort and lighthouse. The walls of the port city, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, were built by Europeans. There you will find the atmosphere of "little Europe" and of course branded stores in the city!

The fort from the 17th century is the key attraction. Behind the fortress walls there stand residential areas with temples, administrative buildings, a prison, and a lighthouse.

Flag Rock, on the fort's southern edge, is one of the most popular places to watch the sunrise.