Things to do & places to visit in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Central Province #1 destination in Sri Lanka 2023. The average rating score is 4.26 based on 64.6k traveler reviews, of 230 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Colombo, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 22:16.

Central Province Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

86°F - 74°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze

Feels like

56%

Chance of rain

382.0 millimeters

Amount

14.2 mph

Wind speed

85%

Humidity

12.5

Daylight length

5:50 AM

Sunrise

6:17 PM

Sunset

24%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt, rain coat and rain boots

What to wear

Top things to do (29)

Top destinations in Central Province 81

See more 69 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Pidurangala Rock (2.489 reviews)
- Most fantastic view at sunrise (even better than Sigiriya Rock)!
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 6:15 AM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Pidurangala is a massive rock formation located a few kilometers north of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. It has an interesting history closely related to that of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Climbing to the top of Pidurangala Rock is more strenuous than climbing Sigiriya. If you are fit and adventurous it is a climb worth making. It will take you about two hours. There is far less to see on this site than Sigiriya See more..
5.0 Euphoria Spice and Herbal (364 reviews)
- So much knowledge in a beautiful location
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent < 1 hour Gardens • Cooking Classes

We offer free Sri Lankan spice and ayurveda tours.Please book in advance for lunch and cookery classes. ( Please note that our restaurant is operated only on reservations). Location:If you are coming from Matale or Kandy, we are located 15km away from Matale in the Dambulla road in the town called "Madawala Ulpotha" infront of Temple Mahamewnawa. If you are coming from Dambulla, we are located 30 km from Dambulla in the Kandy-Dambulla road. We can also be identified as number 88. See more..
5.0 See Lanka Travels (179 reviews)
- Amazing tour company
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Cultural Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Nature & Wildlife Tours

We have just returned from Sri Lanka and used See Lanka for our trips. Absolutely amazing, Nipun was so knowledgeable and friendly, he tailored our trips to suit our requirements with no hesitation, completely honest and went out of his way to help us. We had an amazing trip to Yala, visiting many places along the way and back, our safari was amazing with our guide doing everything he could to ensure we saw as much as possible during our time there. All trips superbly organised with fantastic guides, would definitely recommend you won’t be disappointed See more..
5.0 Sun Rise Ballooning (171 reviews)
- Amazing, stunning and can't wait to do it again!
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Balloon Rides

Took my second hot air balloon flight with Justine and Mareena yesterday, and as expected it was amazing. Justine is a Professional Pilot who has many years of experience, my first flight with them was six years ago, but I won't leave it that long to book another flight. Mareena is a lovely kind lady who manages bookings. When the ballon takes off you are hardly aware its lifting off the ground, then theres the early morning mist over the ground which lifts in a short time, wildlife, paddy fields, nature, stunning views for miles.....it's so so worth it. Hopefully I can book again before the end of the season. My thanks to Justin & Mareena, see you soon. See more..
5.0 Lanka Ballooning Pvt Ltd (153 reviews)
- Most amazing thing to do in Sri Lanka
Sunday: 4:00 AM - 10:00 PM Balloon Rides

Guys, this was probably my favourite experience in my whole month in Sri Lanka. It was really unique and not something you can do everywhere. It was just so beautiful! The views of the sun rising over the mountains which overlook the spectacular lake is something I will never forget. The ride was super smooth thanks to our pro captain Mr. Eray ( we didn’t even need to do the landing position because it was so smooth) After landing, the experience was finished off with a nice glass of bubbly (not before Captain Eray gave us a champagne shower ) Couldn’t recommend this company enough for a balloon experience in Sri Lanka. See more..
5.0 Ravi Taxi Service (151 reviews)
- Perfect day trip
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

Enjoy your sri lankan experience with a safe and comfortable ride. At 'Taxi Service Sri Lanka' we ensure protection and reliability, while providing comfortable clean vehicles at a lower cost is our prime concern. we take the responsibility of your tour while you enjoy the best of Sri lanka at the lowest taxi fare in the city. we provide you everything you need to travel See more..
5.0 Mathisha Jeep Safari Dambulla (146 reviews)
- Amazing
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Safaris • Eco Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

I am so glad I found Mathisha through here. I completely trusted the reviews I read and we couldn't have been more right. From the first contact we had prior to the trip he was very kind. He recommended when it would be best to do the safari and we finally did it in the morning at Eco park Habarana. He went out of his way to show us the elephants and other animals in the park. We saw several of them together, big ones, babies and we were able to stand and watch them up close. I must also say that at all times he was extremely respectful of their space which was very important to me. He is a real professional. If you are thinking of doing a safari, please do not hesitate to do it with him. Highly recommended! Thank you Mathisha for the experience and for everything. See more..
5.0 Asda Tours (123 reviews)
- Sri Lanka with Asda Tours
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Multi-day Tours • Cultural Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

Just back from holiday in Sri Lanka had the best time, especially with Asda Tours. They charged less than half price of the hotel rep !! We went on two trips with Asda Tours who were professional, helpful and arranged every last detail..from pick up to drop off. Lunch and drinks all included, excellent knowledge of history on both trips. Nothing was too much trouble, even took us to local town and picked us up, felt like one of the family..They also have a family business mum has the shop were we had dresses and shirts made at a great price and excellent quality...The whole experience was excellent and we will definitely return and use Asda again...thanks for making our holiday so special.. highly recommend this company please try you won't be dissappointed.. This place is amazing See more..
5.0 Milan M. Personal Driver Service Sri Lanka (101 reviews)
- He will be your best friend in Sri Lanka☺️
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

Milan Tour is a Leading Tour Service Which is Operating from Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, Through past tours we have proven that we are professionals in tour service in sri lanka, All our customers are highly recommend our service See more..
4.5 Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress (11.5k reviews) from $65.00
- A Must-Visit Destination with Stunning Views and Historical Significance
Spent More than 3 hours Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

we recently visited Sigiriya and would highly recommend it as a must-visit destination. The climb to the top of the rock is around 1200 steps, but it's well worth the effort for the incredible views across the forest. I would recommend visiting in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds, and to take advantage of the stunning sunrise views (start 5:30). While the entry fee is $30, I believe it's a reasonable price given the historical significance and beauty of the site. One thing to be aware of is that there are often many guides at the site who may hassle tourists, so it's best to be prepared for this and set clear boundaries. Overall, I found Sigiriya to be an amazing place to visit and would highly recommend it to others See more..
4.5 Golden Temple of Dambulla (5.764 reviews)
- Breathtaking
Sunday: 6:00 AM - 7:15 PM Spent More than 3 hours Caverns & Caves • Religious Sites

The caves are painted in such a beautiful and detailled way that the rocky ceiling seems to be covered by a silk cloth. The Buddha statues are beautiful too and the visit is worth the not cheap price required for the ticket and the 1,250 steps to the top. Be careful not to get to the entrance on the main road at “Golden Temple”, because the ticket office is on the other side of the moutain, so you will have to go up, get down and go up again. See more..
4.5 Royal Botanical Gardens (3.804 reviews)
- A Tranquil Setting
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens

We arrived early in the morning and were lucky to get a golf buggy and guide for an additional 1000rps. This helped us cover more than 5km of the beautiful gardens and ensured that we managed to see all the highlights within about an hour. Our guide was lovely! super friendly and informative and gave us good insight into the gardens history and fauna and flora. The entrance fee is 2000rps per person which is very reasonable considering the immaculate condition the garden is kept in. This is a must for nature lovers, photographers and artists! See more..
4.5 Horton Plains National Park (2.572 reviews) from $46.29
- Hortons Plains is spectacular
National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Horton's Plains is an amazing walk taking you to Bakers Falls and Worlds End Recommend getting there for 6AM and going right first to The Falls and thereby going anti clockwise. We did both before anyone else was there so had to ourselves. We saw spotted deer, falcon and other wildlife before the crowds arrived. You cannot take single use plastics into the park, yet amazingly some local tourists managed to leave litter behind. Cost should have been $66USD but this magically got rounded up to $80. You can pay in rupees which I would recommend See more..
4.5 Kandy Garrison Cemetery (559 reviews)
- Repectully Interesting
Cemeteries

Historical Visit details give by the Nephew of the original caretaker. His name is Harsha he gave us the most interesting historical accounts of each and every grave we stopped at. He was so proud of his Uncle and remembered meeting our new King in 2013 when he visited this site. A healthy tip is essential to support this young man in his endeavour to preserve this part of Sri Lankan history. See more..
4.5 Ramboda Waterfall (532 reviews)
- Nice trip from Nuwara Eliya on a hot summer day
Waterfalls

Ramboda waterfall was a very nice choice for a hot day in Nuwara Eliya. You can take a public bus from Nuwara Eliya bus station to Kandy, it takes around 40 min, the bus stops right in front of the entrance and the journey costs around 80 rupees per person ( the same applies for the way back - you can just stay on the same spot and the bus will stop). The entrance fee is 100 rupees for foreign tourists. Once you reach the top ( it’s a 500 m hike on stairs ) you can swim there but look for some private spots also on the way as we did! Would definitely recommend! See more..
4.5 Kandy War Cemetery (470 reviews)
- Genuinely moving and well kept resting place
Cemeteries

Formerly known as Pitakande Military Cemetery, it was acquired originally by the military authorities, and was subsequently taken over by the Commission as a permanent war cemetery. Kandy is in central Sri Lanka, 910 metres above sea-level. It is 121 kilometres north-east of Colombo, from which it is easily reached by road. From the Botanical Gardens at Peridenya, take the road to Kandy. Just past the gardens, take a left turning at the roadside direction sign, down Lady Magdalene Drive. The Cemetery is approximately 1.5 kilometres along this road. See more..
4.5 Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple (282 reviews)
- Serugala Buddha Statue
Caverns & Caves • Religious Sites

A beautiful statue on a rock on the top of the hill which is 400-500m away from Aluvihara Cave Temple. You may witness a bird-eye view of Matale area along with a picturesque view of a group of mountains. The road is good enogh to get closer to the statue by a vehicle and then have to walk around 100m to enter to the premises. Never miss to visit this place See more..
4.5 Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple (273 reviews)
- A temple built in spectacular surroundings
Religious Sites

We reached the temple at 2.30 p.m. and it was shut. We learnt that it would open only at 3.30 p.m. We decided to wait and just look around. The surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful. The temple has a huge compound which is very well maintained by the Chinmaya mission. See more..
4.5 Lankatilaka Temple (267 reviews)
- You can feel the religious site
Points of Interest & Landmarks

One of the best and oldest temple we visited, its a must do if you hate crowd and need to check real historical places See more..
4.5 World Buddhist Museum (259 reviews)
- Portray of expansion of buddhism throughout the asia.
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Sri Dalada Maligawa Established the "World Buddhist Museum" which constitutes the Most adorable exercise in the context of World Buddhism. Awarded 2x Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor. NOTE : Entry fee is free of charge only for the visitors who purchased the Temple Ticket. If you are visit the Museum from outside you need to purchase the ticket (Rs. 500). See more..
4.5 Knuckles Mountain Range (254 reviews)
- Spectacular views worth the bumpy ride
Spent More than 3 hours Mountains

We had a day hiking in the Knuckles mountain range. We were lucky to have beautiful sunny views across the mountain range from “Time Mountain”. We hired a guide for the trek, which was really useful (we would highly recommend organising this). Our guide provided us with a packed lunch and leech socks, which proved very useful in the end. We passed through a mountain village, crossed a river and a few waterfalls and had 360 views over the village when we climbed up to the summit. The wildlife was also amazing! So many animals to see in their natural habitat. See more..
4.5 Popham's Arboretum (161 reviews)
- Spend an hour with nature
Gardens

The IFS-Popham Arboretum, Sri Lanka's only dry zone arboretum was established over five decades ago on 7.5 acres of thorny scrub jungle and abandoned 'Chena' land in Dambulla which is in the geographical center of our island, where history and culture merge amidst a natural landscape of water and mountains. The arboretum is not only about trees. There and many species of Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Spiders and Mammals including Bats that can be seen within the premises. See more..
4.5 Nalanda Gedige (140 reviews)
- My favorite place!
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Religious Sites

An ancient mysteries close to Dabulla .it,s more important place as archeological someone studying ancient building structure this is the key point to learn something . See more..
4.0 Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (12.0k reviews) from $24.36
- Buddha's tooth
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites

Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී දළදා මාළිගාව) or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple. The temple which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is one of the holiest shrines in the entire Buddhist world. See more..
4.0 Kandy Lake (3.914 reviews)
- Relaxing walk
Bodies of Water

Cannot imagine a place in the middle of a busy city. Much relaxing while walking around in the evening and it is easy to get in from the hotel we stay. Lot of wild life can be seen and huge water monitors lye around the lake. A popular place for the locals and foreigners and can see the Temple of the Tooth from the other end See more..
4.0 Gregory Lake (1.755 reviews)
- Enchanting water body on highest point in Sri Lanka
Bodies of Water

We reached here on 29th March, 2022 and were crossing the lake when very soothing music made us stop. Groups of students were playing very pleasing tunes and were doing a sort of march past for some VIP Guests. We enjoyed their rythemic beats and cool breeze of Nuwara Eliya! Next was a boat ride in this lke. Took a motor boat, which took approx 20+ minutes for SL Rupees 5000/- and it too was a great experience. See more..
4.0 Bluefield Tea Gardens (1.208 reviews)
- finest stopover along the route to NuwaraEliya
Farms

Food is nice , fresh and the service is classy. the restaurant having a simple and lovely layout which blends in with the sense and feel of the mountains. Staff polite and very much giving you the space needed to gather yourself after a long journey up the winding road. Just adjoining the restaurant there's the Tea Center which is arguably the finest in business .With such a large variety of teas ,so exquisitely packed make them ideal gifts to be dispersed, or gift own self with the myriad of blends, flavors on offer.Prices fair and reasonable and the effort at imparting knowledge about tea is admirable marketing. The tea factory in the adjacent building and the fantastic tea gardens behind it make it a visit well worth the while. See more..
4.0 Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue (1.161 reviews)
- Peaceful place
Monuments & Statues

This was a very good experience. There were no pushy “guides”. The entrance ticket is 250 lkr and no additional fee asked for the shoe keeping (there is a donation box there but no one forced us to put money in it). The top of the statue was opened where you can see the wonderful view of Kandy. This is a very peaceful place. See more..
4.0 Kandy View Point (929 reviews)
- Nice view of Kandy City
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

Nice view of Kandy city view for a quick stop with a viewing platform, but cannot accommodate for large crowds. We went there during early morning before heading to other places for our day tour. The view is beautiful and good place for a quick stop for 10-15 mins without any entrance fee. See more..
4.0 Sita Temple (922 reviews)
- Monkey Temple
Religious Sites

A slightly different temple from what we visited during our Sri Lanka trip (as mostly are Buddhist Temples). This is Hindu temple with Monkey God statue and interesting embellishment at the roof of the temple. There are many monkeys around this temple, but they are generally not aggressive if visitors ignore them. A small stream at the back of the temple as some visitors would spend some time along the streams. A small temple for a short 30 mins visit without entrance fee, but donations are encouraged without pressure. See more..