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Central Province
Central Province

Trip.Best Top 10 Best Things to Do in Central Province [2024]

Explore the best things to do in Central Province! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Sep 2024
  • top_1
    󰺂6.8
    4.7/5
    392 Review
    "A fantastic climb reaching the top by sunset is spectacular!! The stairs are a bit scary but it is worth it and great exercise!"
    Sigiriya
    78km from downtown
    Highlights: The Lion Rock in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, is an air palace that took 18 years to build on the orange-red giant rock. It is known as the eighth wonder of the world and is the apex of Sri Lanka's "cultural golden triangle". At first, the giant rock was built to look like a huge lion, but now the lion's head has been weathered and fallen, leaving only the lion's body. The scope of Lion Rock is relatively large, including moats, huge rocks, and broken walls at the top of the rocks.
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  • top_2
    󰺂6.1
    4.5/5
    420 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 12168 reviews
    "The Temple of Buddha Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka, was listed on the World Heritage List in 1998. The Temple is located on the beautiful Lake Kandy in the center of the holy city of Kandy. The temple holds the treasure of Sri Lanka's town and country, one of the only two spiritual teeth left by Buddha Sakyamuni. Walking in the Buddhist temple, white dress white men and women sitting on the table, reciting scriptures; The orange-clad monks walked by, the dark skin against the white walls...the lingering cigarettes, the solemn bells and drums, the pure eyes, the solemn atmosphere, let your heart slowly become calm and peaceful. The inner temple is divided into two floors, the lower floor of the Buddha Hall, the golden glory. The upper temple is supported by many Hindu pillars, and the temple is hung with Buddhist flags, consisting of blue, yellow, red, white, orange and the first five colors of mixed colors, which are six colors released by the Holy Body when the Buddha was made into Tao. Follow the stairs to the second floor to the dark room where the Buddha's teeth are placed. The table in front of the door is filled with various lotus flowers provided by the believers. The lotus is the national flower of Sri Lanka, and locals usually come to the temple with lotus flowers. The Buddha's teeth are stored in the seven-story golden pagoda. This year, the Buddha Dental Festival celebrations began on August 17 and lasted until August 31. Elephants carrying the Buddha Dental "Sheli Tower", from Kandy Buddha Dental Temple, cruised the city to let the people enjoy the glory of Buddha Dental. On the Buddha's teeth festival, from nose to foot are decorated with exquisite edging fabric, the most gorgeous and domineering leader elephant back is loaded with huge Huali, Huali is the much-anticipated collection of Buddha teeth Sheli dumplings. Buddha was cremated in the Mallas area in 543 BC, and the local officials in northern India shared the Buddha's Sheri. The son-in-law and daughter of King GUHASIVA in the 4th century AD secretly brought to Sri Lanka to give to the King of Ceylon in a hair knot. It was worshipped by the temple, originally built by King Vimalada, and now built during the reign of King Kritisriya Siha. Another Buddha tooth is the Buddha Tooth Tower of Lingguang Temple in the eight major places in Beijing."
    Kandy.Kandy Lake Front
    9.8km from downtown
    Highlights: The Temple of the Tooth Relic was built in the 15th century and is famous for enshrining the tooth relic of Sakyamuni, the national treasure of Sri Lanka. The monastery has upper and lower floors, the hall is a hall, surrounded by a moat and guarded by a corner tower, which reflects the typical style of Sinhalese national architecture. There is also a World Buddhism Museum in the temple, which shows the spread and development of Buddhism in the world for tourists.
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  • top_3
    󰺂6.1
    4.6/5
    166 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 5797 reviews
    "World Heritage Site - Danbul Grottoes is the largest and most famous and well-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. A small half-day tour of the grottoes is arranged, and the impression of 4 o'clock is still fresh. 1. The ancient caves. Danbuler Grottoes were built in 89 BC (one said 1-2 century AD), earlier than the Mogao Grottoes built in 366 AD in China. After more than 1,000 years of unremitting efforts, 5 caves and caves were formed between the rock walls of the boulders (186 meters high). 2. Like the beauty. The 2100 square meters mural and 157 Buddha statues in the grotto are all the treasures of Buddhist art. The most beautiful murals. The Buddha statues in the grotto No. 2 - Dawang Grottoes are made from the top and the walls of the caves. The most beautiful statues. Grottoes No. 1 - The 14-meter-long reclining Buddha in Tianwang Grottoes is huge, peaceful and line-by-line. 3. Fun of monkeys. From the foot of the mountain to the grotto, it takes more than 20 minutes to walk on the mountain road with more than 400 steps. Along the way, the view is wide, the air is fresh, and the monkeys can be seen in groups, or play, or play, or exercise. The locals told: store shoes, not to prevent people from stealing, but to prevent monkeys from grabbing. 4. Feet pain. Take off your shoes and you can enter the hole to show piety. Hot sand, lame stones, footboards hurt so much... Nobody ever reminded to wear thick socks."
    Dambulla
    67km from downtown
    Highlights: Dambulla Grottoes is a famous Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. It was built in the 1st century BC and is located on the slope of a stone mountain. The entire grotto includes five sanctuaries, which contain 2,100 square meters of sap and other raw materials. The murals and 157 statues are of high religious artistic value. When the Golden Temple comes to the foot of the Dambulla Grottoes, you will see a modern-style building in the shape of a lion's mouth. On the roof is a huge golden Buddha statue, so the locals also call it The Golden Temple. It's a beautiful and tacky building, built with Japanese donations in 2000, with a Buddha statue in a dhammachakkamudra (runner) pose and a giant neon sign on the side. Cave No. 1 (Devaraja Viharaya) contains a 15-meter-long reclining Buddha carved from a single piece of rock. At the feet of the reclining Buddha are Venerable Ananda and other sitting Buddha statues, while a small alcove above the reclining Buddha's head holds a statue of Vishnu. The stone walls and the top of the cave are covered with exquisite frescoes. Cave No. 2 (Maharaja Viharaya) There is a tall arch at the entrance of Cave No. 2, decorated with dragon carving patterns on both sides, 52 meters long from east to west, and 23 meters deep from the gate to the wall. You can see 16 standing and 40 seated statues, 2 Indian gods and 2 kings, and there is a stupa in the middle of the grotto. The cave is named after the two king statues in the room. After entering the door, there is a painted wooden statue on the left hand side, that is King Valagamba, and there is another statue a little further inside, which is King Nisan Kamara. The statue of the cave was also once covered with golden leaves and is located under a makaratorana (arch with dragons). The right hand of the Buddha statue is raised in a fearless mudra (meaning protection). The Indian gods also used this gesture to express "protection". Some of the frescoes in the caves are more than 2,000 years old and are still lifelike. Cave No. 3 (MahaAlutViharaya) The third cave is the "Daxin Temple", and its murals and paintings on the top of the cave are typical Sri Lankan paintings in the 18th century. In addition to 50 stone carvings of Buddha statues, there are also statues of Kirti Sri Rajainha, the king who revitalized Buddhism in the 18th century. The entire cave temple is full of statues of Buddhas, monks and kings in different postures, and one of the reclining Buddhas is very beautiful. The fourth and fifth caves of the fourth cave (Pachima Viharaya) are not as large and historical as the first three caves, and the content of the murals in the caves are Buddhist stories and legends. The fourth cave is the West Temple, which is 16 meters long, 6 meters wide and 8 meters high. It is a relatively small cave. The Buddha statue in the middle of the room is located under an arch with a dragon ornament, and the Buddha statue is made of dhyanamudra. The small stupa in the middle was smashed by thieves who thought it contained the jewels of Queen Somawathie. Hole 5 (DevanaAlutViharaya) Hole 5 is surrounded by brick walls, 6.8 meters long and 12.25 meters wide. It is a relatively new hole. There is a reclining Buddha in the cave, and there are also Hindu gods, such as the Hindu god of war Murugan and Vishnu.
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  • No.

    4

    󰺂5.9
    4.6/5
    177 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 3932 reviews
    "Kanti is Sri Lanka's second largest city, a Buddhist holy place. Kanti Lake is in the center of the city. It is a huge artificial lake dug by a rice field and is also one of the city's most famous tourist attractions. The scenery on Kanti Lake is beautiful, and there is a small island in the center, which is said to be the place where the Queen lived. The lakeside tropical flowers and trees are lush, blooming, all purple and red. Next to a lake-ring road is the Buddha Tooth Temple of Sri Lanka's national treasure temple. Kandy Lake reflects the Buddha Tooth Temple, and the Buddha Tooth Temple is dotted with Kandy Lake. The two are intersected and perfectly harmonious, forming the most beautiful scenery of Kandy Ancient City. In the distance, there are many English buildings dotted between the mountains and forests, and tourists and local residents from all over the world take a walk along the lake and enjoy the beautiful lakes and mountains."
    Kandy.Kandy Lake Front
    9.6km from downtown
    Highlights: Kandy Lake is to Kandy what the West Lake is to Hangzhou. Walking along the Huanhu Road, as far as you can see, it is quiet and clear. The Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Kandy Lake contrast each other, and sometimes the sound of chanting sutras from the Temple of the Tooth Relic can be heard.
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  • No.

    5

    󰺂5.9
    4.6/5
    167 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1090 reviews
    "@🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya Novara Eliya Horton Plain National Park Horton Plains National Park During British colonialism, it was named after Wilmert Horton, the British Governor in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), (also said to be his wife Anne • Horton). In 1969, it was designated a wildlife refuge. In July 2010, due to its biodiversity, the central highlands of Sri Lanka (including the Horton Plain National Park, the Peak Wilderness Reserve where Adam Peak is located and the Knuckles Mountains) were listed on the World Heritage List ~50+ local geoguide full-time control speed (counterclockwise hiking), The "Horton Three-person Team" with the two beautiful young ladies opens 10km 4h special soldier mode 4:00 get up ➡️4:45 depart the hotel➡️6:00 sun rise➡️ 6:30 hiking ➡️no stop walking➡️10:30 leave the park➡️11:20 arrive the hotel➡️11:45 travel move🤣 Overall feeling, it is easy to go up the mountain and difficult to go down the mountain ps: In order to protect the environment, the food will be required to unpack the plastic bag and put it in the paper bag provided by the garden. The washing room [laughing] at the entrance is a thousand miles away. There is a toilet. It is not a dry toilet. In addition, it seems that there are only two bathrooms in the park, and the walk from the exit is about 1 hour."
    Nuwara Eliya
    50.5km from downtown
    Highlights: Horton Plains National Park is an important natural heritage of Sri Lanka and a national park that allows tourists to hike. The "plain" itself is a plateau about 2,000 meters above sea level, covered with virgin grasslands and dotted with several dense forests. 1. Scenic History Horton Plains was formerly known as MahaEliyaThena, which means "Great Plains". During the British colonial period, it was named after the British governor of Ceylon, Wilmert Houghton (also said to be his wife, Anne Houghton). It was not until 1969 that the Houghton Plain was designated as a wildlife reserve. Because of the biodiversity of Horton Plains, it was planned as a national park for tourists to visit in 1988. In July 2010, Sri Lanka's central highlands, including Horton Plains National Park, the summit wilderness reserve where Adam's Peak is located, and the Knuckles Mountains were inscribed on the World Heritage List. 2. Scenic features Horton Plains, if literally translated, are actually "Horton Plains", from which we can intuitively feel Horton's topographical features - flat and open, but not static. The weather on the plateau is unpredictable and Horton is notoriously windy. Hiking on the wide slopes of the Horton Plain, there are ups and downs along the way. In front of you are vast hills, small rivers and various tropical plants, and the blue sky and fresh air are more enjoyable. In addition to the attractive World's End cliffs, you can also see a variety of wildlife such as monkeys, elk and various birds while hiking in the Horton Plains National Park. The entire scenic spot is very primitive, please do not go to areas outside the prescribed route when hiking to avoid danger. On the way back you will pass Baker's Falls, which is not spectacular but adds to the fun of your hike. 3. The trekking route to Horton Plains National Park generally requires a chartered car. After arriving at the gate and purchasing the ticket, you can drive in for a while, and then start the hiking tour from the parking lot. There is a circular hiking route in the national park, with a total length of about 9.5 kilometers. Tourists can only walk within the specified range according to the road signs (it is strongly recommended to walk in a clockwise direction). It takes about 3-4 hours to walk the whole way. Walk from the entrance to the end of the world for about 4 kilometers, then walk 2 kilometers to a Baker Falls, and then walk 3.5 kilometers back to the entrance. 4. Wildlife Due to its location at the turning point of many rivers, the Horton Plain has very rich wildlife species, often leopards, deer and wild boars. Lanka's local "Purple-faced Vervet Monkeys" sometimes flicker through the forest along Ohiya Road, and sometimes peek in the woods near the end of the world. This area is also great for bird watching. Native Yellow-eared Nightingale, Fantail Warbler, Grey-headed Thrush, Lankan White-Eyed, Lankan Thrush, Lankan White-eyed Arrenga, Lankan Blue Magpie, Mountain Eagle, etc. 5. Natural Plants There is a grass called Chrysopogon that covers the grasslands on the plateau, while the swamp is a breeding ground for the rich species of Sphagnum. The white-flowered delphinium is the dominant vegetation in mountain forest areas. Dwarf trees and shrubs are joined by mosses and lichens. There is also Rhododendronzelanicum, which produces blood-red flowers. Strobilanthes with sharp leaves bloom every five years.
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  • No.

    6

    󰺂5.4
    4.4/5
    64 Review
    Free
    "write a postcard to your loved ones for only 59 cents!and see their historical post office in downtown nuwara Eliya."
    Nuwara Eliya.Nuwara Eliya City Center
    32.1km from downtown
    Highlights: This is an English-style building left over from the renovation of Nuwara Eliya in the United Kingdom. Now it has been repainted. You can not only take pictures here, but also send unique postcards to your family, friends and yourself!
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  • No.

    7

    󰺂5.0
    4.5/5
    147 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 3869 reviews
    "The Royal Botanic Garden in Kandy is the best tropical botanical garden in the world. It has a considerable number of plant varieties and scientific and technological information on bioengineering, ecology, preservation and classification."
    Kandy.Peradeniya
    13.8km from downtown
    Highlights: The Royal Botanical Garden is 5.5 kilometers away from the city of Kandy and covers an area of more than 60 hectares. It is surrounded by the Mahaveli River on three sides. It is also one of the famous tropical botanical gardens and was once the royal garden of the King of Kandy. Introduction to the Park There are a considerable number of plant species and scientific and technological materials in the fields of bioengineering, ecology, conservation and classification. The botanical garden has more than 4,000 species of tropical and subtropical rare plants, and is famous for orchids and giant tropical trees. There is an orchid museum dedicated to cultivating orchids. The botanical garden also has a spice garden with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, pepper, vanilla and other spice plants. The tropical sun at the equator and the Mediterranean climate of the Kandy region allow for lush vegetation, flowers, and spring all year round.
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  • No.

    8

    󰺂4.7
    4.5/5
    44 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1779 reviews
    "From the Kandy train, you can really feel the magic experience from midsummer to late autumn. After the train leaves, the temperature gradually drops, and the tea garden along the way is pleasing to the eye. The train is very clean, the passengers are mainly locals, the carriage is very quiet, there are small businesses selling local snacks from time to time, the taste is actually good, the price is only 1, 2 yuan. The whole city is also very clean, and the homestay is very comfortable, that is, it is too cold at night, and I can't feel it in the country near the equator. It is recommended to play."
    Nuwara Eliya.Lake Gregory
    33.9km from downtown
    No.1 of Water Fun Attractions in Central Province
    Highlights: Gregory Lake is located about 1 km from the town, in the heart of Nuele Eliya, and is an artificial lake built by the then Governor Gregory in 1874. The entire lake covers an area of about 91 hectares and is obtained by introducing the water of the Nanuwarya River through a tunnel, with beautiful scenery. Nearby activities are on the way to the Lake District and there is a racecourse passing through Nuwara Eliya, where horses can be seen, and tourists can also ride horses here (Rs2500/hour). There are sidewalks around the lake (baby strollers and wheelchairs are allowed), and there are various grades of boutique accommodation, dining and outdoor activities around the lake, strolling through the green spaces and river banks, and picnicking in a corner of the river, where there are picnic tables; or Boating on the lake (Rs1500/30 minutes for pedal boats, Rs2000/20 minutes for motor boats), enjoying the fresh air and the scenery of lakes and mountains, is very beautiful.
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  • No.

    9

    󰺂4.3
    4.2/5
    19 Review
    Free
    "The waterfall is really small and cannot be compared with the large waterfalls in China. Even the waterfalls that are not very well known are better than this. But the scenery around here is particularly good, the plants are particularly large, and the air is particularly good."
    Nuwara Eliya
    36.2km from downtown
    Highlights: Lavana Ella Falls is 5 kilometers from Ella, between the small town of Ella and Villa Walla, and you can see it on the way. It is part of the Ella Wildlife Sanctuary. Although the waterfall is not big, it is also a very famous small attraction in Eller. 1. The waterfall and surrounding waterfalls are 25 meters high and flow out from an oval concave rock on the top of the mountain. Many locals will play on the edge of the waterfall, and there will be some stalls selling snacks and souvenirs around, which is a dating destination for local Sri Lankans. 2. Allusions about waterfalls The allusions about Ravanael Falls are from the Indian epic "Ramayana". The small waterfalls above the big waterfalls are close to the Ravanael caves. It is said that this is where the devil once The place where Princess Sita was imprisoned, the protagonist of "Morayana".
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  • No.

    10

    󰺂4.0
    4.4/5
    53 Review
    "I used to think that New Zealand was an island country. I didn't expect the scenery here to be so rich and beautiful, snowy mountains, rivers, meadows, and pastures. Tourism resources and varieties are very rich. Traveling here is really worth it."
    Nuwara Eliya
    44km from downtown
    Highlights: There are several dairy farms 15-20 kilometers outside Nuwara Eliya, one of which is New Zealand Ranch, which is far away but is more famous among the locals. Locals like to play on the ranch with the family during holidays or small weekends, allowing children to get up close to the animals and visit the dairy factory. On the hillsides where the scenery rises and falls, you can often see groups of cows basking in the sun lazily. Occasionally, there are some shepherds lying next to the cows, enjoying the baptism of the sun, with a leisurely and lazy atmosphere permeating around.
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  • 1

FAQ

What Best Things to Do are there in Central Province?
These are all Best Things to Do in Central Province:Sigiriya, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy Lake, Horton Plains National Park
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Central Province?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Central Province include:Sigiriya:4.7, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic:4.5, Dambulla Cave Temple:4.6, Kandy Lake:4.6, Horton Plains National Park:4.6
At what locations in Central Province can Best Things to Do in Central Province be found?
The Best Things to Do in Central Province are mainly located in:Sigiriya:Sigiriya, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic:Kandy, Dambulla Cave Temple:Dambulla, Kandy Lake:Kandy, Horton Plains National Park:Nuwara Eliya
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