6 kilometers from Kandy on the Colombo/Kandy road were once the Pleasure Gardens of a Kandyan Queen. The Gardens, spanning 150 acres, are a paradise of tropical foliage. It is motorable, with seats, gazebos, pavilions and a restaurant at the entrance. Highlights of the Gardens include the Great Palm Avenue, the Orchid House, the Pergola, the Octagon House, the flower-beds of hibiscus, cannas, bougainvilleas and croton.

The name Dambulla derives from Damba (rock) and Ulla (fountain). The continuous dripping of water from the fountain can be seen within the main image house. This Vihara was built by King Vattagamini Abhaya (43-17 BC). In addition to 4 main monasteries, the temples contain 153 Buddha images, 3 images of kings and 4 of gods and goddesses. It was within this complex that the monks began the militant nationalist movement against the British in 1848. It is considered an art gallery of unique beauty.

Sigiriya is also a world heritage site and is widely regarded as the “Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World”. It held the Palace of King Kassapa completed with moats, walls, terraces and water gardens. Most spectacular is the Mirror Wall. Today, only a protected pocket remains where murals and graffiti remain, unique in history. The comely damsels portrayed in the Sigiriya Frescoes manifest an almost vivifying vibrancy.

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was started in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife on a twenty-five acre coconut property on the Maha Oya river at Rambukkana. The orphanage was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. Initially this orphanage was at the Wilpattu National Park, then shifted to the tourist complex at Bentota and then to the Dehiwala Zoo. From the Zoo it was shifted to Pinnawela. At the time it was shifted the orphanage had five baby elephants which formed its nucleus. It was hoped that this facility would attract both local and foreign visitors, the income from which would help to maintain the orphanage

The orphanage is home to about 60 elephants, out of which many are baby elephants found, abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Visitors could accompany the elephants to a river close-by and see them having their daily bath.

This temple is situated at Handessa - a cruciform building that servers as an image house of The Buddha. The temple is full of exquisite painted scenes of the lives of 24 former Buddhas and there is a colossal seated image of the Buddha. It commands unfolding village scenery of charm and beauty.

Established by King Vikramabahu in 1371 AD, the Embekke Devale is located at Welamboda. It is a superb example of architecture in wood. The wood art of this temple is astounding with dancers, swans, creepers, soldiers on horseback, floral emblems, double headed eagles and wrestlers providing magnificent viewing. Special treasures are the doorways of carved sandalwood and the palanquin used by King Rajasingha II.

Kandy, with its historical, archeological and religious value, has protected Udawatte Kele Sanctuary even during the time when Kandy was the capital of the island. In fact, Kandy has been named “Senkadagala” in 1371, during the time of King Wickramabahu, because a Brahmin called “Senkada” had lived in a cave found in this forest. During the King's reign, the palace was built within the sanctuary, as it proved safety and natural beauty. During foreign invasions, the King used to go into hiding into this area.

Situated to the north of Sri Dalada Temple, this forest is about 257 acres in area and has a large number of birds, animals and butterflies, belonging to various species.