In April, Sri Lanka moves from its dry season to the inter-monsoon period, bringing with it a range of meteorological conditions around the country. April usually brings warm weather to most of Sri Lanka. Due to their proximity to the start of the northeast monsoon, the eastern regions (Trincomalee) and central highlands (Nuwara Eliya, Kandy) may receive more rainfall than the western regions (Colombo, Negombo, Hikkaduwa) and southern coasts (Mirissa, Weligama) in terms of relative dryness and sunshine. In the central highlands, daytime highs average between 20°C and 25°C, while coastal regions and lowlands see temperatures between 28°C and 32°C. There is still a chance of occasional rain showers, mostly in the afternoons or nights, as the southwest monsoon season has not yet arrived.

Sri Lanka has a plethora of breathtaking and exciting tourism destinations, spanning from Kandy to Colombo in addition to so many other Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka. These locations are essential to have in your list for your 2025 trip to Sri Lanka, regardless of your level of experience or knowledge of travel. They are the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in April.

Also see: What are the Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka by Month

Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in April

Weather of Sri Lanka in April

 Average Temperature in Colombo: 29°C – 31 °C

Average Rainfall in Colombo: 61 mm

Dambulla Cave Temple

A gigantic rock that is more than 2000 feet long and 600 feet high rises from the surrounding plains of Dambulla to the top of the Dambulla Cave Temple, which is situated at an elevation of 1118 feet above sea level. It is the location of the most famous cave complex in the world, which is home to exquisite Buddha images and rock paintings with vibrant colors and designs that were created and painted between the Anuradhapura period (c. 2nd century BC) and the Kandyan era (c. 18th century). It is referred to as “Dambulu Gala” (Dambulla Rock) by Sinhala speakers, and the temple is known as “Rangi Dambulu Viharaya” (Golden Rock Dambulla Temple).

Location of Dambulla Cave Temple

The A9 road, which passes through Dambulla and Anuradhapura, leads up from Kandy to the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, which is situated in the middle of the Cultural Triangle between Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy. It is located along the main road, 68 kilometers from Kandy, and 2 km from the main road’s entry to the Rock Temple is the town of Dambulla.

History of Dambulla Cave Temple

The Dambulla Rock Cave Temple was initially built between 103 BC and 89–77 BC, under the reign of King Vattagamini Abhaya. He is commonly referred to as King Valagamba by the Sinhalese. The king was forced to flee his Anuradhapura Kingdom after an invasion by South India. King Valagamba has been hiding in these caves for a dozen years, knowing them to be safe. In order to express his gratitude for his safe haven, the King of Anuradhapura built walled partitions beneath the overhanging rock to turn the caverns into Buddhist temples. This allowed the entire area to appear to be one enormous cave. He had drip ledges installed along this lengthy cave to make it weatherproof and prevent water from leaking inside.He built the three cave temples known as Devarajalena, Maharajalena, and Paccimalena.

Prior to Vijayabahu I (1055–1110 AD), who established Polonnaruwa as his kingdom, this cave shrine was not under the rule of any other kings for numerous centuries following the reign of King Vattagamini Abaya. It is thought that Buddhist monks used to reside in these and other surrounding caverns during the period he renovated the cave temples. King Keerthi Sri Nissankamalla (1187–1196) had a significant role in improving the area by building numerous new Buddha images and gold plating approximately 73 Buddha pictures in the Dambulla Cave Temple.The Dambulla Cave Temple’s prestige was raised at several points in history by King Rajasinha I (1581-1591 AD), King Buwanekabahu (1372-1408 AD), King Vickramabahu III (1360-1374 AD), and King Vimaladharmasuriya I (1592-1604 AD).

Another fascinating aspect is that, based on the data they have so far uncovered, the archaeologists claim that this cave and many others surrounding the main rock were also inhabited in prehistoric times.

Vedda People – Vedda Village

It could be exciting to visit the well-known family adventure locations in Sri Lanka, but it might be even more fascinating to drive to a unique location. When visiting this magnificent nation, make sure to take in an exhilarating village tour in Vedda.

Visit this community with your families to have a taste of the way of life of the locals. Traditional dishes from the village can be enjoyed while relaxing with friends and discovering a new flavor. There is plenty of natural honey available due to Vedda’s enormous production.

The Vedda or Adivasi people of Sri Lanka have an enthralling history. The Mahavamsa, the island’s intriguing historical chronicle, claims that they were the offspring or descendants of Queen Kuveni, a Yaksha who was married to the fabled first King Vijay of Sri Lanka (5th BC). Anthropologists, on the other hand, assert that their roots are considerably older—some even trace them back to the Stone Age.

The Veddas are a hunter-gatherer people who have long practiced coexisting peacefully with the natural world. There are three main kinds of Vedas: Muhudu Veddas, or Coastal Veddas, who lived along the coast; Gam Veddas, or Village Veddas, who subsisted in Chena Cultivation in little huts; and Gal Veddas, or Cave-Dwelling Veddas, who lived in forest caves.

Sigiriya Hot Air Balloon Ride

Dambulla, Kandalama has a climate that is ideal for balloon flights because it is incredibly quiet and reliable. Because the weather is more stable in the early morning, Sri Lanka Balloon Rides are typically conducted in the morning. The average distance traveled varies from one to ten miles, depending on the wind’s direction and speed.

These rides fly anywhere from treetop level, where you can experience low-level contour flying, to several thousand feet above the ground, which is the ideal vantage point to take in the magnificence of the Dambulla-Kandalama region.

Do not forget to climb the Sigiriya rock, which is one of the Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in April.

Minneriya National Park

One of the best locations in the nation to view wild elephants, who are frequently found in large groups, is this national park. The 88.9 sq km park, which is dominated by the historic Minneriya Wewa, is home to a variety of animals, including toque macaques, sambar deer, buffalo, crocodiles, and leopards (though the latter are extremely uncommon to witness).

The best time to visit is said to be during the dry season, which runs from April to October (by which time the water in the tank has dried up, exposing grasses and shoots to grazing animals). During “the Gathering,” which is observed by up to 200 elephants, flocks of birds, including little cormorants, painted storks, herons, and big pelicans, fish in the shallow waters. But you can also see a lot of elephants here at other seasons of the year; during our visit in February, we counted around 100.

Habarana–Polonnaruwa Road is where the park entrance is located. Tickets are available at a visitor center by the entry, which also houses a few displays about the natural history of the park. The first forty minutes of the drive (over a bumpy dirt road) takes you through dense woodland with few opportunities to see wildlife. However, the scenery suddenly opens up, providing breathtaking vistas over the tank. For birds, early mornings are often the optimum times, and for elephants, late afternoons.

Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Travelers have been drawn to Sri Lanka’s warm, golden beaches in large numbers, but sea turtles are arguably their most popular attraction. Nesting on our honey-hued coasts, five species of endangered sea turtles travel great distances to lay their eggs. Due to their quieter and less hectic environments compared to their neighboring cities, turtles frequently visit towns like Kosgoda and Balapitiya.

All five species of sea turtles visit Kosgoda exclusively throughout the year to lay their eggs. Here, you can see hawksbill, leatherback, green, loggerhead, and olive ridley sea turtles. Should fortune favor you, you could be able to take part in their return to the water and see a spectacular hatching. People of various ages can take pleasure in this encounter. Keep in mind to bring your camera. Please be sure not to touch the sea turtles, even though you will get up close and personal with them.

It is a delightful, profound, and breathtaking experience. Over their lifetime, these sea turtles cover thousands of kilometers by sea, and when the time comes for them to procreate, they return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Although their voyage is extremely amazing, the population is regrettably declining as a result of increased human activity. In order to give the turtles a fighting chance, these hatcheries assist balance the scales.

Beira Lake

Beira Lake is only one of the many popular sites that tourists can experience in Sri Lanka. One of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in April, Beira Lake used to occupy an area of around 410 acres, but due to the zone’s rapid commercialization, it is now just about 160 acres. There are many stories about these types of tanks from the past, some of which were made up by the kings. However, the Beira Lake, which is located in the city of Colombo, was built for a quite different purpose, and not by any of our previous monarchs either.

How to get to this lake is a major question that worries nature-loving tourists everywhere as well as couples planning a romantic retreat. Reaching Beira Lake is incredibly stress-free because it is close to Dehiwala Zoo, Gangaramaya Temple, and Viharamahadevi Park. Arriving at Beira Lake from the city of Colombo itself is the quick fix. It just takes an hour to travel to Beira Lake from Colombo.

7 Day Customized – Sri Lanka Itinerary April

Day 1:

  • Enter Sri lanka from Kandy Airport
  • Passing through the Cultural Triangle
  • Reach your pre-booked hotel and check-in
  • Take breakfast and after taking some rest
  • Dress up to visit Dambulla Cave Temple
  • After admiring the desirable paintings come back to hotel
  • Order your lunch cum dinner
  • Have a peaceful sleep

Day 2:

  • Choose this day to visit Ceylon
  • Choosing train for commute will require 4-5 hour
  • Choosing private ride will require 3 hr 25 min
  • Explore tea factories and see the beauty of cultural triangle
  • Walk along coastside beaches
  • You may also get to know the history of Colombo
  • After enjoying your day, book your ride to the nearest hotel
  • Check-in to your hotel and take rest

Day 3:

  • Finding vedda village is not easy
  • Vedda people are scattered
  • You may find them near any coastal lowlands of Island
  • When you meet them, be nice
  • Have your lunch with them
  • Move back to your hotel before sunset

Day 4:

  • Take breakfast in early morning
  • Get picked up for your Hot Air Balloon Ride
  • Enjoy the sight of sigiriya fortress and sigiriya lion rock
  • Enjoy after flight celebrations
  • Get dropped off to your hotel
  • Take a bath and have a sound sleep

Day 5:

  • Get up early morning
  • Take breakfast
  • Call off to your private tour guide
  • Reach Minneriya National Park
  • Buy the tickets
  • See gigantic elephants and “Gathering”
  • Before sunset, move back to your local hotel

Day 6:

  • Take breakfast and get dressed up
  • Visit Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery
  • See all five distinct species of turtles
  • Take lunch near the beach side
  • Enjoy the sunset with your family
  • Take dinner at your hotel

Day 7:

  • After waking up from peaceful sleep
  • Take breakfast and pack your picnic bag
  • Go to the most beautiful Beira Lake
  • Enjoy the eight degrees on the lake
  • See Seema Malakya Temple and Lover’s Island
  • Enjoy Swan boat rides
  • Come to your hotel with happy heart
  • Book your ride to go Airport for departure
  • Say Goodbye to the Sri Lanka for time being

Conclusion

In conclusion, it has been observed that the time span from March to May is a better time to visit Sri Lanka than October.