February is undoubtedly one of the finest months to go to Sri Lanka overall, with mild, dry weather predicted for most of the nation’s major destinations, including Kandy and the Cultural Triangle. Because of altitude, everything is inherently colder in Tea Country. Arugam Bay, Adams Peak and Trincomalee fort are among the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in February.
In the Ampara district of Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, Arugam Bay is a popular summertime tourist destination. From Colombo, it is roughly 325 kilometers away. It is among the top ten surfing destinations in the world. The seasonality of Arugam Bay begins in February and concludes in October with Arum Bay being one of the most beautiful Places to Visit in Sri Lanka. November to January is known as the off-season. During the seasonality period, Arugam Bay often generates more revenue than on ordinary days. Domestic tourism has also recognized weekends during the off-season. Endless beaches, elephants, beach surfing, famous tea, and winds are the primary causes and impulses for tourist arrival in this area.
Despite its small area, Sri Lanka boasts a diverse landscape, including a central region characterized by rugged terrain and majestic mountains. Adam’s Peak, the Knuckles Range, and Horton Plains are well-known beautiful mountains in Sri Lanka’s Central Province for their unique natural beauty and cultural worth. Mountain tourism has great growth potential in these peaks with January being a popular month to visit Adam’s Peak as well..
Adam’s Peak, referred to as Sri Pada regionally, is well-known for its “sacred footprint” on its highest point and attracts both hikers and worshippers. Adams Peak has evolved as an important religious tourism destination since the Polonnaruwa period. I would recommend adding this destination as a must in Sri Lanka Itinerary February.
Dambulla is a tiny tourist town known for approximately 80 caves in the surrounding area. The Dambulla Rock Temple is a major attraction, composed of five cave temples dating back to the first century BC. Other tourist attractions in the garden include Iron Wood Forest and the Rose Quartz Mountain range, which are thought to be around 500 million years old. It has now become one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations. Recent construction of great hotels (particularly the Hotel Kandalam), an international cricket stadium, and a local vegetable market offering the best fruits and vegetables have all aided tourism. The Hotel Kandalama, a premium hotel, allows tourists to enjoy the beauties of tropical nature and archaeology.
As among the best destinations for travelers, Sri Lanka has several sites to visit, including Nuwara Eliya, which has been designated as one of the most appealing tourist attractions. Nuwara Eliya, sometimes known as the ‘city of lights,’ is located approximately 2000 meters above sea level. Nuwara Eliya is a historical city built by the British, and its architecture is in the British colonial style, earning it the nickname “Little England”. Colonial structures, architectural styles, bungalows, and crematoriums are among the heritage attractions.
Nuwara Eliya’s hill country is an amazing gift from “Mother Nature,” with a variety of geographical features such as endemic plants and animals, beautiful waterfalls, tea farms, mountain peaks, appealing environmental and biodiversity spots (natural vegetation), and a year-round cool climate. As a means of instruction, the plantations contribute natural beauty, historical significance, and cultural value in addition to being one of the main tourist attractions today.
In the Jaffna District of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, Nallur Murugan Kovil, also known as Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, is one of the most important Hindu temples. Numerous temples bearing the same name have been constructed in Europe and North America as a cultural memorial. The temple is a socially significant establishment for the Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu culture.
Lord Muruga, the holy Vel, who is the son of Lord Siva, also known as Karthikeya, is the reigning deity. The Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi gave the temple the idol of the deity Nallur Devi, which was fashioned after Sembian bronzes, in the tenth century AD. The site known as “Kurukkal Valavu” is where the foundation of the Nallur Temple was laid in 948 AD.
The temple had to be relocated multiple times inside the Nallur area because of foreign invasion. When the temple edifice was constructed in 1749, it is thought that a shrine honoring an Islamic sufi saint had been located within the complex from 1734 until 1749. The fourth and current temple was built at the “Kurukkal Valavu,” the original temple grounds, in 1749 A.D. by Krishna Suba Iyer and Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar during the Dutch colonial rule.
The yearly Festival lasts for twenty-five days, beginning with Kodietram (flag-hoisting) on the sixth day after the New Moon in the month of Adi (August). Special attractions are the manjam (bed), the Ther (chariot), and the Kailaasa Vahanam. As an act of faith and atonement, devotees and penitents are observed carrying kavadis and piercing their bodies with hooks and spears without appearing to hurt or cause any discomfort.
One of Asia’s most magnificent and intricate World Heritage Sites is Sigiriya. The principal late fifth-century development, situated on a 300 BC site in central Sri Lanka, is a remarkable example of town planning, garden layout, construction, engineering for hydraulics, and artwork on walls traditions. The site’s pinnacle is a royal palace perched 165 meters above the surrounding plain atop a granitic monolith. Built during the eighteen-year reign of King Kassapa I, the royal complex comprises the palace, water gardens, ritual and administrative buildings, and a network of enormous earth fortifications, vast moats, and access gateways. The earliest remaining designed gardens in Asia are the Royal Pleasure Gardens, with their ponds, water fountains, and tiny water gardens. They are maintained by a clever hydraulic engineering system that is integrated into a more extensive network of reservoirs, canals, and moats. The best old murals in Sri Lanka are found on the western face of the rock. “Sigiriya is much more than the rock,” remarked one elder. It consists of the rock and its surroundings.
Located in Kodaiyar Bay, the Port of Trincomalee has historically been an important hub for foreign attempts to dominate the region. Currently ranked as the second best natural harbor in the world, it is the only port in the Indian Ocean that can handle all kinds of sailing in any kind of weather.
The Trincomalee Port spans 5, 261 hectares and is divided into the Inner Harbour and the Outer Harbour. Except for May Day, the port is open around-the-clock every day of the year. The Sri Lanka Navy also runs a boat service, and visitors to the port need to get a permit.
On the site of the Koneswaram Temple, which the Portuguese demolished with the approval of King Philip III of Portugal, the Trincomalee Fort, one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka was constructed in 1623 AD. After being taken over by Dutch Admiral Westerwold’s forces in 1639, it was restored and given the new name Fort Frederick by the Dutch in 1665. The French eventually seized control of it, and the English eventually bought it in 1795.Currently commanded by the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, Fort Frederick served as a location for naval artillery during World War II.It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Trincomalee and is open to the public. Inside is the newly renovated Koneswaram Devi Mahal.
In Trincomalee, there are seven well-known hot springs that draw tourists.Each well has a three to four foot deep bottom that is readily visible.The well often dries out after ten to fifteen buckets of water are removed.The Ramayana mentions these hot springs, which are supposed to have existed even during King Ra-vana’s reign.The Kinniya hot springs are well-liked by tourists who think that taking a dip in the hot springs may treat skin conditions, rheumatism, and arthritis.
Situated upon ‘Swami’s Rock’ within Fort Frederick is the Koneswaram Devalaya, also known as Thiru-koneswaram. It was constructed for Konasar, one of Lord Shiva’s statues, and is also referred to as the “Temple of the Thousand Towers.”Originally constructed in the third century BC, this Shi-va Devalaya is regarded as one of the oldest in Sri Lanka. The ancient Temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 17th century, and the Frederick Fortress was erected on its ruins. The Temple’s jewels and statues were removed and placed in the Lisbon Museum.Some statues were concealed underground by the devotees, and these artifacts from the 1944–1950 archaeological digs were used to rebuild Koneswaram Devalaya in 1963.
Lover’s Leap, which is a short distance from Koneswaram Devalaya, is a must-visit spot for adventurous and beautiful views across the Indian Ocean. It is surrounded by a 350-meter-high barrier that slopes sharply, and it is the source of many tragic legends. The most well-known of these is the narrative of Fran-cina van Reed, and nearly all of them are comparable. Francina, a young Dutch officer’s fiancée, was the daughter of a high-class government official. He left the marriage suddenly and set sail for Holland. Francina fell to her death from Ravana’s Cleft while she was perched atop Swami Rock, watching the ships transporting him out of the Trincomalee harbor. It was called ‘Lover’s Leap’ because many lovers who had suffered from their broken love connections had leaped to their deaths from this location. For the safety of guests, a three-foot-tall fence has currently been built around the rock.
Day no.1: Arrival to Colombo
Day no.2: Adams Peak Hiking
Day no.3: Transfer to Trincomalee in the morning.
Day no.4: Trincomalee
Day no.5: Travel to Sigiriya
Day no.6: The Dambulla
Day no.7: Bay of Arugam
This proposed itinerary can be customized and Sri Lanka Holiday Ideas can provide a dedicated travel consultant to work to tailor itineraries and make your traveling experience more seamless.
In conclusion, Sri Lanka has the most beautiful and exquisite mountain ranges and beaches in the south and west regions. If you are looking for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in February, then Adam’s peak and Trincomalee fort are my most favorite spots. To connect with nature and enjoy your trip fully, try Sri Lanka’s local restaurants and learn about their culture.
Read our guide: Places to Visit in Sri Lanka by Month
