Gampola is a town located in the Central Sri Lankan Province, in Kandy district. From temples to historical attractions Gampola has a lot to offer to the tourists who visit this lovely town in Sri Lanka. While exploring this town, you will come across many remnants of the Gampola era that reveal much information regarding the lives of the people in that era. The Buddha statues and the style of the artworks reflect the South Indian influence in the art and culture. Gampola is a town of great historical importance and the temples and other locations reveal glimpses of the historical and cultural past of Sri Lanka.
10 Must Visit Places In Gampola In 2024
There are many places to visit in Gampola and there are many places to visit around Gampola, which makes it a perfect tourist hotspot in Sri Lanka. Here, we gathered a list of 10 such places that you should definitely while you are on your Gampola trip. Take a look.
- Lankatilaka Temple
- Embekke Devalaya
- Galle
- Ambuluwawa Temple
- Kandy
- Ambuluwawa Mountain
- Temple of Tooth Relic
- Deenside Tea Factory
- Mirissa
- Sri Kaleshwaram
1. Lankatilaka Temple
This is one of the most famous temple that you should visit while you are in Gampola. It is located close to the Embekke Devale temple and is truly magnificent in its glory. Once inside the temple, you will see various ancient paintings bedecked on the walls of the temple. The temple originally was 4 storeys high, but after centuries of wear of tear, there are only 3 storeys remaining. The temple is considered as one of the most prominent architectural edifice of its era. The outstanding architecture of the temple, decked up with the very traditional Sinhalese sculptures makes the temple characteristically magnificent. If you take a look at the inscriptions curved on the rocks of the temple, offering both Tamil and Sinhalese section, you will come to know that the temple was gifted to the initiators and facilities by the kings.
Location: Kovilakanda, Sri Lanka
Must Read: 15 Things To Do In Ella That Will Take Your Sri Lanka Trip To The Next Level
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2. Embekke Devalaya
Another temple to visit in Gampola, is the Embekke Devalaya temple. This historical temple has been there in the Gampola region since the 14th century. Once you go inside the temple, you will see many carved wood pillars. The wood carvings are mainly of women dancing, eagles wrestling with men and swans, typical form of the archaic Sinhalese art. On the roots of the temple you will see similar striking wood carved features that are really stunning to look at. Embekke Devalaya is definitely one of the best sightseeing spot in Gampola.
Location: Udunuwara, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Timings: Open 24 Hours
3. Galle
If you are looking for some places to visit near Gampola, then Galle might just be the best place for you. Galle is located in the south west coast of the country of Sri Lanka. Once you visit Galle, you will be mesmerized to see the Dutch colonial buildings and the remnants of Portuguese heritage in this city. There are multiple tourist spots in Galle including multiple museums, churches, mosques and mansions. The town, though built by the Portuguese, is famous for its Sri Lankan cuisine. The beach water, the clear sunny skies will give you a Mediterranean vibe when you tour around the city. Be it shopping for artefacts, exploring the culture or relaxing at the beach with some Sri Lankan delicacies, Galle serves the purpose of a tourist attraction amazingly.
Location: Southwest coast, Sri Lanka
Major Attractions: Galle Dutch Fort, Galle Lighthouse, National Maritime Museum
Suggested Read: Viharamahadevi Park: A Handy Guide To Explore This Nature’s Paradise In Sri Lanka!
4. Ambuluwawa Temple
There is no running out of places to visit in Gampola. This lovely little town has so much to offer to the visitor. Abuluwawa Temple is one such location that attracts a lot of tourists. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3567 feet above sea level. Once you reach the temple on the top of the hill, you will get some stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, which is sure to leave you spellbound. The temple consists of praying sections for all of the four religions that are practiced in Sri Lanka. You can either hike to reach the top of the temple or you can reach by the help of small vehicles.
Location: Trigonometrical Station, Ambuluwawa ICC Road, Gampola, Sri Lanka
5. Kandy
If you are thinking about a nice day trip, then there are many places to visit around Gampola. One of the major and popular cities in Sri Lanka, is Kandy, where you can definitely go for a day trip from Gampola. The city is situated at an altitude of 500 meters from the sea level and is surrounded by thick forests and mountain ranges. Being situated amidst nature, Kandy has a pleasant climate. A good number of lakes are spread all throughout the city that you can visit to enjoy some peaceful time in the lap of nature. The colonial architecture and the large temples gives off the evidence of the culture of Sri Lanka in the medieval ages.
Location: Kandy District, Sri Lanka
Major Attractions: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy Lake, Udawatakelle Forest Reserve
Suggested Read: Sri Lanka In January: Places To Visit And Things To Do On Your Vacay
6. Ambuluwawa Mountain
This is yet another important place to visit in Gampola. The temple was built in Gampola as symbol of religious integrity in the country of Sri Lanka. You can a mosque, a temple, a church and a Hindu kovil in the Ambuluwawa Mountain. Though this place is not really considered as a typical tourist attraction spot but it does attract a vast number of local people from and around Gampola. The Mountain is quite steep, but once you reach the top of the mountain you will be rewarded with some breathtaking views of the surrounding areas. The mountain also has a beautifully landscaped garden that you can spend your time in. also don’t forget to take some great pictures from the top!
Location: Gampola, Sri Lanka
7. Temple of Tooth Relic
The Temple of Tooth Relic is a sacred Buddhist temple in the Kandy District of Sri Lanka. Located in the royal complex, this temple is home to the Relic of the tooth of Gautama Buddha and is considered as one of the holiest shrines of Buddha in the entire world. Kandy is marked as an UNESCO world heritage site partly due to this temple. The relic also plays an important part in the country’s politics. It is believed by the Sri Lankan people that whoever holds the relic, is going to hold the governance of the country.
Location: Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Timings: 5:30 AM – 8 PM
Suggested Read: 7 Most Haunted Places In Sri Lanka To Make You Face Your Darkest Fears
8. Deenside Tea Factory
If you are a lover of tea, you should definitely visit this tea manufacturing factory. This factory is the best producer of the famous Ceylon Tea in the entire world. Once you visit the factory you will be stunned by the sheer innovative measures and spectacular methods that they use for tea production. You will see unique instruments like camera type color separator that cleans the tea according to its color and size of particles. You can closely watch the entire process of manufacturing, packaging and deployment of this fine blend tea under the hands of the best tea professionals.
Location: Kadugannawa – Gampola Road, Gampola, Sri Lanka
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
9. Mirissa
Mirrisa is a small town located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It is a great day trip from the Gampola. The town is filled with many modern resorts and various cafes along the beach sands. The beach along with the nightlife makes Mirrisa a perfect tourist attraction. Slip into a hammock and bust open a coconut, days pass by really calmly in Mirrisa.
Location: Southern Coast, Sri Lanka
Suggested Read: The Ultimate Guide To Sri Lanka’s Dambulla Cave Temple
10. Sri Kaleshwaram
Sri Kaleshwaram is a temple near Gampola and it is the oldest and the largest Hindu temple in Sri Lanka. The temple is believed to be about 125 years old. The ornate architecture, the carvings and sculptures of the Hindu deities adorning the 80 feet high ceiling is simple magnificent. The walls of the temple is also decorated with paintings and murals of religious background. The temple inside is very clean and you might find some devotional music being played when you visit.
Location: Captain’s Garden Kovil Street, Colombo
Timings: 6 – 10 AM, 5 – 9 PM
Further Read: The Definitive Guide To National Museum Of Colombo In Sri Lanka
Gampola being a small town in Sri Lanka has a lot to offer to the people visiting there. The temples and relics from the Gampola era make it a tourist hotspot in the Kandy region. With so many places to visit here, do not miss out on visiting Gampola on your next Sri Lanka tour.
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Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!
