Places Sputnicktatorship Wants to Go

A neglected bell tower in modern Colombo is a symbol of the city's colonial past.

This Colombo wetland is an unlikely wildlife haven just outside the capital city.

This enigmatic stone pool is all that remains of an ancient palace.

A Sri Lankan tea factory's ironic take on the Los Angeles landmark.

A massive fallen water tank bombed by the Tamil Tigers in the final stages of the long Sri Lankan Civil War.

This Sri Lankan cemetery is the final resting place of sci-fi legend Sir Arthur C. Clarke.

This ancient cave temple complex is the largest and best-preserved temple complex in Sri Lanka.

This peaceful, round shrine in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle acts as a beacon of peace.

This sacred fig tree with a link to the Buddha is one of the oldest human-planted trees in the world.

These abandoned ruins in the middle of Jaffna have withstood centuries of tumultuous power struggles.

Known as the most scenic route in Sri Lanka, this train line is steeped in history and offers an unparalleled view of the country.

This palatial, 99-doored Colonial mansion is a marvel of architectural fusion.

This elaborate temple was built around one of the Buddha's teeth.

According to Hindu belief, this shallow island chain was created by a god with an army of monkeys.

Seven beautiful 1,000-year-old rock-cut Buddhist statues.

Pettah's beautiful floating market was once a stinky canal in a sketchy industrial area.

This luscious masterpiece created by landscape designer Bevis Bawa inspired the work of his brother, a famous Sri Lankan architect.

The remains of a 37,000-year-old prehistoric society were discovered in this mammoth cave, one of the largest in Asia.

The ruins of this old church are slowing sinking into the sand.

Once thought to be the Garden of Eden it holds a holy footprint claimed to belong to Adam, Buddha and Shiva.

This mesmerizing architectural wonder will take your breath away with its unusual color patterns.

Huge herds of Asian elephants can be seen walking, bathing, and just chilling at this Sri Lankan park.

An ancient stone fortress considered by many to be the eighth wonder of the world.

Museum celebrating the ocean, with the largest wunderkammer dedicated to sea exploration.