1. Kandy
Kandy, a city rich in history, has been known by various names over time. Scholars believe its original name was Katubulu Nuwara, located near present-day Watapuluwa. However, the more popular historical name is Senkadagala or Senkadagalapura, officially called Senkadagala Siriwardhana Maha Nuwara, meaning 'great city of Senkadagala of growing resplendence.' According to folklore, this name might have come from a brahmin named Senkanda, a queen named Senkanda, or a colored stone called Senkadagala. During the colonial era, the English name Kandy emerged, derived from the Sinhala phrase Kanda Uda Rata, meaning 'land on the mountain.' The Portuguese shortened it to "Candea," using it for both the kingdom and its capital. In Sinhala, Kandy is still referred to as Maha Nuwara, meaning 'Great City,' though it's often simply called Nuwara in daily use.
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2. Galle
Galle is the capital city in the southern province of Sri Lanka. It is spread over 6.5 square miles. It has also been named a World Heritage City by UNESCO. Galle has been known as a trading city since ancient times. Galle port is known as a unique port due to its location in the Indian Ocean and some scholars are of the opinion that Tarshish, the great trading city of South Asia mentioned in the old Bible, may be Galle.
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3. Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful city located in a valley in the central mountains of Sri Lanka . Located at an altitude of 1868 meters (6128 feet) above sea level, this city belongs to the Nuwara Eliya district. Mount Piduruthalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka, is also located near this city.
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4. Trincomalee
Trincomalee, located on Sri Lanka's east coast, is 237 km northeast of Colombo and has a population of 99,135. The city, built on a peninsula, has been a major center of Tamil culture for over two millennia. Trincomalee is home to the famous Konaswaram Temple, which gave rise to its Tamil name, Thirukonamalai. The city also houses 189 historical monuments, including the Bhadrakali Amman Temple and Trincomalee Hindu College, founded in 1897. Trincomalee has a railway station and a historical ferry service connecting to Jaffna and Muttur.
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5. Badulla
Badulla is located in the southeast of Kandy, almost encircled by the Badulu Oya River, about 680 m (2,230 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by tea plantations. The city is overshadowed by the Namunukula range of mountains (highest peak 2,016 m (6,614 ft) above sea level). It was a base of a pre-colonial Sinhalese local prince (regional king) who ruled the area under the main King in Kandy before it became part of the British Empire. Later, it became one of the provincial administrative hubs of the British rulers. The city was the terminus of upcountry railway line built by the British in order to take mainly tea plantation products to Colombo.
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