Without a doubt, our favourite stop in Sri Lanka was Habarana. This could have been because of our incredible hotel, the diverse wildlife, the rich culture, or the friendly people. Whatever it was, Habarana was a gem right in the heart of the country. If you are planning Sri Lanka, odds are you are looking to stay here or nearby. This post on what to do in Habarana covers all the main attractions, including recommendations of hotels and experiences. Enjoy!
What to do in Habarana | Your Ultimate Guide
Getting to Habarana
Habarana is right in the heart of Sri Lanka and is not near the airport. In fact, our journey here took over 5 hours after a long flight. If it weren’t for the adrenaline after landing in a bucket list country, this would have been a challenge.
The best advice I can give you is to hire a driver, or take a tour bus. You may have heard about the craziness that are the roads in Sri Lanka, and everything you heard is true. Make sure that you have an experienced person driving as the roads are very different to Europe. Some people like have rent a tuk tuk and driven it themselves here from Negombo. Our guide in Sri Lanka told us that there are lots of accidents with tourists renting these because of the roads.
How Long to Spend in Habarana
There isn’t a shortage of things to do in Habarana, but it depends what you are after. We spent four nights here, which included the day travelling and an acclimatisation day. We probably could have added on an extra night to enjoy more of the hotel and wildlife, but I think this was a good amount of time to see the main attractions.
Where to Stay in Habarana
Habarana is relatively touristy area and there are lots of hotels to choose from. We stayed at the Cinnamon Lodge, which was absolutely incredible – arguably in the top 5 hotels ever for us. It was right on the lake and it was packed with local wildlife around the hotel. In fact, we had said that the hornbills of Sri Lanka were a must-see whilst we were visiting. Our guide basically said ‘good luck’ as they are usually only seen in the National Parks. We saw both species within 24 hours here; it was amazing. The Cinnamon Lodge also had great food, lovely rooms set over acres of land, and a massive swimming pool.
Here are my top recommendations, based on best location and amenities, for a range of different people.
| Traveller Type | Accommodation Option |
| Value for Money | Habarana Tree House |
| 4 Stars | Habarana Village by Cinnamon |
| Luxury | Cinnamon Lodge |
Top Things to do in Habarana
We had a great time in Habarana and made some incredible memories. From climbing to immersing yourself in the wild, there is lots to do around this charming village. Here are my top recommendations and I’d suggest doing them all if you can.
Climb the Iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Every trip to Sri Lanka needs to include a trip to Sigiriya. This ancient rock fortress has been a part of civilisation here for 5,000 years and, at one time, was carved into a giant lion fortress. Climbing up to the summit was one of the best things I’ve ever done. The sense of achievement was great and the views are worth the hour of suffering!
I’ve written a blog post on climbing Sigiriya for more detail, however there are some top tips that I can share now. Firstly, climb as.early as you can (it gets really hot), take it slow and bring lots of water.
Safari in Hurulu Eco Park
We really wanted to go on a safari in Sri Lanka. We had booked our tickets to Yala National Park early on, but then our guide told us that Hurulu Eco Park is one of the best places to see wild elephants.
The park is quite small, but attracts a lot of elephants to its calm surroundings. My one little complaint is that the jeeps were quite concentrated; as soon as an elephant appeared at least 10 of them would surround it. Having said that, what it offers makes it one of the best things to do in Habarana.
Hiriwadunna Village and Lake Adventure
We actually didn’t plan to do this next one, but our guide convinced us that it would be worth it. Our journey began by tuk tuk from our hotel up to a path towards Hiriwadunna Lake, less than half a mile from us. From here, we drove a tractor-like vehicle called the landmaster, watched a cobra show, and then headed across the lake in a wooden canoe. This part was my favourite. Our canoe guide lived right on the shores of the lake and knew all of the birds.
After an hour or so on the water, we then sat in a traditional hut in Hiriwadunna Village. We were treated to local food that was made with love right in front of us. We also learnt about how food is prepared here too and were taught to use different instruments.
Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple
Just half an hour away from Habarana is the Dambulla Cave Temple. This is an especially sacred site in Sri Lanka and has over 2,000 years of history. The caves are richly painted and house many statues and murals dedicated to Buddha.
The temple is high up a hill and there are a fair few steps to climb before you reach it. As you arrive, you’ll need to take your shoes off and head to the caves.
Top Tip: I found the rocks really hot underfoot here. I’ve researched it since and, apparently, you are allowed to bring socks with you. In hindsight this would have helped as my feet were definitely burning as I walked to the temple.
More Things to Do in and Around Habarana:
Take a Boat Ride on Habarana Lake
Lots of hotels offer boat rides across Habarana Lake. We saw lots of birdlife here, especially kingfishers, hornbills and even white-bellied sea eagles. There were also water monitors here and even muggar crocodiles. Don’t let that put you off though – crossing the lake by canoe is an amazing experience.
Hike Ritigala Monastery Ruins
If you haven’t gotten enough of temples, check out Ritigala. This is an old monastery which is nestled deep in the jungle. It is not as popular as Sigiriya and so it still maintains a lot of its mysterious charm.
Explore Minneriya or Kaudulla National Parks (Seasonal Elephant Gatherings)
If the eco-park is a bit too crowded for your taste, the National Parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla are not too far away. Depending on the season, there are elephant gatherings which happen here and in high numbers. This is further afield than the eco-park and costs more to enter, however they can rival Yala in terms of Biodiversity.
Enjoy a Show at the Cultural Centre
One of the most unexpected things we did in Habarana was watching a Cultural Show. These run regularly and feature traditional dances performed by local artists. The show runs from 19:00 for one hour and it is well worth the money to watch. However, do not sit on the front row as the fire dancing will produce a lot of smoke.
Take a Sri Lankan Cooking Class
The food in Sri Lanka is on another level. Thing Indian food, but fruitier and with a bit more spice and flair. One of the best things to do in Habarana is a cooking class and it is what I wish I had done more of. Many hotels offer this, as do local homes. Just ask your guide to help you out.
Watch the Sunset from Pidurangala Rock
The best views of Sigiriya are from Pidurangala Rock. Despite this, it is surprisingly crowd-free and is a great place to watch the sunrise or sunset.
Spot the Elusive Slow Loris
Did you know that the slow loris lived in Sri Lanka? I didn’t either before my guide mentioned it to me. These nocturnal primates can be seen on a night walk through the forests near Habarana. They are quite shy and rare, so you might need some luck to see one. However, if you do see them it will be well-worth it.
Final Thoughts | What to do in Habarana
Habarana was a travel highlight for us. It let us get to know to real Sri Lanka and we created so many memories on this part of our 2 weeks in Sri Lanka. I think that I’ve covered all of what there is to do in Habarana, however if you have any questions just let me know. I always love hearing from you.
