Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ancient sites near Colombo
1 archaeological and heritage site within 800 km of Colombo, closest first. Distances are straight-line (“as the crow flies”); road journeys are longer.
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151km
Sigiriya
Sri Lanka · 5th c. CE · UNESCO
Gardens, frescoes and a lion-gate stairway leading to a palace in the sky.
Nearest town: Dambulla
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1,006km
Hampi
India · 14th–16th c. CE · UNESCO
Temples, bazaars and royal enclosures scattered across a landscape of giant boulders.
Nearest town: Hosapete
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1,916km
Lothal
India · c. 2200–1900 BCE
A Harappan trading town in Gujarat with a large brick basin often interpreted as a dock.
Nearest town: Ahmedabad
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2,584km
Mohenjo-daro
Pakistan · c. 2500 BCE · UNESCO
The planned city of the Indus — grid streets, covered drains, a great bath, and no palace in sight.
Nearest town: Larkana · Best time to visit: November – February
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2,722km
Angkor Wat
Cambodia · early 12th c. CE · UNESCO
The largest religious monument on Earth, built as a map of the Hindu cosmos.
Nearest town: Siem Reap · Best time to visit: November – February
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2,735km
Harappa
Pakistan · c. 3300–1300 BCE
The first Indus city to be excavated — and the reason the whole civilization is often called “Harappan”.
Nearest town: Sahiwal · Best time to visit: November – March
Day trips and distances from Colombo
What is the closest ancient site to Colombo?
Sigiriya in Sri Lanka is about 151 km from Colombo in a straight line; the nearest town is Dambulla.