Sri Lanka in August
August is a good time to visit Sri Lanka, though not the very best.
Good time
Shoulder season
Sri Lanka. August. East coast remains excellent. Arugam Bay surf season peaks. The south-west monsoon weakens toward month's end. Kandy Perahera if it extends into August. Whale-watching from Kalpitiya on the north-west coast is good August–October. The Cultural Triangle is accessible but can receive afternoon showers.
Festivals in August
Kandy Esala Perahera Book ahead (approximate dates)
Spectacular ten-night procession of drummers, dancers and decorated elephants in Kandy. Lunar dates, Jul–Aug.
Ten nights of processions ending on the full moon of the Sinhala month of Esala (July or August; a month later in years with a leap month).
Where to go in Sri Lanka
AnuradhapuraAnuradhapura is Sri Lanka's first ancient capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was one of the great cities of the ancient world, housing a sophisticated…
ColomboColombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka, a vibrant port city on the western coast that blends colonial-era architecture with gleaming…
Nuwara EliyaNuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka's highest town at 1,868 metres, a hill station developed by the British as a cool retreat that earned the nickname 'Little England'…
Arugam BayArugam Bay is a small coastal town on Sri Lanka's east coast, consistently ranked among the top ten surfing destinations in the world, with a right-hand point…
PolonnaruwaPolonnaruwa was Sri Lanka's second ancient capital, flourishing between the 10th and 13th centuries AD and home to some of the finest medieval architecture in…
MirissaMirissa is a small beach town on Sri Lanka's southern coast, beloved for its crescent-shaped bay of golden sand, swaying coconut palms, and the best blue whale…
Other places with good weather in August
Sri Lanka all year round
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