The historical and officially recognized cultural and scenic opportunities endow Sri Lanka to become the most sought after Filming Location. Thus, more and more foreign directors are attracted by its various faces. Elling stills ranging from forests to beach fronts to mountains are some of the outstanding sceneries that Sri Lanka presents for shooting of different films . It is, therefore, time to reveal the best scenic shooting destinations in Sri Lanka that inspire movie producers globally.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress as a Filming Location
Sigiriya ranks among the best-known regions of Sri Lanka and features on the World Heritage cultural list. Majestically, the biggest rock structure stands amidst the thick growth of the forest. It provides an opportunity to filmmakers to shoot in front of an ancient majestic setting. Sigiriya which has frescoes and ancient ruins is the right place for shooting dramatic historical and adventure movies. The incredible vistas the top offers are also a limitless source of inspiration.
Nuwara Eliya
It is also known as the ‘Little England,’ Nuwara Eliya boasts of colonial structure merged with green stretches of vegetation. This particular hill station has become well-known for tea plantation, foggy mountains and comparatively colder temperature. It is also ideal for romantic and period scenes, as the latter because the landscape is frequently enveloped in mist. Tea estates showing vast plantations, dedicated to making tea, are also suitable for shoots requiring shots of nature or even thinking shots.
Galle Fort as a Filming Location
Another Example is Galle, which is also a heritage site of the ‘’World Heritage’’ has the same similar attraction of history and sea side view. This is a 16th-century fort which is located around the Indian Ocean. The historical structures in the respective region include cobblestone roads, colonial-style buildings, and energetic citizens, all of which provide an added bonus for a director. The uniqueness of Galle Fort as a location which is fusion of historical background. Maritime views makes the location ideal for shooting both and period drama movies and in the present generation movies.
Ella
Ella is an attractive small town which is located in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. The site attracts many people because it contains beautiful views, lots of trees, and waterfalls that falls down. One of the sights that are widely chosen for shooting is the Nine Arches Bridge. Here one can get a blend of colonial engineering and natural beauty make this city an interesting place to visit. That is why filmmakers adore Ella for its quietude perfect for scenes as drama or romance.
The Horton Plains and World’s End as a Filming Location
Horton Plains National Park has one of the best sights any tourists would wish to see in Sri Lanka. This park has the most amazing feature called the World’s End which is the cliff of about 3,938 ft. It can be seen that this place is perfect for shooting adventure and fantasy movies and can be surrounded by fog and vast meadows and steppes. It is the same reason which makes Horton Plains a perfect backdrop for different nature documentaries due to the peculiarities of fauna and flora in this area.
Yala National Park as a Filming Location
Yala’s main natural attraction is its fauna and flora of which the Sri Lanka leopard is one of the most famous attractions. The park has enormous physical features especially forests, coast, lagoons and this makes it suitable for wildlife and adventure productions. Yala has stunning scenes of natural world, which are proved excellent capture of the filmmakers. The park is very vast and contains big landscapes of nature; this makes it to produce raw scenes which are natural.
Mirissa Beach as a Filming Location
The southern coast line of Sri Lanka has some of the best beach sandy beaches in world one can imagine. Last but not least it is Mirissa beach with the golden sand and blue water ideal for films shootings. It is therefore suitable for production of romantic scenes or even tropical holidays. The other nearby sites that are also probably famous for whale-watching are also quite suitable for nature and wildlife’s cinematography.
Knuckles Mountain Range as a Filming Location
If there is anywhere that defines rugged beauty then the Knuckles Mountain Range hold the trophy in his hand for filmmakers. This one is another world heritage site that comprises of some of the most striking features like forest, waterfalls and deep valleys. One reason people consider this place mysterious and exciting is its distance from the big cities. Filmmakers often describe the Knuckles as the savage frontier, ideal for creating action, adventure, or fantasy films.
Trincomalee
An attractive resort on the southeast coast of Sri – Lanka – has beautiful sand beaches and interesting historical places. The sea is Deep blue, the sand is white and is perfect for directors that want to shoot scenes that depict paradise. The coastal city of Trincomalee has an extensive historic and cultural significance. With monuments as old as temples and more colonial buildings for the shooting of history and culture based movies.
Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth
Sri Lanka’s cultural city is Kandy containing famous temple called Temple of the Tooth. This holy ground offers both a religious and cultural background with the hills in view. The major shots such as the central lake and surrounding mountains. Of the city also give the place a glamour feel for a shooting. Therefore, we can see that Kandy has a rich cultural value and abounds with many festivals that showcase versatility in filming.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is recording as one of the oldest cities and former capitals of Sri Lanka and UNESCO has declared this city in the list of world heritage sites. The city also have several other ruins of stupas, temples and palaces spread across the ancient city. That makes them to be very suitable for period films and documentaries. The broad plains and pre-historic monuments give it an immensely imperial and eternal environment.
Bentota Beach as a Filming Location
Bentota Beach that houses golden sand and tranquil environment has become the most visited place. This type of climate, mostly tropical and beach themed scenes are often shot in this area. Luxury resorts and water sports destination makes Bentota suitable for shooting holiday scenes. The best scenes to shoot with the Indian Ocean as the backdrop are the romantic or serene ones, especially during sunsets.
Conclusion
Like any other filmmaker, I feel excited when I am planning for a movie location, given the fact that Sri Lanka has a vast and diverse geographic features and cultural history. Each place from the old cities to sandy shores . Other landscapes present in the island are superb in terms of natural view. Whether it is an epic period piece. A romantic drama or even a nature documentary Sri Lanka’s leading scenic shooting locations allow for the accrual of every type of movie genre. Not only has Sri Lanka featured in the movies but also with more directors using the location for filming it steadily gains its rightful place in the movie making world.
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