Founded in 1877 by British Governor Sir William Henry Gregory, this is Sri Lanka’s largest museum housed in a gleaming neo-Baroque building. The museum takes visitors through each of Sri Lanka’s historical kingdoms with displays of art, carvings, statuary, and colonial-era artifacts. Highlights include the regalia of Kandyan monarchs – the crown jewels and throne of the last King of Kandy, along with antique demon masks, 19th-century paintings, and the magnificent 9th-century Bodhisattva Sandals. An essential stop for understanding Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage.