Within the cultural triangle of the country, with numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Anuradhapura is the most intriguing place to visit in the plains of the Island. As the 1st Capital of ancient Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura is full of places of interest for the discerning traveler. Amongst the attractions are the eight (8) Buddhist Temples that are commonlyvisited in Anuradhapura are : 1. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya – Holy Shrine & site of the first sacred Bo tree 2. Thuparamaya – Monastery 3. Lovamahapaya – Brazen Palace 4. Ruwanvelisaya, 5.Mirisaveti. 6. Abayagiri, 7. Jetavanaramaya, 8. Lankaramaya.In additionto these holy sites, there are awesome gardens, stone carvings, paintings, inscriptions, ancient ruins, herb gardens, royal spas, tanks & vats to collect &streams to convey water to distant fields, courtyards & mysterious drawings that arouse the scientific curiosity of the visitor. Ratnaprasada (Gem Palace), Isurumunia (Unreal Granite, Marble& Stone Sculptures by the ‘Tissa’ Lake), Samadhi Buddha Statue, Ancient Ruins of the 4th Century BC, Ritigala Forest, & the alluring 3rd ‘Stargate which has been discovered after Egypt & Peru, at Ranmasu Uyana Royal Park, Anuradhapura. The inscriptions depict the concentric circles required to portray the planets of the solar system with the sun at theepicenter. This & other diagrams of the universe & mysterious creatures have been carved into the rocks where there are awesome regal gardens & bathing spas of the primordial monarchs who ruled the islefrom Anuradhapura since the 2nd Century BC.
The ‘Surfers Paradise’ of Sri Lanka, but twice as unpretentious. The discreet atmosphere here welcomes one to expect less surfers & beach enthusiasts since it is certainly difficult to get there, as there aren’t any direct roads to reach this hideaway on the east coast. So it is still non touristic withIncrediblyExtensive Golden Beaches to trudge, sun bathe, sun tan, watch the surfing or just chill out. The laid back atmosphere enables one to relax & perhaps read a book or just kick back & unwind. Tall waves attract surfers from all over the world especially from down under. Plenty of seafood at budget prices for the perceptive traveler to indulge. Crocodile Rock, Peanut Farm, Pasarichenai & Pottuvil Point Beaches are almost deserted as surfers aren’t attracted to those beaches. Lagoon Safari is not too far to see a large variety of wildlife& indulge in riding on Elephants. There are splendid beach parties withcool music in the night to have lots of fun. Those who prefer a quiet night can watch how the frogs, crickets & fire flies get into sync either gnawing, screeching or lighting on & off, having begun to do what they adore to do after sunset, gnawing, screeching or lighting randomly at various places. These are some anomalous creatures that get into sync like flocks of birds or shoals of fish happen to suddenly turn altogether simultaneously. This phenomenon of synchronization is a show that awaits the discerning traveler. The Mangrove bushes enable fireflies to proliferate. All others just adore their habitat.
A Quiet hill station,at over 2000 meters above sea level, is full of rolling hills, large tea fields, pine forests &plenty of winding nature trails& essentially non touristic. Originally a tea collection station during the British period when they exported tea leaves to the auctions in London. There are water falls – Ella Thota is nice, the others aren’t named yet, colonial style tea factories, lovely European style bungalows, lakes & crystal clear water streams, creeks & brooks. It’s ideal for hiking numerous nature trails through huge tea estates, pine forests, lakesides – lake Panangala near Aislaby Estate is a picturesque freshwater lake, ideal for fishing & bird watching& plenty of natural reservations. A new manmade lake has been created at its north western border with Welimada which attracts plenty of birds to the area, so it’s becoming a popular destination for bird watching & fishing at the lakeside. A Japanese temple conducts subtle meditation classes in the quiet Malwatte area near the Aislaby tea estate & factory located 7 km north of the town. Most of the colonial bungalows left behind by the British in this area has been converted to plush guest houses to accommodate the increasing number of foreign guests arriving to the most preferred value for money destination on the planet.
Well known for its pristine honey coloured beaches, Bentota is home for numerous five star resorts, hotels &Ayurveda wellness resorts for healing, convalescence, health & beauty treatment which includes the chic Robinson Resort in an atoll across the lagoon, lake, river & the sea. Plenty of estuaries in the area attract birds to sing, fish, fishing enthusiasts &wildlife including iguana numerous varieties of tortoise & crocodiles. Saman Villas by the Laccadive Sea, Gardens of Bevis Bawa, Kosgoda Turtle Sanctuary, River Safaris, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boat rides to Cinnamon Isle are some attractions here. Plenty of boat rides take the discerning traveler throughout the numerous estuaries in the vicinity as the river & lake discharge its contents to the sea while the sea reciprocates on high tide. Great place for banana boating, water sports like jet skiing, speed boats, wake boarding, paddle boarding, Kite Surfing, sea plane rides, wind surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling,lagoon fishing, bird watching & observing small creatures getting into their regular synchronization, as there are millions of creatures such as crickets, frogs, fruit flies, dragon flies& fireflies who get into sync every night. There are a small number of stilt fishermen in their meditative angling in this organic settlement. A fisherman was observed to be catching far more than several others in the vicinity, when the others went to check how he was excelling, they found that he was using barbequed worms as bait.
Idyllic deserted beaches attract a selected few travelers to relax & enjoy the tranquility far from the crowded beaches elsewhere. There shouldn’t be any exaggeration of the beaches in Beruwela as any excess written about these deserted coastlines would result in crowds of enthusiasts pouring into these once reserved shores which could get overwhelmed with too many people. Still non touristic beaches and offering boat rides to Barberyn Isle across the shore is an interesting attraction of Bentota. Ventura Beach, Moragalla Beach, The Lighthouse, Confifi Beach, Kaluwamodara Bridge, Galapatha Rajamaha Vihara / Temple& Dedduwa Lake are exciting attractions Beruwela is popularly known for the Gem Fairs held not too far from town. Devoid of tickets or charges anyone is welcome to attend these daily fairs organized by sellers & buyers of gems mined elsewhere such as Ratnapura, Kahawatte & Kuruwita, not too far from the coast. There is a 17th century white limestone color Mosque known as Ketchchimalai, built besides the ocean by a Persian missionary which is worth visiting as the architecture is simply appealing.
It is located in the south east of the Island, besides the Kumana Bird Sanctuary and the Yala National Park, the oldest known National Park in the world. Bundala National Park is an Internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors more than 197 species of birds including migrating greater Flamingo, which migrate in large flocks to take a well deserved break from flying across long distances of the seas, bays and the Indian Ocean. Bundala N.P. is an amazing maze of lakes, estuaries, lagoons, ponds, dunes & waterways which attract birds on inter-continental flights. During sunrise & sunset these wetland waters glitter almost like gold which attracts photographers & travelers. It is home for the insignificant little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed stalks. Birds come all the from Siberia & Mongolia and India to winter here in this Park. It is also home for civets, giant squirrels and plenty of crocodiles. Marine turtles including ‘olive ridley’, ‘green leatherback’ & ‘loggerhead’ lay their eggs on the coast of Bundala. Many big mammals such as hippopotamus, wild buffalo & elephants live side by side the two legged ones.
The deserted Beach is the main attraction in Chilaw as the Traveller who needs the space to chill, looks out for such off the beaten track destinations to find relief from the stresses of life, truly unexploited & non touristic. Chilaw Beach Park, Chilaw Sand Spits, Udaandaluwa Lake & the three main Hindu Kovils / Temples 2 of which are connected to the Ramayana Epic are the main attractions of Chilaw. A sleepy old town on the north western coast, north of Negombo, south of the border to the ‘Wilpattu National Wildlife Park. It is used as a stepping stone to begin expeditions to the Dry Zone National Wildlife Park in the vicinity. Fishing, sunbathing, water sports & bird watching are the most popular destinations from the town. As the beaches are deserted, it’s nice &quiet, so it’s certainly a nice hideaway to kick back & chill &to be very far from the crowds.
Since Chilaw remains unexplored, there is a lot that can happen in the future. The Whale & Dolphin watching is not too far from the sea & there are reasonable chances that the Whales & Dolphins move further south from where they are being watched currently in the vicinity of Kalpitiya approximately 30 km north of Chilaw.
The capital of the Dazzling Isle of Sri Lanka, Colombo welcomes one & all to Sri Lanka & invites everyone to take a look at its new ‘Lotus Tower’ built to take a panoramic or King’s view of the city. It’s the 19th tallest in the world & 260 meters above sea level with a revolving restaurant, panoramic view, plenty of entertainment including a digital art gallery included in it. The Colombo area was formerly a collection of estuaries full of water with lakes, canals, rivers, lotus ponds and other waterways. The locals had left the area for the birds, fishes & other creatures to be in their natural habitat in their cool environment. It was accidentally settled by the colonial powers to expedite shipping, trading & export of spices, tea, rubber & coconuts conveyed from the remote inland plantations of the Island. Since the area was full of water, they had convenient access from the ocean, so that they can bring their boats from the sea to land & load their produce. Colombo Museum exhibits some of the historical artifacts that have been salvaged after the fall of the monarchy, independence & those archeological remains that get unearthed in modern archeological finds. The water park near Awissawela is a fun place to play & chill especially for kids as the water can cool off all the heat & humidity prevalent in the air. The Galle Face Green near the old parliament is an open air recreation esplanade to relax especially in the evening. Soft blowing or a comfortable squall is always there to cool off a tiring day of activities. A true blue green space attracts the perceptive enthusiast, especially parents with kids & families to chill.
As the largest cave temple in the world, the Rangiri Cave Temple is packed with ancient Murals & art works. Thousands of Buddhist Paintings, Murals & Carvings from the 2nd Century BC onwards are preserved in large caves atop the granite hill. It is easily accessed from the main Colombo – Anuradhapura main road & thousands of pilgrims from all over the island come to pay their homage to this magnificent exhibition of murals, carvings & Buddha statues displayed in this 2000 year old cave temple. It is a nice reasonably moderate climb to the top passing lush greenery of the dry zone forest with plenty of woodapple trees, flowers & medicinal plants cultivated by the detached & quiet Buddhist monks in meditation& numerous vows in order to attain the heights of Nirvana. Most of the steps to the temple are carved on the granite rock that holds this jewel of the works done in the name of the Lord Buddha in this north western province, in the vicinity of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress& Pidurangala. The wind attracts Hot Air Balloons to the area & it is an awesome sight when the balloons are up in the air blowing away over the green plains.
This is the most popular hiking, climbing & trekking destination in the hill country apart from the numerous non touristic destinations. Known for the 2nd Destination for the highest concentration of Oxygen after Switzerland, it is the place for endurance. There are numerous nature trails with fragrant flowers, to hear continuous chirping of birds, medicinal herbs & friendly animals on these awesome paths. Some of them lead to the popular hills such as, the easy to climb ‘Little Adam’s Peak, Eagle Rock, Meditation hill, Namunukula & the hard to trek ‘Ella Rock’. Ella Rock was found by foreign travelers in order to hike challenging hills in their short vacations. It is a 7 km hike from town, the last 2 of which is strenuous, at this ‘halfway’ point at approximately 1100 meters above sea level the climate changes to a nippy 18° C. All of a sudden the vegetation changes to an awesome light green, the sweat disappears & the trail takes one from 1 hill to another & on the way, on the right, one can see a similar view like that of ‘Kashmir Gardens’ & on the left side is the magnificent ‘Little Adam’s Peak’ in all its beauty. Foreign travelers claim that it appears somewhat like an image of ‘Machu Pichu’ in Peru. After the steep climb to the top, one arrives onto a flat meadow of about 2 acres, with clear streams, ancient flower beds & a pond for bathing & freshwater creatures, on the precipices are the viewpoints. From which are the views of the town, mountain ranges & the awesome Ravana Water Falls cascading down from 4 tiers. This flat peak top like in Sigiriya, is believed to be an ancient palace garden. Locals have their story which indicates that ‘King Ravana lived there building his Aircraft with peacocks’ & flew to hills in the vicinity to test them.
A somnolent old town on the south-west coast of the magic Isle. Formerly the capital with a natural harbor during the time of the Portuguese before the British changed the Capital to be Colombo. Apart from the dazzling beaches at Unawatuna Bay, Kaluwella (black sand), etc. it is full of attractions including the Madhu River for boat excursions. The Galle Dutch Fort ( A UNESCO World Heritage Site ) is one of numerous attractions to visit. Originally built by the Portuguese, it was renovated by the Dutch & restored by the British replete with green ramparts, stone bunkers & Stone Park benches. A stroll down the stone paved roads springs one the feeling of being in Rome, the architecture of the old buildings of this Fort are predominantly European. The old fashioned courtyards & sidewalks of the built up area of the little town offer the eyes, the comfort of ‘space’ to enjoy what one looks at & ‘see’ it. Stone parapet walls serve to classify the distinct areas of the ramparts, so are the massive walls on the perimeter of the fort, built high enough to protect it’s ‘residents’ from any attacks by adversaries. There are dungeons built in the basements to contain trespassers or prisoners. On the green ramparts there are canons placed at strategic locations. From the eastern rampart, one can see the picturesque Galle International Cricket Stadium. Unawatuna bay is a wonderful beach like a swimming pool about 9 km from the town. Great place for snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing, wind surfing, sun bathing, sun tanning & other activities of a great beach. Kaluwella is a deserted tranquil beach with black sand 4 km from town.
Together with Minneriya the two offer memorable Elephant Safaris in the dry zone plains of the splendid isle. It is in the vicinity of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & Sigiriya within the cultural triangle, it hosts numerous herds of Elephants who migrate between Kaudulla National Wildlife Park & Minneriya National Wildlife Park and the estuaries in the vicinity. Habarana Lake is a deserted lakeside for a tranquil stroll, Pidurangala Hike & Hurulu Forest Reserve are some of the attractions of Habarana. Here some of the baby Elephants from the wild are rounded up, caught, chained & tamed using food as the reward. Depending on the attitudes of the keeper the little Giants get used to the surroundings in captive custody they become helpless, giving up the idea of going back to the wild, they stay put with whatever is given as food, ‘without crying tears’. They learn very fast getting familiar with the ‘mahout’, perceiving the language (which sounds like : “Ali dah, Ali dah, dah Ali dah” ) they’re taught how to do a variety of tasks through numerous coaching & training techniques to do simple tasks at the beginning & eventually to dance, play, parade on the road etc. & if they stay long enough the maturing ‘winners’ get the prized task of carrying people on board their backs.
Known for its deserted pristine white sand beaches, to relax and unwind. The dry zone Botanical Gardens at Mirijjawela, Hot Springs at Mahapelessa, Ussangoda National Park, Walawe River Safari, Mulkirigala Rock Temple, Sithulpahuwa Buddhist Monastery with the hanging rock & the uninhabited beaches are the major attractions of Hambantota. A good place to buy curd which is pre-cheese like yogurt but made of buffalo milk, plenty of salterns – where iodized salt is made, plenty of places where the ancient pottery wheel is still used to create clay pots with bare hands, powerful winds in the area has attracted modern wind turbines to generate electricity & it also implies that it is a suitable coast for a potential place for hot air ballooning, wind surfing & water sports including wave surfing on the southern coast. Lush green Paddy fields, vegetable & herb gardens are in abundance with every hue of green in this remote coastal town. It has a modern international airport, a newly built port, a connecting highway to Colombo, an extraordinary convention center, an international cricket stadium & brand new public buildings in efforts to create a new Capital to replace Colombo.
Awesome Beaches, islands like Seenigama, Coral Gardens, Moonstone mines, & the tranquil lake in Hikkaduwa are the major attractions. Seagulls & Crows are flying all over the seashore. One doesn’t miss this magnificent sight of the birds in the picturesque Hikkaduwa beach in this paradise isle. The black crow or Raven crowing to signal anything edible to their mates. This noisy black bird is the oldest known garbage picker provided by nature, since the time of the ancient kings and before. One of the first destinations for foreigners traveling to Asia to check out is the golden sandy beaches, sunshine, a variety of corals, blue-green colored Sea, cheap cabanas, food & elegant music. It became popular in the seventies during the time of rock & roll, hippie culture & the turning point towards alternative schools & thought. Nowadays Hikkaduwa has lost most of the potential guests to other up & coming destinations in the southern coasts. Places like ‘Why not’ has survived a number of hard times like the ‘Tsunami’, Covid 19 virus pandemic & other undesirable events. “Wedi hiti Kanda” is a popular place of interest, it’s a nice trek up a hill not too far from the sea, enabling a bird’s eye view of the Ocean & the lush greenery of the vicinity.
A horseshoe shaped bay with bluish translucent sea water and white sand with matching sunshine warmly welcomes beach enthusiasts to kick back, relax, unwind & Chill on this uncanny seashore. Tall floating waves emerging from the horizon enable ‘Hiri’, to surface as the next surfing destination in Sri Lanka. Coconut palms reaching out to the Sea surround the beach giving the necessary shade from the midday sun and a ‘cool’ natural beverage for the thirst. Besides the surfing, water sports, sun tanning, beach parties and the other activities one can enjoy on the beach, ‘Hiri’ is also becoming a popular destination for Yoga & Meditation.
The only known Blowhole in the Island, however, it is considered as the 2nd largest Blowhole in the world. When the waves hit the rocky cliff at the edge of the cavern from underneath, the seawater gushes up high up to 25 to 30 meters and with sufficient power to create a gushing sound like “Hooo”, that’s why the locals call it Hummanaya. It gushes out every couple of minutes and happens because of the pressure underneath and there is no beach here as it is occupied by Cliffs and large rocks. There is a good viewing platform to watch this unreal phenomenon and capture nature’s action at a distance.
Long lost for the discerning Traveller to visit due to a long 30 year civil war which ended in 2009 & having effected rebuilding is now open for travel enthusiasts. Fort Jaffna, Elephant Pass ‘where the peninsula is connected to the ‘mainland’’, King Sangiliyan’s Minister’s Manor, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jamuna Pond & Park, Pannai Causeway, Inuvil Kandasamy Temple, Mandaitivu Isle, Sivaboomi Jaffna Museum, Neduntivu Isle, Nagadipa Purana Maha Vihara Temple, Nallur Kandasamy Kovil Temple & Festival, Jaffna Colonial Market, Naga Pooshani Ambal Kovil Temple, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple, Kayts Bridge, Keerimalai Hot Springs, Jaffna Public Library, Kantharoda Viharaya Temple, Naguleswaran Temple, Maruthanamadam Anjaneyar Temple, Kadurugoda Buddhist Temple, Nilavarai Bottomless Well, Katchativu Island, Murikandy Pillayar Shrine, Archeological Museum, Eco Park, Seven Wells Beach, & the Bird Sanctuary are the top attractions of Jaffna. Lately, enthusiastic visitors have begun to trudge through the rubble of the civil war & make some expeditions to some deserted beaches like Casuarina beach, Delft Island of wild horses & Point Pedro beach and had had a tranquil stay, found reasonable accommodation for budget rates, tasted exotic food & visited a number of places of interest. Jaffna is known for its distinct food & drink, which should be tasted to enjoy even during a short stay in the peninsula.
Awesome beachfront with aquamarine colored Sea to match the variety of water sports, dolphin & Whale watching, scuba diving, jet skiing, snorkeling, wind & kite surfing as predominant attractions. The beach long enough to accommodate as many enthusiasts as they come to get horizontal under the sun. The sight of seagulls & other birds is hard to miss. Since it is not too popular, it remains unexplored particularly by local enthusiasts, so it’s almost deserted. This implies that foreign guests can exploit the sun, sand & the water sports that Kalpitiya is emerging to be getting attracted for. Bird watching, playing & waving at Birds is a pastime of the elderly population as there are numerous bird sanctuaries in the vicinity. It’s location on a peninsula in between the Sea & a lagoon brings plenty of wind making it cooler than most other beaches around the other coasts of the island.
Appealing Golden Sandy Beaches are deserted as beach enthusiasts are attracted to the more popular coasts further north or south of here. Located in between the Sea & a massive river (Kalu Ganga), Kaluthara is full of estuaries & lakes. So fishing & boating is a pastime that the locals engage in, & offer rides & fishing gear to guests. The estuaries attract birds, so it’s good for bird watching. Mangrove bushes attract fireflies, so one can see how the frogs, crickets & fireflies get into sync in the nights. It is a Holy place for pilgrims on their way to Kataragama & most of those who travel north or south on the coastal Galle Road (Indian Ocean Blvd) on the western coast, 35 km from Colombo. From the olden days the local traveling public has been making a vow with the Gods to enable a safe journey, & make a nominal donation, whenever they pass the temple at Kaluthara in order to invoke the blessings of the dieties.
The hill capital of the country, 100 km from Colombo & former Capital during the reign of the monarchy. Since it is in the Central Hills, there are numerous roads from which Kandy is connected to all parts of the island. Home of the Consecrated Temple of the Tooth Relic where the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is deposited & displayed, known in Sinhalese as the ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’ located besides the quaint Kandy Lake. Behind this Holy Shrine by the lake is the Kandy Arts Center, where the Kandy Cultural Dance Performance is conducted every evening at 5 pm. The Cemeteries of the British defense forces & leaders who were buried in the Island are located not too far from town. The Royal Botanical Gardens located at Peradenia is 12 km from the town. This Park contains almost every plant, vine, herb, tree, weed or other kind of vegetation which grows on the planet. Highly reviewed by visitors from around the globe, it is a place worth visiting. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage 22 km from town is a very fascinating attraction, where Orphaned Elephants are protected & tamed to help them live out their lives far from the natural but starving wilderness where they’re being picked up from.
A Holy site for devotees of any religion in Sri Lanka. With shrines for devotional worship to connect with any of the ancient deities, it is slow moving. The towering ‘Kiri Vehera’ temple painted in white limestone is difficult to miss, this is where the Buddhist devotees worship Lord Buddha with flowers & fruit. The Kataragama Procession – ‘Perahera’ held around July every year is a special event in the country, as devotees & dancers of every religion take part. During this Holy Procession, devotees walk on the fire, on long stretches of burning firewood & coal, however they emerge out of the fire unhurt without any burns. The same devotees take showers of boiling milk & boiling water and come out unhurt again without any burns. Then these devotees pierce their body with needles, piercing through their cheeks, arms & stomachs, but no bleeding of even a drop of blood is anywhere to be seen. Most foreign travelers who come to see this annual event, claim that this phenomenon is a miracle happening in the island. They love it so much that they hang out in the vicinity to find out how such a supernatural occurrence can happen in modern times. Modern Science fails to find any explanation to this anomaly, which puzzles every researcher & touring Scientist as it defies the laws of nature as we know them. It is certainly bizarre, and entices Travellers to return to watch this annual event every year as it is an astonishing performance and are enticed to join in the procession, find out for yourself, how & why this anomaly prevails.
White Water Rafting, Abseiling, Camping & Hiking are the predominant attractions of Kithulgala for its location besides the towering Horton Plains National Park at over 2300 meters above the ocean level. Situated in the countryside off the main road to Ella & Badulla, besides the river that flows from where the water comes gushing out of two hydro power generating reservoirs : Laxapana & Norton Bridge, is ideal for rafting across the nine rapids & rocky gaps downhill to the 3rd largest river in the country. White Water Rafting is an exciting adventure here at Kithulgala, as one gets to paddle, oar or use the combination paddle & oar rafters, kayaks & canoes to raft over nine rapids in between the lush green surroundings of the Kelani River. It is a glorious ride downstream, while the trekkers hike upstream. All the equipment including helmets, wet suits, dry suits, carbon paddles & life jackets etc. are provided by the organizers who train would-be rafters for free. Being non-touristic, quiet, with access to an abundance of fresh flowing water & large blue/green space, it is an ideal but inconspicuous location for camping. Camping gear can be rented in the neighbourhood for a hideaway from all the hustle & bustle of towns, business and highways.
A Southern coastal town with lovely but deserted beaches is 21 km south of Galle. Packed with estuaries for its proximity to lakes, streams & brooks which attract birds & other harmless animals to the area, is a great place for bird watching. A suitable beach to observe sea turtles emerging from the sea, trudge inland in order to nest on the shore. Other attractions in Koggala are bird watching & boating on the Lake, watching Stilt Fishermen sitting stealthily on wooden poles to catch their share of the abundant fish, visiting Madol Duwa Island off the shore, playing Golf at Eagle’s Catalina Golf Course, Lagoon Herbal Garden & getting a well deserved Spa treatment at numerous Spas besides the beach. A domestic airport attracts passengers bound to southern coastal towns in small aircraft & helicopters. It attracts those looking out for a peaceful stay as the beaches are almost barren, modest & tranquil because most visitors opt to choose the more up & coming destinations further south or north of Koggala.
A popular destination for its awesome wide, long & deserted beaches & its close proximity to the Capital Colombo & the airport highway. Plenty of water sports are an attraction to this ‘long beach’. Negombo Dutch Fort, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Guruge Water Park, Morawela Pebble Beach, St. Sebastian’s Church, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Bird Watching at Muthurajawela Marsh Estuary, Hamilton Canal, Fish Market, Bodhiraja Temple, Blue Lagoon etc. are some of the main attractions in Negombo to visit. A busy fishing Harbour with its hive of activity offers a wide variety of fish and other seafood to town & other towns in the neighborhood. Colonial & Christian influences have left behind numerous pretty monuments & buildings with attractive architecture & grace. A large lagoon, Sea & other waterways enable a substantial catch of fish in order to supply an increasing demand for seafood by large hotels in Negombo & adjacent settlements. The Old Dutch Canal passing through from the north to the south enabled convenient transport of seafood from the very olden days. Still it is an alternative mode of transport of goods & people, especially when the highways get jammed.
A tranquil little settlement in the central highlands located at over 2400 meters above sea level, past Kandy besides the highest mountain Pidurutalagala, which is a unique trekking trail amidst the temperate nature. Nuwara Eliya is formerly a British Tea plantation & loading station. Packed with properties built with British architecture, it appears pleasant although it reflects foreign influence in the land of devil dancers. Beautifully landscaped Parks, Golf courses, Race courses, ponds and lakes in the soothing environment tend to relieve the stressed out people coming from busy lifestyles & hustling schedules from other places. High Tea country creating the finest quality ‘broken orange pekoe’ on the planet, produces the largest quantity of it in the world, in order to enable auctioneers to blend the lower quality Tea supplied by other lands to balance the equation.
Yet another emerging destination for Surfing, like Arugam Bay it is located further north on the East coast south of Nilaveli Beach. Impressive tall waves, in this immaculate shoreline of golden sand & almost green crystal clear Sea water attract the discerning surfer. Due to its ‘not so well known’ name tag, most travelers who R & R here, would want to keep it discreet, vetoing the almost deserted Beach to get crowded. Plenty of beach parties make it a happening destination fully worth going the distance & the crooked way to get there is certainly value for money, as those with two minds aren’t gonna come. So if somehow you manage to get there, keep it modest and have the fun with the least aggregate of holidaymakers.
An Orphanage for tamed wild elephants to be sheltered, fed and taken care of from the shrinking reservations and near starving wilderness of this small island nation. Now a popular destination to watch baby Elephants Play especially with their trunks half full with water, while taking a bath in the Riverside. This is a hilarious & remarkable sight of these gentle Giants as they’ve learned to dance, as they sway on their march behind others on their way to the water. The mature jumbos know why the babes wanna play in the water as they did that when they were ‘tiny’ & have been there before. An exciting attraction especially for kids to laugh, yes hold their stomachs & laugh & learn to be fun. Formerly an insignificant settlement where this Orphanage has been setup to enable these darling wild & Orphaned baby Elephants of the wilderness, to be tamed & cared for.
Yet another UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE Site, within the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka as it holds some captivating attractions on the planet. Amongst the ancient ruins of the dynasties that ruled this land is the awesome sculpture left behind in the Stone Temple ‘Gal Vihara’ complex. This granite carving of a Standing Buddha, a reclining Buddha & the Lord in the ‘Lotus’ position has been created out of one rock hill. It appears that a hill that contains granite has been cleared of all the soil, sand & debris. Then the standing statue has been sculptured where the granite had the highest area of the rock, then carefully they’ve ventured out to carve the ‘sitting Buddha’ with the medium sized area of the rock hill & so on. It is a must see attraction in Polonnaruwa alongside the other ruins, inscriptions & carvings in the vicinity. Vatadage, Royal Palaces, Kiri Vehera Dagoba, Rankoth Vehera Stupa, Minneriya National Park etc. are the other attractions. It is a strict requirement of the authorities, that a specially trained guide equipped with the historical information such as dates, times, names of those who built, carved or inscribed & such other technical data shall accompany the discerning traveler to these sites.
The land of shiny, radiant & colorful Gemstones. That’s what it means in Sinhalese. As the name suggests there is an abundance of colorful stones with luster, which is valuable & available in shops, Gem Fairs, exhibitions & markets for precious stones. Gem mining is a very lucrative trade to be involved in, as one never knows as to when the desirable rock will pass through one’s hand while Washing, cleaning, cutting & polishing the collection of stones unearthed. According to the legendary stories of ancient Sri Lanka, titanic Giants of earlier times had thrown huge boulders at each other while fighting, some of these menhirs containing precious stones had fallen in this Land of prosperity. Most Tours taking guests on other excursions can be requested to take a ‘detour’ to this ‘valuable place’ to enable the discerning traveler to buy some precious stones & to perhaps someday to make a windfall for the canny buyer, out of that purchase.
A Rock Fortress of King Kasyappa during the 12th Century BC is another UNESCO world heritage site. An amazing place to reckon with, a palace garden remains atop the boulder sitting on a rocky hill with water stored in tanks, at the base ready to be pumped, deploying a sophisticated hydraulic system, ‘intriguingly futuristic’ back in that time. The visitor passes the royal gardens with moats of water, ancient flower beds still as lively as new ones. Going up the high steps one enters the courtyards through the ‘Lion’s mouth, a large granite carving. From the courtyards one goes up around the boulder to where the Frescos & the mirror walls are. On the ‘rooftop’ it appears pleasant as everything a monarch should want like an amphitheater to convene meetings with the council, dining facilities, rooms to rest, bathing places, lookout points at the edges, etc. are there replete with nothing overlooked. If a roof is fixed over the columns the ‘palace rocks’, as lively as anything alive. There are a lot more to describe about Sigiriya, however it’s better kept discreet, to enable the visitor to discover them on their own.
Unexploited treasure, far from civilization are these magnificent beaches on the southeast shores of this enchanted isle. The Sea is blue green with cautious waves that reverberate, rebound & recoil on the white sand dunes of this long wide beachfront. Looking on either side it’s almost deserted with a few figures in the distance. This vast Blue/Green space is no comparison to the little sleepy town on to which it provides an enormous quantity of seafood. The villagers are simply fishermen or farmers caught up in their activities to prepare for the next day’s work. Plenty of bays, coves and bayous to be indistinct and far away from everything but with one in solitude to read, unwind & relax.
A remote town far flung from everything that’s happening north & south, located on the northeast of the country with spotted deer roaming in town adds charm to the stroll. Marble Beach, Fort Frederick, Uppuveli (Salt Sand) Beach, Pigeon Island National Park, Koneswaram Kovil with an unreal view of the Ocean, Trinco War Cemetery, Velgam Vehera ruins, St Mary’s Cathedral, 17th C Dutch Mansion, Kali Amman Temple are some of the main attractions to visit in Trinco. The town sits beside the 2nd largest natural harbor in the world. The lagoon attracts plenty of seagulls & other birdlife. The sparkling coastline has no match anywhere around the island. Nilaveli Beach is one to reckon with, with its wary waves so tranquil & soft that one finds peace within. Recommended for honeymooners to relax and unwind in these gentle surroundings. A must see attraction in Trincomalee is the Swami Rock on which is a Temple – a Hindu Kovil. Appears to be a great place, high enough top of a rock hill on the edge of the sea, on the precipice to dive into the Sea.
It is the oldest known National Park in the world. Older than the names that we use to describe it, it is a natural forest where animals thrive for its conditions such as edible vegetation, tropical & dry weather with an abundance of estuaries enable many life forms to exist side by side in this dense forest of large trees, plants, herbs & vines. It is preferable to be silent in this kind of environment, stop talking & begin to listen to the sounds of nature. As the sounds we make are likely to disturb the wild animals, as they can hide or simply disappear when they get perturbed. Lions, tigers, cheetahs & leopards had once lived in here. However, due to the phenomenon of the extinction of species, only the leopards have survived as reveals the survivor series. One would feel fortunate to spot a leopard & it can happen at the spur of the moment, unpredictably, spontaneously. Herds of Peacocks, monkeys & Elephants somehow seem to thrive as they appear on the scene as soon as one enters the park. Others materialize sooner or later as one goes deeper into the forest. The sound of the peacocks somehow seem to be working as an alarm giving the message to others to move away from where they are to run deeper into the wilderness as one drives in all protected.