Polheena Estate
January 19th, 2012
The Beach Hut
August 1st, 2011
Kadju House
June 2nd, 2011
Lansiya
June 2nd, 2011
Attractions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka encompasses in its small size the best of the exotic east, from ancient temples and religious festivals to its awe-inspiring rich culture and traditions. Adding to these are the seductive beaches, magnificent landscapes, lazy lagoons, imposing mountains, abundant wildlife and ecologically wonderful forests not to forget the wondrous people, who are always ready to welcome you to explore the island that is Sri Lanka.
Sightseeing in Sri Lanka
The long and vibrant history is well reflected in its seven UNESCO heritage sites. Visit the ancient sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Panduwasnuwara or browse through The National Museum, housing artefacts and providing a glimpse of Sri Lanka's unique culture. Travel through the capital city Colombo with its exotic smells and the impressive array of goods traded in the Pettah bazaar district. If it is calmness that you seek, seafront in Galle or the peaceful lake town of Kandy is for you.
Leave the cities and towns and trek into Yala National Park and up Sigiriya or Adam's Peak. If you just wish to relax, let go, and just laze away the hours, spend time of the sandy beaches stretching hundreds of miles. Though the list of sightseeing opportunities is exhaustive, here are some places you must definitely see.
National Museum
Established in 1877, this is Sri Lanka's oldest museum boasting a massive collection of antiques and objects d'art, which defines the cultural heritage of the island. Exhibits include artefacts from archaeological sites all over Sri Lanka, and more than 4,000 ancient palm leaf manuscripts.
Pettah
Browse through Colombo's bazaar district, the Pettah. Shopaholics can wander through the hustle and bustle of whole streets dedicated to selling a particular type of merchandise, from local handcrafts to brand name clothing.
Zoological Gardens
The zoo in Colombo has an impressive collection of animals, birds, reptiles and fish from all over the world. What is of particular interest is the fauna of the island. The zoo also includes an aquarium, the only one of its kind in Asia, showcasing more than 500 varieties of aquatic life. There is also a walk-through aviary, reptile enclosure and butterfly park. You can also see the elephant show, which takes place daily at 5.15pm.
Anuradhapura
The remains of the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura can be seen about 130 miles (205km) north of Colombo. Today, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these remains stand majestically in the jungle that for generations hid away the palaces, monasteries and monuments dating back to the third century BC. Anuradhapura was the capital of the island for more than 10 centuries, until an invasion in 993. The reason why it is considered scared is that it was initially found around a fig tree grown from a cutting of Buddha's 'tree of enlightenment'. Today, the remains of the city consist of several magnificent dagobas (domes built to enshrine sacred relics), sculptures, carvings, ruined palaces and monasteries, bathing ponds and irrigation tanks.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Around 50 miles from Colombo in the green hills of Kegalle, you’ll come across this elephant orphanage where you can see elephants roaming about freely. Spread across 25 acres, the sanctuary is also a rehabilitation center for lost, abandoned or injured elephants.
Adam’s Peak
The majestic mountain peak rises to a height of 7,297ft (2,224m) over the island and is known as Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak. It has been venerated as a place of pilgrimage and worship for all major faiths for many generations. There is a foot print on the rock summit and going by the beliefs it could have been of Buddha, Shiva, St Thomas or even Adam after he was expelled from Eden. Whether you believe it to be holy or not, do climb to the see the protected enclosure of simply to enjoy the panoramic views. The stairway up the mountainside is considered to be the longest in the world.
Galle
The port town of Galle, located about 60 miles (100km) south of Colombo is dominated by the 36-hectare (89-acre) Dutch Fort, built in 1663, with its massive ramparts on a promontory. This UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses in its walls Galle houses, Dutch homesteads, museums and churches. It was the Portuguese who first made it their home, followed by the Dutch and finally the British who took over in 1796 till Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.
Apart from the natural attractions and historic sites, Sri Lanka boasts a host of contemporary tourist attractions such as luxurious Ayurveda spas and broad-based shopping opportunities. Sri Lanka has become one of the world’s most popular destinations to get married and enjoy a honeymoon and catering to their accommodation needs are a wide range of vacation villas and cottages to suit all group sizes, budgets and needs.
Water activities in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has more than 13,000 km of coast line, warm 28 degree waters and marine life that is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef. It is little wonder then the island is considered to be an ideal location for water sports and activities.
The best place for water sports is without doubt the town of Bentota on the West Coast, which is approximately 2.5 hours south from the airport. The area benefits from a large flat estuary at the mouth of the Bentota Ganga, which ensures safe waters all year round for water activities such as wakeboarding windsurfing, waterskiing, banana rides, donuts, kayaking and jet ski.
Beaches
Sri Lanka’s best coastline extends from Negombo in the northwest to Trincomalee in the northeast, meandering through miles pristine beaches in the south coast and the deeper south of Sri Lanka.
The southern coastal specially has absolutely stunning sandy beaches dotting the Indian Ocean. There are a number of lagoons here that make this area safe for all-year round swimming. One of the best beaches is to be found in Bentota while the one in Hikkaduwa is famed for its corals and water-based activities like diving and snorkelling. The south coast receives south-west monsoon from May to September, so the best time to enjoy the south coast beaches are from November to April.
Unawatuna too boasts a beautiful stretch of safe sandy beach and so does Kudawella. In fact, a novel feature here is a blowhole that throws huge columns of water into the air when ocean waves break on the rocks. The Kirinda beach just south of the town of Tissa is renowned for offering spectacular scuba diving opportunities.
Whitewater rafting
Sri Lanka has hundreds of rivers and small streams that originate from hills and offer excellent water sports facilities. You can enjoy white water rafting in Kelani, which boasts seven high quality, class III rapids and warm water. It is perfect for beginners and the experienced rafters. Another popular destination is the Sitawaka River and Avissawella, which has more challenging section of class III-IV rapids than Kitulgala. This stretch of river is runable only during high water levels, during the monsoon season. The lower section of river makes for a fabulous half day family raft trip, whereas the upper section has some challenging rapids for those seeking a more exhilarating ride.
Sea kayaking
There are several trips that begin from Bentota, a small coastal town where fishing is a livelihood for many people. You can begin the day by paddling up the coast towards Beruwala. By mid-afternoon, you’ll reach Light House Island where you can stop for lunch and enjoy some snorkelling in the coral gardens around the island. You can then take the kayaks around and head back to the hotel for the evening.
Diving & snorkelling
There are several dive sites along the coastline with beautiful corals housing a varied number of fish species. The more adventurous divers can also explore the dozens of ship wrecks, which litter the coastline. Hikkaduwa and Tangalla on the west coast and Unawatuna on the south coast are perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Surfing
The South west coast of Sri Lanka is an ideal destination for surfing between November and April when the north-easterly winds are most likely to coincide with the big southwest groundswell. You can choose from many great surf spots all within easy distance from each other. Check out the reefs at Hikkaduwa, Main Reef and Inside Reef. The colonial town of Galle has some good left breaks near the jetty just outside of town, and a bit further east, Koggala has some excellent left-handers when the swell is on.