Kandy
Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka and lies in the
midst of hills. It is the Capital
of
the Central Province.
It is both an administrative and religious city. Kandy is
the second largest city in the
country and is frequently visited
by Buddhists
especially of the Theravada
School.Kandy is very famous
among tourist for three
main reasons: It is
home to the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha (Temple
of the Sacred Tooth Relic; Dalada Maligawa ), The Botanical
Gardens ( Located
in Peradeniya) and it always
has a special place when it comes
to festivities such as the Esala
Perahara.
Galle
The seaside town of Galle is
116 Km away from
Colombo by road or rail, down the south
coast of Sri Lanka. Both routes
are picturesque, following the
coastline closely for much
of
the way. You can also take
the
Southern Expressway if you need to reach the city
by half the time but there
is not much scenery
to admire.
Today’s town has grown
greatly and spreads into the surroundings but the Fort is the
slowbeating heart of
Galle ‘s history. The walled city has stood since
the early sixteenth century, through the Colonial periods of the Portuguese, Dutch and
British and in our present times is proclaimed as an Archaeological Reserve and has
been identified as a living
World Heritage Site. The
etymology of the name Galle is explained as
probably an altered form of
the Sinhalese word “gala”: a cattle
fold or posting-place from which the Portuguese named it Point-de-Galle. The simpler and
more popular theory is found in the similarity of the Sinhalese
word: gala, for rock, which the Portuguese
duplicated by adopting the Latin word: gallus, for rooster.
They thus designed the coat-of-arms
of the city as that of a rooster
standing upon a rocky perch.Galle Fort Sri Lanka
Nuwara Eliya
This famous upcountry town is situated 1868 meters (6128 feet) above sea level and is in the Nuwara Eliya District. Due to its high altitude, it has a Sub Tropical Highland climate. The average annual temperature varies between 11- 20 C° and the recorded lowest temperature is 0.4 C° and the recorded highest temperature is 27.7 C°. Monthly rainfall varies between 70-225 mm and has an average annual rainfall figure or precipitation of 1900 mm. The maximum rainfall is generally in October and the minimum rainfall is in March. During the year it has a relative humidity between 65%-87%. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Pidurutalagala with a height of 2,527 m (8,292 ft) is very close to this town and can be seen prominently.The distance to the mountain is about 5 Km as the crow flies. During the British period this mountain was called as Mount Pedro. Today the mountain area is a high security zone since the summit is made used for state communication and TV transmission towers. Horton Plains situated south of Nuwara Eliya is a unique Ecological zone of Wet Patana Grassland with a Cloud Forest. The extend of Nuwara Eliya district is 1741 sq. Km. It consists of Nuwara Eliya, Maskeliya, Kothmale, Wapane and Hanguranketha electorates.
Trincomalee
Trincomalee, one of the finest natural deep-water harbours in the world is located 257 km north-east of Colombo,
which is considered as the commercial hub of Sri
Lanka. Trincomalee is home to
the fine beaches of Nilaveli,
Uppuveli and the off-shore
Pigeon Island. Recently Trincomalee
has become popular as a Whale
Watching destination as well.
The Dive centres at Nilaveli
and Uppuveli offer touriststhe
opportunity to enjoy their holidays
in diving, snorkeling and swimming. The Trincomalee
district, referred as
Gokanna or Gokarna in the
historical chronicles and inscriptions, is studded with a multitude of ruins of ancient Buddhist temples and is considered
a major Buddhist
cultural and archaeological
site of Sri
Lanka. The seven hot springs
at Kanniya located a mere
8km fromTrincomalee attract
regular crowds throughout the
year in view of
the therapeutic properties of the
water as well as the varying temperatures
from one well to the
other.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is a major city in
Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central
Province, Sri Lanka and
the capital of Anuradhapura District.
Anuradhapura is one of the
ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient
Sri Lankan civilization. It was
the third capital of the Kingdom of
Rajarata, following the kingdoms
of Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara. The
city, now a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, was the center
of Theravada Buddhism
for many centuries. The city
lies 205 km north
of the current capital Colombo
in Sri Lanka's North
Central Province,
on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. It is one
of the oldest continuously inhabited cities
in the world and one of
the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
It is believed that from the fourth
century BC until the beginning
of
the 11th century AD it was
the capital of the
Sinhalese. During this period it remained
one of the most stable and
durable centers of political
power and urban life in
South Asia. The
ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist
world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over
sixteen square miles
Anuradhapura was first settled by Anuradha, a follower of Prince
Vijaya the founder of the
Sinhala race. Later, it was made the
Capital by King Pandukabhaya at about 380 B.C.According
to the Mahavamsa, the epic
of Sinhala History, King Pandukabhaya’s
city was a model of planning. Precincts were set aside for huntsmen,
for
scavengers and for heretics as well as for foreigners. There were hostels and hospitals, at least one Jain chapel, and cemeteries for high and low castes. A
water supply was assured by the construction of tanks,
artificial reservoirs, of which the one
named after the king itself exists to this day
under the altered name
of
Baswakkulam.
It was during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (250 – 210
B.C.) that the Arahat Mahinda,
son of the great Buddhist Emperor Asoka, led a group of missionaries from North India to Sri Lanka. With his
followers he settled in a hermitage
of caves on the hill of
Mihintale – the name
which derives from Mahinda’s own.The
new religion swept over the
land in a wave. The King
himself donated land for a great monastery
in the very heart
of the city which
was
also his own Royal Park – the
beautiful Mahamegha Gardens.The Buddhist principality had had but a century to flourish when it
was temporarily overthrown
by an invader from the Chola
Kingdom of South India.
The religion, however, received no set-back.
At this time far away on the southeast
coast, was growing up the
prince who was to become the paladin of Sinhala nationalism:
Dutugamunu (161 – 137
B.C)
For his entire martial prowess, King Dushta Gamini must have been
a man of singular sensibility. He built the MIRISAVETI DAGOBA and the mighty
Brazen Palace, which was nine
stories high and presented to the
Mahasanga (order of monks).
But, the RUWANVELI DAGOBA, his most magnificent creation, he
did not live to see its completion.
Dambulla
Dambulla is a big town, located in the Matale District, Central Province of Sri Lanka, located 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy, the Golden Rock Temple a few Kilometers south of the market town of Dambulla, is its most famous and spectacular and the temple is in a cave under a range of granite hillocks which rise 160 meters above the surrounding plains.
Major attractions of the area contain
the largest and best conserved Cave Temple Complex of Sri Lanka, and the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
Statues and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st
century BC. But the paintings and statues were repaired and repainted in 11th, 12th, and 18th century
AD. The caves in the city
provided refuge to King
Valagamba in his 14
yearlong exile from the Anuradhapura kingdom.
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is the main town
of Polonnaruwa District in North Central
Province, Sri Lanka. Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New
Town and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains
as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The second
most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated Chola invaders in 1070 to reunite
the country once
more under a local leader.
The
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared
a World Heritage Site.
Currently the new
Polonnaruwa is under going a major development project known as the "Awakening of Polonnaruwa" under the concept of President
Maithripala Sirisena. It envisions the development of all sectors in Polonnaruwa including roads, electricity, agriculture, education, health and
environment will be developed
comprehensively
Heritage
With a history
expanding over 3000years, Sri Lanka holds some of world’s
ancient cities including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and
Digamadulla; their once glorious townships, palaces, temples, monasteries, hospitals and theaters intricately carved and modeled out of
stone lay and abandoned and forgotten with time amidst the soaring
jungles.
Of all the
ancient cities of Lanka, the
most famed and most exquisite is the Kingdom
of Anuradhapura. Sri Lanka’s
third and the
longest serving capital
and one of the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world is
also one of the most sacred cities of World Buddhists. It was the capital of Sri Lanka from the Fourth Century
BC up to the turn of the eleventh Century and was one of the most stable and durable
centers of political power and urban life in South Asia.
Sigiriya, a
fifth century AD fortress and a water garden displays
some of the most futuristic elements of landscaping and some of the oldest
murals recorded in the country.
Polonnaruwa, the second most ancient kingdom of the country boasts of Irrigation systems that are far superior
to those of the and they still provide irrigation water to the farmers
in and around Polonnaruwa.Digamadulla, the Eastern
kingdom of Sri Lanka was the agricultural and spiritual capital
of the country
during the Anuradhapura kingdom.
Sri Lanka’s last kingdom the Kingdome of Kandy is a testament to the Sri Lankan’s ability to pick up and rise from ashes. After being burned and ravaged more than thrice by the invading Portuguese the Kandyan Kingdom still holds beautifully carved and built houses, palaces and temple preserved for nearly 500 years.
Scenic
Sri Lanka is
filled with romantic landscapes, governed by rising mountains, lush forests, ocean like tanks and gushing
waterfalls, that it was considered the lost paradise by many a globe trotters,
who fell upon the country. The golden beaches of the country had
been praised for their picture postcard views since eternity. The dusk and dawn and many human activities connected to these times of the day creates
a vibrant picture along the coasts of Sri Lanka.
The central highlands of
the island are filled with pictures
of stirring mountains
carpeted with lush green tea gardens,
roaring waterfalls mingling with the clouds
and landscapes shimmering in sunlight and disappearing under the rising mist. Travelling towards the top of the country to the North Central
Valley of the Kings, mountains covered with lush tropical
forests disappears under the glare of the sun giving way to acres of light green carpets of paddy dotted with towering ancient white stupas and fed with oceans like reservoirs locally known as wewa. Giant statues of Lord Buddha rises above the forest line while ancient palaces stand abandoned to the forest, waiting for a master,
who long departed
from life.
On the western coasts of the country
is Colombo, a capital
city of the island,
which displays a rich colonial
heritage. A potpourri of races,
religions and cultures, Colombo parades the best and worst the country
has to offer.
Wild
Despite its small size Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest
rates of biological endemism
in the world whether
in plants or animals and is included among the top five biodiversity hotspots in the world. Of the ninety-one species
of mammals found in Sri Lanka Asian elephants, sloth bear, leopards,
sambar and wild buffaloes engages the majority of the attention of wildlife
enthusiast. Yet the rarest mammals of Sri Lanka are the red slender Loris, Toque Macaque, and Purple-faced Langur, who according to IUCN clarifications are endangered due to habitat
loss.
Meanwhile the ocean around Sri Lanka is
home to
large families of
cetaceans including the mighty
blue whales, sperm whales and lively
dolphins. Altogether 26 species
of cetaceans rule the waters surrounding the country, making it one of the best locations
for whale and dolphin watching. Despite
the mighty elephants and rare amphibians found in the country
birds are the glory of
the Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Boasting nearly 433 bird species of
which 233 are resident
Sri Lanka holds 20 endemic
species while another
80 species have developed
distinct Sri Lankan
races, compared to their cousins
in Indian mainland.
Although less celebrated, Sri Lanka has one of
the richest diversity of amphibians in the world, containing over 106 species of amphibians of over 90 of which are endemic. The country has long claimed to have the highest amphibian species density
in the world with a high concentration in the Sinharaja
rainforest.
Thrills
With varying climates and Geography packed into a
small island Sri Lanka offers a range of adventures from the top of the mountains to the depths of the oceans.
Other than taking a
dip in the oceans
or snorkelling, scuba diving
and surfing are the most popular
beach sports in the country. Scuba diving
has long history in the country.
Today the oceans filled
with coral gardens,
multitude of exotic fishes
and ancient wrecks Sri Lanka offers one of the best diving experiences in the world.
Although comparatively
new to the country surfing too has made its mark in the Southern
and Eastern coasts of the island for the last twenty five years. The sea around Sri Lanka
is also one of the most challenging marine game fishing locations while white water rafting,
Kayaking and canoeing are some of the relatively new water sports practiced in the country.
With multitude of roads winding through expanding mountains, lush green forests, paddy fields,
parks and sleepy villages,
Sri Lanka also offers many opportunities to keen hikers and trekkers. Trail blazing
through the tracks and paths on
horse or elephant
back too is a novel experience introduced recently.
Experience the thrills of
crumbling rocks beneath the feet, head spinning
heights and the earth expanding beneath when conquering many mountains
of Sri Lanka or take over waterfall climbing with exciting climbs like the rock face of Bambarakanda waterfall, the tallest in the country.
With many an adventures packed within few miles of each other Sri Lanka is an adventure itself waiting to happen.
Festive
With a
population composed
with many a races and religions, Sri Lanka is never short of festivals
and celebrations. Every
month brings a celebration either religious or cultural
importance, making Sri Lanka one of the countries with highest number of celebrations and holidays.
The Sinhala-Tamil New year festival in April is the most important cultural festival in the country.
The festival marks the beginning of the New Year and the end of harvesting season. A lengthy
holiday and a table full of
oily traditional delicacies
like kokis, makes the
New Year festival one of the long awaited festivals in the country.
The May full moon poya day or Vesak is the most important religious celebration in Sri Lanka,
where Buddhists celebrate the nativity, enlightenment and passing
away of Lord Buddha with many celebrations. Sri Lankans of every religion
crowd the roads to enjoy Vesak decorations including pandals and lanterns
and
many a makeshift
alm houses that line the roads offering
every food item from beverages, dessert to main meals.
In August are the Esala festivals in Kandy and Kataragama. The Kataragama Esala Festival is a multi-religious festival where devotes use fire walking
and extreme self-penance to shows their piety to Lord Kataragama. The Kandy Esala Perahera or the Dalanda Perahera is the largest
cultural parade
in the world and showcases the best of Sri Lankan
dancing and music and the best of the domesticated tuskers in the country.
Bliss
Sri Lanka had continued to
inspire and heal many who travelled to its shores ever since its existence was known to the world. Many who set foot on the island
had considered it a part of a divine
existence, Sri Lanka still continues
to wrap its charm around its visitors,
capturing their imagination with sights, sounds and flavors. Sri Lankan cuisines are a hidden treat to many while Ayurveda
and meditation continues
to heal the bodies and minds worn out with the cares of life.
The country’s native healing system, Ayurveda
has been perfected over more than
five thousand years. Based on herbs and diet, it
was region’s only treatment method until the introduction of Western Medication in the 19th Century.
Meditation plays a large role in maintaining a perfect mental health. Buddhist meditation mainly deals with right mindfulness, right concentration and right view, three of the Noble eightfold path.
Although it
would not heal your body or mind and uplift your senses to a godly realm, shopping therapy is bound to provide
you with a temporary bliss and Sri Lanka provide
excellent opportunity to immerse in shopping choosing between brilliant jewels and jewelry, finely carved wood, pottery and metal ware, porcelain, batik, spices and tea.
The craftsman ship of the country’s jewelers, weavers, woodworkers
and ivory carvers had amazed the world for
the last three
thousand years ever since their creations were exported to
many a corner of the civilized
word.
Pristine
With nearly 1600 km of of palm fringed Coastline baked to perfection surrounding the country Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for beach bums worldwide. May it be windsurfing, kayaking, yachting, water
skiing, scuba diving or jut lazing
around for the perfect
tan, Sri Lanka offers
it all.
The two monsoon winds providing
rain to the
two corners of the
country at various periods, makes Sri Lanka’s
beach holiday a year round prospect. The north east winds make the south western coast
sunny and the sea calm from November to March. The South West winds make the East Coast waters quiet with the constant
sun shine happily in agreement.
The best of the Southern beaches include Tangalla, Beruwala, Mirissa, Bentota and Unawatuna with varying options including chic boutique hotels, glowing coral reefs, gentle sandbars and undiscovered corners of paradise.
Although Sri Lanka’s southern beaches
has been long discovered by the international
traveller the east coast is yet to be fully
discovered. The most known among
the Eastern beaches is the Arugam
Bay, the high church of surfing enthusiasts’ in the region.
Once a mere rumour, Uppuveli beach is also open to the sun seekers after a three decade long civil war.
On the Western corner of the country to the north of Colombo
is the Negambo
lagoon. Its beaches, an old favourite with
local and foreign
visitors and lagoon famed for lobster
harvesting. Despite having a ring of sandy beaches surrounding the country, Galle Face Green,
a half a kilometre stretch
between Galle Road and Indian
Ocean is the playground of the Colombians.
Despite its fame as a resplendent island and a leading tourist destination,
the secret of Sri Lanka’s
attraction lies with
its people. The spice addicted, cricket crazy and tea drinking people of Sri Lanka are famed for
big smiles and a bigger
heart. With a culture enriched with three thousand
years of knowledge, Buddhism and many a colonial
traditions, the Sri Lankan society is a potpourri
of religions and races different yet similar in many a ways.
The Sri Lankans
all love their food spicy and their
tea light; an unavoidable
for a country, which produces the world’s best spices
and tea. Introduced to the country in the 19th century by colonial
British Ceylon tea is the best tea in the world while Sri Lanka has
also been known for its high quality spices since time immemorial.
In Sri Lanka, cricket is the ultimate passion which draws all the Sri Lankans
together irrespective of caste,
race and creed.
Other than tea and cricket, gems especially blue sapphires is synonymous with Sri Lanka. Country’s gem industry has a
long, colourful history.
Known also as ‘Rathnadeepa’ or the
land of gems Sri Lanka had
been producing brilliant
blue Sapphire and red rubies among many other. Along with gems, Sri Lanka had been exporting fine crafted ivory to
many royal courts of Europe.
Many dainty treasures carved by local artists
in ivory are found in the museum in Europe
standing witness to the local skills,
which is still found after being handed over father
to son.
Wild
Despite its small size Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest
rates of biological endemism
in the world whether
in plants or animals and is included among the top five biodiversity hotspots in the world. Of the ninety-one species
of mammals found in Sri Lanka Asian elephants, sloth bear, leopards,
sambar and wild buffaloes engages the majority of the attention
of wildlife enthusiast. Yet the rarest mammals of Sri Lanka are the red slender Loris, Toque Macaque, and Purple-faced Langur, who according to IUCN clarifications are endangered due to habitat
loss.
Meanwhile the ocean around Sri Lanka is home to large families of cetaceans including the mighty blue whales, sperm whales and lively dolphins.Altogether 26 species of cetaceans rule the waters surrounding the country, making it one of the best locations for whale and dolphin watching.
Despite the mighty elephants and rare
amphibians found in the country
birds are the glory of the
Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Boasting nearly 433 bird species
of which 233 are
resident Sri Lanka holds 20
endemic species while another 80 species
have developed distinct Sri Lankan races, compared to their cousins
in Indian mainland.
Although less celebrated, Sri Lanka has one of
the richest diversity of amphibians in the world, containing over 106 species
of amphibians of over 90 of which are endemic. The country has long claimed to
have the highest
amphibian species
density in the world with a high concentration in the Sinharaja
rainforest.
Whale Watching
The ever smiling, mischievous
dolphins will put on a show while some of the oldest and the largest sea creatures, the humpback and the blue whales,
will nonchalantly glide past you, when you embark on a whale/ dolphin watching excursion off the Southern, Eastern
or the West coast of Sri Lanka. The ideal locations
for whale watching would be Dondra Point (accessible from Galle, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa) and Trincomalee while the sea off Kalpitiya
teems with an abundance
of dolphins.
Tourist Shops
Take a
small piece of Sri Lanka, may it be a
fabulous gem, exquisitely carved jewelry, a mask or a batik creation, to keep the
fire of this paradise
island forever with you. Choose from a large number of Sri Lanka Tourism
authorized merchants to ensure the quality of
your purchase and a standard
price range.
10 Good Reasons to Visit Sri Lanka
If golden beaches, rising waves, misty mountains, mighty elephants, stealthy leopards, giant whales, a majestic
past, lovely tea and warm smiles could sum up a country,
that would be Sri Lanka.
With many sites
and scenes bottled
up in to a small island,
a traveller could be riding the waves in the dawn and admiring
the green carpeted mountains
by dusk. Travel destinations in Sri Lanka provide an array of holiday experience from sun kissed
beach holidays to a marathon
of wildlife watching,
adrenaline pumping adventure sports and pilgrimage to some of the oldest
cities in the world.
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