Sri Lanka – An Ancient Paradise

Moonstone has been mined in these sweltering forests forever and the moonstone mines, little more than muddy rabbit holes, 6m or 7m long, are fascinating as is the process of filtering out the precious stones, cutting them up and polishing them up ready for sale. At the Moonstone Factory, you can see or even go down into a narrow shaft where the stones are mined.

The miners climb down a 10-metre-deep shaft on a frame made of strong coconut wood. A machine pumps out water, but all the digging is done by hand. The buckets of soil that are wound regularly to the surface yield around 50-100 rough moonstones a day, though not all of them are saleable quality. It is believed by the villagers that this piece of land, around an acre in extent, is blessed by the moon.

The ancient trading post of Galle is said to be the famous Tarshish of the Bible. Historically, this award-winning World Heritage fortified township was an essential port of call for Chinese, Persian, Arab and Indian traders. Javanese and Sumatrans came later followed by Marco Polo in 1299 AD. The Portuguese arrived in the 1500’s and built a settlement with a fort of palm trees and mud. This was captured by the Dutch (and finally the British) who built the 400 year old fort with great ramparts and bastions to protect their presence. Narrow streets are lined with old houses displaying Dutch heritage, with their pillared verandahs. Government offices remain in use and the community within the fort is a bustle with daily life – a living-breathing town, hidden within fortified walls of this ancient, maritime citadel.

Laughter, chatter, gossip and smiles abound within the rampart walls. We explore the fort, overflowing with landmarks, strolling past the Dutch church, the governor’s house, the spice warehouses, court square, the Kacheri or Town Hall, the lighthouse and ramparts. Near the old Arab mosque are streets leading to cricket fields and the district Judge’s house, surrounded by ancient frangipani trees. There’s a variety of exclusive boutique stores to explore.

Martin Wikramasinghe Museum

Visit the nearby village of Koggala, the home of Sri Lanka’s most famous author, Martin Wikramasinghe, now a Museum of Folk Culture and local lifestyle, surrounded by eight acres of a restored eco-system with hundreds of varieties of indigenous trees and shrubs in which bird life abounds. There’s a special collection of artifacts and memorabilia offering insight into a world of tradition, integrated and at peace with the environment.

Handunugoda Estate

An estate growing spices and producing the award winning and globally acclaimed Virgin White tea, untouched by hand and deemed the purest of all. The 140 year old eco-friendly estate is rich in flora and fauna. Birds and wildlife, myriad colored reservoirs and fish ponds give it a special atmosphere. Meet with experts here, who takes you around this organic plantation of Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves, Turmeric, Vanilla, Rubber, Coconut and other Spices.

Nuwara Eliya is a mountain station at 1,868 m (6,128 ft) of altitude, in a splendid landscape. The city is particularly well-kept and neat, and the always green grass gives to the locality an aspect of “colonial British style". Nuwara Eliya was built entirely during the 19th century and its architecture mimics that of an English country town, with red-brick walls, country house like hill club and mock-Tudor half-timbering. Blessed with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery; it's hard to imagine that Nuwara Eliya is only 180 Km from the hot and humid Colombo. Temperatures are 14C-21C (Jan- April) 16C-18C (May-Aug) 15C- 18C (Sept-Dec).

We leave for sightseeing at the renowned hill station of Nuwara Eliya, a retreat for British Civil Servants from the heat of the plains. Also known as Little England, Nuwara Eliya is famous for its spectacularly beautiful approach, picturesque landscape and cool climate. Many of its buildings retain features from the colonial period along with a 117-year-old championship golf course, one of the most scenic in the world, nestled between the town and surrounding forested hills.

Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest exporters of tea. Since the introduction of tea to Sri Lanka in mid 19th century, Pussellawa has been in the mids of the tea industry. For many miles prior to reaching Pussellawa Town from either direction you will find acres and acres of tea plantations, in fact, nothing but tea estates. There are many factories open for visitors which also have tea sales outlets.

Kandy was the last bastion of Buddhist political power against colonial invasion. This hill station is remarkable for the natural beauty of its setting in a peaceful wooded valley overlooking a vast artificial lake. The palace, shrines and British period buildings give it a special character, while the Buddha’s tooth relic lends a religious importance to the historic highland capital.

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH RELIC - The famous Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic. Kandy is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world. Built in the 16th century, this temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga province in ancient India in the 4th century AD. Several buildings have been added to the temple complex by successive rulers, the latest being the Golden Canopy over the inner shrine where the Tooth Relic is placed. Originally the Temple was within the King's palace complex as it was the symbol of Royal Authority.

Traditional Kandyan dance includes the cobra dance, mask dance and the Ginisila (showing power over fire). The entire chaotic and colorful spectacle climaxes with an amazing fire-walking act. The dancers wear elaborate costumes, including a headdress, and their chests only covered by a decorative beaded net. The Kandyan dance is traditionally performed to percussion only; the most common drums are the ‘Geta Beraya’ and ‘Yak Beraya’. To assist the dancer to keep rhythm, a small pair of cymbals is used as well as a conch shell…… to announce the arrival of the dancers.

THE ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, formerly the pleasure gardens of Kandyan kings is very impressive as is the 18 hole Victoria golf course, voted the most attractive in the subcontinent and amongst the hundred most beautiful anywhere. A round of golf can be arranged on this splendid undulating terrain, over which the holes are routed, combined with the backdrop of hills and lakes

Like Sigiriya, Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that king Valagam Bahu took refuge from invasions in the 1st century B.C., later turning the caves into a rock temple. Some of its frescoes are over 2000 years old. Another highlight is a colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the living rock, some 15 meters long. The caves have a mixture of religious and secular paintings and sculptures with ceiling frescoes depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life and Sinhalese history.

Minneriya has been a sanctuary since 1938 and features King Mahasena’s magnificent water reservoir from the 4th century, covering 3000 hectares. This important wetland supports paddy fields and many aquatic birds such as painted stork’s and spot billed pelicans.

The Kaudulla National Park, on the edge of the vast Kaudulla Biosphere Reserve and home to large herds of wild Sri Lankan elephants. This important wetland supports paddy fields and many aquatic birds such as painted stocks and spot billed pelicans.

The giant rock fortress of Sigiriya was originally a hermitage for Buddhist monks until it became a bastion and palace in the sky for scorned royal son, King Kashyapa who initially took refuge there. In addition to its impregnable character, Sigiriya became a spectacular royal city with geometrically laid water gardens, fountains and serpentine walkways. While walking up we see 1500 year old frescoes of beautiful maidens, the mirror wall and ancient graffiti. The lion platform and summit of 1.6 hectares was surrounded by buildings during Sigiriya’s glory. It’s around 1200 steps to the summit yielding a spectacular panorama of surrounding jungle and Sigiriya village.

We have the opportunity to assist the mahouts in bathing the elephants by the lake feeding them fruits and countless picture opportunities!

To get to the location, groups will need to walk around 200 meters at a designated point in Dambulla , take a 10 minutes country boat ride to the place of the Elephants & on the return journey we will take a simple tractor ( land master ) ride back to the main road.

ANURADHAPURA - a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the north central part of the Island was the first capital (5th century BC - 9th century AD), the centre of the island's Buddhist civilization and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. In antiquity and the interest, it is the equal of any ancient 'buried city' in the world. The oldest historically documented tree on earth (over 2,200 years old) - The Sri Maha Bodhi, brought as a sapling of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the island's oldest Buddhist shrines - some dating back to the 3rd century BC, impressive white 'dagabas' (relic chambers) and monuments embellished with handsome stone carvings or sculpture, pleasure gardens, beautifully executed stone baths and ponds and a superb irrigation system of reservoirs and canals are the main attractions of Anuradhapura.

Once a chieftain’s mansion,  Ulagalla features a 150-year-old mansion at its centre, with 20 private, ecologically-built villas spread across 58 acres of lush greenery. With its own solar farm generating half of its own energy requirements, Ulagalla is truly a unique boutique hotel in Anuradhapura. Enjoy the ambience of ancient kingdoms or nature-based adventures whilst immersed in luxurious, ecologically-sustainable beauty. The lush environment, stunning landscaping, and exquisite attention to comfort, makes for an unforgettable experience amidst a green oasis. Ulagalla is also just a 30mins drive away from Anuradhapura.

Wilpattu is Sri Lanka’s largest national park with an area of 130,000 hectares. It is also the oldest national park which has been reopened after several years of closure due to the armed conflict in the country. A few decades ago it was Wilpattu that was known ahead of Yala for its Leopard population. A unique feature of Wilpattu national park is that the entire park is dotted with large sand rimmed natural lakes known as “Villus”. The Villus collects rain water and tends to attract wildlife especially during the times of drought.

The main draw in Wilpattu is the leopard and sloth bear. It is also one of the better parks to see barking deer. Wilpattu is bounded to the north and south by 2 main rivers, the Modara Gamaru towards the north of the park and the Kala Oya to the south of the park.

Wilpattu is not only famous for its wildlife but also for its archaeological and historical importance. About 500 years before the birth of Christ it is believed that Prince Vijaya from India and his followers landed in a place called Thambapanni in the North West corner of Wilpattu and formed the Sinhalese kingdom. There are still many archaeological ruins and stories to be told about this and many other fascinating historical events that took place within the borders of what we now call Wilpattu.

The original trading settlers - the Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages, which have been absorbed into the speech of Sri Lankans.