Lying between the more explored parts of India and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka's history, culture, and natural beauty make it an undeniably alluring destination. A historians playground, Sri Lanka has a history that dates back 3000 years and is one of a few places offering as many as eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the world-renowned Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple. Like its massive neighbour India, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, home to many religions, ethnicities and languages. Its size, however, means that visitors can spend time meditating in a 2000-year-old temple in the morning, touring the sacred home of the world's oldest living human-planted tree in the afternoon and savouring mouth-watering local rice and curry dishes for dinner. It is also still blessed with various wildlife that has survived on this small island for centuries alongside this human civilisation, including the mighty Sri Lankan Elephant. A true gem, Sri Lanka has something for everyone - from the modern city of Colombo with its skyscrapers to national parks teeming with elephants and miles of pristine beaches that offer epic surf.
Located in southwestern Sri Lanka just 20 minute drive from Colombo airport, Kotugoda is a charming town surrounded by coconut plantations, rice paddies, and tea fields. The sleepy village makes a perfect laid-back base for trips to the stunning Negombo Lagoon, pristine beaches, wonderful fish markets, and enthralling sacred temples, cultural sites, and museums. Sample local Sri Lankan cuisine such as seeni sambal and chicken curry, enjoy a spot of high-tea overlooking the valleys, walk among the breathtaking Wallawwa formal gardens, or indulge in a massage at one of the local luxury spas. Other popular activities include bird watching, fishing, guided nature as well as city tours of Colombo in the south and Negombo in the north.
Situated in the Central Province's Matale District, of Sri Lanka, Dambulla is a large town famous for its 2000-year-old rock cave temple known as ‘Dambulla Cave temple’ (or ‘Golden Temple of Dambulla’). This UNESCO World Heritage Site is said to be the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, encompassing numerous caves filled with a collection of religious statues and colourful murals. The surrounding area boasts the most extensive rose quartz mountain range in South Asia. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Ibbankatuwa Ancient Burial Site - a significant and fascinating archaeological site.
Situated in the northern Matale District of Sri Lanka, the small village of Sigiriya is best known for its proximity to the magnificent Sigiriya ‘Lion Rock’. The village offers some comfortable accommodations and a variety of restaurants for visitors to enjoy when stopping over to view the famous rock. This ancient rock fortress rises abruptly from the lush landscape and reaches over 200 metres in height. Crowning this massive outcrop are the ruins of an ancient civilisation, which are considered one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning and have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can walk through the lily-dotted moats, lush gardens and cave shrines, through the grand lion-paw entrance, and climb the series of steep staircases passing beautiful murals painted on the sheer rock walls, and enjoy exploring the ruins and soaking up spectacular views of the surrounds.
The second major city in Sri Lanka (the other being Colombo) lies at the centre of the Kandy Plateau, an area of beautiful tropical tea plantations. A magnificent must-see feature of the area is Kandy Lake, to the north of which lies the golden-roofed Temple of The Tooth (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important place for Buddhist worship, as it is said to house a tooth relic of Buddha). Other fascinating places to visit include the Ceylon Tea Museum, the Buddhist Publication Society, the Ayurvedic centre in the Amaya Hills nearby, the Kandyan Art Association and Cultural Centre, where craftspeople can be seen at work, and the Kandy Muslim Hotel, which offers the finest spiced curries served with naan or Rotis.
Bright green hills, thick dark forests, farmlands, and traditional homes characterise the landscapes of Dickoya. This photogenic little town lies in the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka’s Central Province and is known for its fertile tea plantations, spectacular views, and charming historic churches. Delve into the colonial and religious past by stopping in at the 18th-century Christ Church, which features gorgeous stained glass windows and contains a well-preserved bible dating from 1878. The church is one of the oldest Anglican churches in the country. Warleigh Church, with its serene atmosphere, pipe organ, and antique furniture, is also worth a visit. Attractions nearby include the magnificent St. Clair Major Falls and Devon Falls, and the Castlereigh Reservoir, decorated with wonderful hiking trails and lookout points.
Yala, Sri Lanka, is a picturesque region located in the southeast corner of the island nation. This beautiful area boasts stunning landscapes, majestic wildlife, and extraordinary cultural attractions. One of the must-visit destinations in Yala is Buduruwagala, a fascinating complex of ancient Buddhist rock carvings that date back to the 8th century. Visitors can marvel at the intricate details and impressive size of the sculptures, which include a towering 51-foot-high image of the Buddha. For nature lovers, Yala National Park is the island's undisputed centrepiece, with a leopard density that's reportedly higher than anywhere else on this planet and a varied landscape from dense forests to moist wetlands. For the spiritually inclined, Kebiliththa in Block 4 of the Yala National Park is a place considered highly sacred by Buddhists and Hindus alike, who flock here to meditate.
Resting on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Galle (Pronounced ‘gawl’ in English) is the best example of a walled city built by the Portuguese in South Asia in the 16th Century. It was extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. When you enter the old city gates of this World Heritage Site you can’t help but notice the grand colonial houses and boutique shops and of course the beautiful beaches on the fringes of town. Attracting many luxury travellers from around the world, the town is also a favourite with cricket fans who rate the Galle International Stadium to be one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world.
Colombo, a commercial and tourist hub on the west coast of Sri Lanka. The vibrant canal city boasts golden beaches and a photogenic promenade, gorgeous temples, and chic restaurants among impressive skyscrapers. Must-see attractions include the grand and atmospheric Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple, and Hindu Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil, known for its exquisite interiors. A historic Dutch quarter beckons to be explored - the Dutch Hospital and Dutch Period museum are quite fascinating, and the artisan colonnaded craft stores lend a special air to the area. Nature lovers will enjoy walking through the beautiful Talangama Wetland which fringes the city or taking a short break from the city bustle in the Viharamahadevi Park, known for its delightful flowering trees and local snake charmers.
