Visit Beautiful Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a highly acclaimed tourist destination of south Asia renowned for its ancient monuments, sun-kissed beaches, museums and art galleries. The singular charm exhibited by the tourist attractions in Sri Lanka will surely engulf you with ecstasy. The most beguiling among the highlights of Sri Lanka are its monuments that reveal a rich past and a colonial charm that has been well preserved in the country. While on your tour to Sri Lanka, you will come across a number of attractions and some of them are:

Colombo:

Colombo, the commercial capital, is the financial and the commercial hub and at the same time, a major tourist destination as well.

Ancient cities of Sri Lanka:

The historical landmarks are among the best known tourist attractions in Sri Lanka and some of the notable ones are - Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Sigiriya, Dambula and Aluvihara. Anuradhapura is the first capital of Sri Lanka and remained a strong symbol of Sinhalese supremacy and features a number of monuments and historic buildings that continue to enthrall tourists from all over the world.

                                                                                                                            Beaches of Sri Lanka:
The beaches occupy a leading place among the various places to visit in Sri Lanka. You will encounter a number of fascinating palm-fringed beaches.. The combination of sun and sand with the pristine ambiance lets you spend some memorable moments away from cacophony of your life in the cities. Some of the well-known beaches of Sri Lanka are Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle and Arugam Bay.

Nature Spots in Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka is also home to a large number of nature spots that are among its prime highlights. The splendid waterfalls of Sri Lanka are among the most sought-after attractions found in the dense woods on the mountain slopes and valleys. They fall from amazing heights and are feast to the eyes. Bambarakande Falls, Diyaluma Falls, Kirindi Oya Falls, St. Claire Falls, Bopath Falls, Laxapana Falls, Devon Falls, Rawana Falls, Elgin Falls and Nawarathna Falls are some of the many waterfalls of Sri Lanka.

The fairs and festivals hold a key place apart from the tourist attractions in Sri Lanka thus featuring a wide range of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim events. Kandy Esala Perahera (July/August) is the most spectacular event. This festival is marked by torch-bearers, whip-crackers, dancers and drummers and climaxes in a great procession honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic of Kandy. Duruthu Perahera (January), held in Colombo is also an important one and celebrates the arrival of Buddha to Sri Lanka.

The other major events you should not miss out are National Day (February), New Year (March/April), Vesak (May) and Kataragama festival (July/August). 

"Kandy Sri Lanka - The Hill Capital"

129 Km away from Colombo and 465 metres above sea level, is Kandy, the charming hill capital, cultural centre of the island and a World Heritage City. Nestling amidst low hills, and looped by the Mahaweli river, Sri Lanka's largest, Kandy is still the home of the arts and crafts, music and dance and song which flourished under the patronage of the Kandyan Kings.
The city was born in the 14th century and became the capital of the Kandyan kingdom in the 16th century.
It was the seat of much of Sri Lanka's culture. The Royal City fell to the British in 1815, when the last Kandyan King, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe was captured.
For Buddhists, Kandy is the sacred city. The focal point is the Dalada Maligawa also known as the temple of the tooth, where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined. There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings.
The highlight of the year is the Kandy Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by exotically costumed drummers, dancers and about 80 - 100 caparisoned elephants during ten glittering nights in July/ August.
The beautiful city, surrounded by hills and valleys, rivers, lakes and cascading waterfalls, boasts of the Royal Botanical gardens at Peradeniya .

Kandy is an exciting place for shopping with souvenirs of wood, copper, silver, brass and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery, rush and reed-ware too could be purchased. While in Kandy, an outing to a tea factory as well as a tea plantation should also be made to witness first hand, the process that leads to the creation of the famous 'Ceylon Tea'.

"Nuwara Eliya The mountain resort"

Blessed a 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.
Nuwara Eliya (City of Lights), also known as 'Little' England', was the favourite hill station of the British who tried to create Nuwara Eliya into a typical English Village. The old brick Post office, country house like hill club, with it's hunting pictures, mounted hunting trophies and fish, and it's strict formal dinner attire; the 18 hole golf course, race course etc., all remind you of 'England'.

Places of interest in and around Nuwara Eliya

Hakgala Botanical Gardens The Gardens was firs established in 1861 under the curatorship of three British of the same name - William Nock, JK Nock and JJ Nock. It lies under the Hakgala Peak, between 5000 - 6000 feet in elevation - the highest set Botanic Gardens in the world. It boasts 100 year old Monetary Cypress trees from California, Japanese Cedars, Himalayan Pines and English Oak.

Horton Plains

Horton Plains is a National Park and the highest plateau in the island consisting of grassland interspersed with patches of forest, with some unusual high altitude vegetation. The Plains are a beautiful, silent, strange world with some excellent walks.
The most stunning place is the World's End, where the southern Horton Plains suddenly ends, and drops off to nearly 700 Metres, which is an awesome sight indeed. This is a favourite place for trekkers, as there are plenty of soft and hard trails.

Laksapana Falls

Laksapana Falls rise from the Laksapana estate and plunges into the Maskeliya Oya via Maoussakelle. Viewing this fall is easy if you camp down at Upper Glencairn, Dick oya.

Lover's Leap - Nuwara Eliya

This is off the Nuwara Eliya - Kandapola Road. The waters are taken to brew the famous Nuwara Eliya Beer. It is said how an eloping couple, pursued by an irate father, threw themselves over the falls.

Devon Falls

Devon Falls drops 97 metres and is named after Devon, a pioneer coffee planter. It is 6 Km west of Thalawakelle and there is a special parking and viewing spot at the 20th mile post.

Oliphant Estate - Nuwara Eliya

A visit to this estate, entrance from the road at the Ramboda end of Nuwara Eliya, is significant because it was here that the first thirty tea plants sent from China to Sri Lanka were planted by Mr. Laurence Oliphant, increasing his tea acreage to 100 acres.

The Ceylon Breweries - Nuwara Eliya

The brewing of beer was started in Nuwara Eliya by Sir Samuel Baker in 1881 at Lover's Leap. It is an interesting visit, for the brewery is one of the finest in the island. It's been in business since 1884.

Adam's Peak - The Pilgrim Path

This is through Gampola and Ginigathhena and you will find the story of this old path carved on two rocks off the 28th milestone on the Nawalapitiya - Ambagamuwa road. The spot is called Akuruketupana and the inscription dates to around 1100AD. Today there are four other roads to the peak, the shortest being via Maskeliya and the most popular. Other roads are on the Sabaragamuwa side.

The Nissangala Lena on the road to Adam's Peak

This is believed the cave in the mountainside, where King Keerthi Sri Nissanka buried a great treasure, including his regalia. It is only after one passes this cave and enters the forest that one comes to the Sita Gangula, a holy river of ice cold water, where pilgrims bathe and put on white garments, before continuing their journey to the peak.