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Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura - is located in the north central part of the Island, it was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two world heritage sites. Many places of historical and archeological interest could be visited. Sri-Mahabodhi (sacred Bo-tree), brought as a sapling of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. Brazen palace (2nd cent. B.C.) the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. RuwanweliSeya (2nd cent. B.C). This is the most famous of all the Dagobas. It originally depicted the perfect “water-bubble” shape that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. Samadhi Buddha (3rd cent. b.c.), one of the most famous statues, depicting the Buddha in a state of “Samadhi” or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd cent. b.c.) Well known for its rock carving of “the lovers”. Kuttam Pokuna - twin ponds (3rd cent. b.c.) used by the monks of old as a bathing pool. Thuparama Dagoba (3rd cent. b.c.), the oldest Dagoba in the island. It enshrines a relic of the Buddha.

Aukana Buddha Statue

Aukana Buddha Statue is beyond doubt the most magnificent, undamaged statue in Sri Lanka. It was built in the reign of king Dhatusena in the 5th century, and is 39 ft. (12 meters) high. The name ‘Aukana’ is given to the statue as it’s in open to the rays and effects of sun.

Aligala Caves

Aligala caves, the trek from the hotel to the caves will take approximately 1 hour through the jungle. the caves date back to around 1st century bc. some brahmi inscriptions, frescoes and stone pillars are found around the cave in a relatively non-conserved environment. the rock formations around the caves are magnificent. surrounding the caves are tall, indigenous trees, which make a very picturesque scene.

Adam’s Peak

Adam’s peak - standing 7,360 ft. (2,243 metres ) high, is the counry’s holiest mountain. it’s name derives from a claim by the early muslims, that it is the place where adam first set foot on earth, thus indirectly claiming that sri lanka is the original garden of eden, however the more popular name is ‘sripada’ or the sacred foot print, in the belief that buddha’s foot print is found at the summit. the ideal climb should be at night so as to reach the top early morning and see the almost supernatural spectacle of the magnified triangular shadow of the peak, superimposed on the countryside.

Bundala National Park

This is a bird sanctuary, and many species of bird is found here. One can do a safari of the Bundala park by jeep. Bundala is famous for wild elephants, crocodile and mostly the wide variety of bird life.

Bentota

Bentota is situated on the Northern limit of the Southern Province, at the confluence of the sea and the Bentota River, 62 km from Colombo. Its location in the sun drenched southern cost at the mouth of the Bentota River and its picturesque, sandy, palm-fringed beaches which border the warm, sparkling waters of the Indian ocean made it a natural choice for development as Sri lankas first planed tourist resort. Today its famed in Sri Lanka’s global tourist markets as a highly attractive holiday resort with a vide and varied choice of distinctive hotels to suite every taste and purse. Bentota also have a complete range of tourist facilities with in the resort complex including very popular water sports centers.

Beruwala

Beruwala is in an idyllic location on the northern tip of a long stretch of dazzling golden sand. The palm fringed bay curves gently round a cluster of small rocky islands which serve as a natural breakwater ensuring that the sea is always as blissfully calm as the atmosphere within the resort. Beruwala was originally settled in the 8th century and it is not hard to see why the original immigrants chose to remain here, just as it draws people from far and wide to its peaceful shores today. As you head inland the foliage becomes more dense and lush and the air becomes thick with the scent of tropical flowers. The palm shaded road is dotted with shops selling local handicrafts and jewellery and there is a small selection of restaurants in the area should you wish to venture outside of your hotel.

Bird watching

The forest around Dambulla and Habarana, has a variety of trees, some 100 years or more in age, plus madicinal plants and a rich and varied bird life. around 90 varieties of birds including migrants - babbler, blue flycatcher, oriole, paradise flycatcher, warbler, wagtail, barbet, bee-eater, brahmini kite, owl, teal, pelican, make their home here.

Batticaloa

Like most other coastal townships, Batticaloa was under Portuguese and Dutch rule. A Dutch Fort stands close to the Batticaloa lagoon. The most famous attraction of Batticaloa is its 'Singing Fish'. On full moon nights a faint but distinct musical sound rises from the lagoon waters. This is attributed to a noise emanated by a kind of fish found in the lagoon.

 

Colombo

Like many capital cities in developing countries Colombo is fast changing its face. almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood, yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. A 100-year-old clock tower and several British built, colonial buildings are still to be seen in the city. The Pettah bazaar - where one can shop for bargains, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike memorial international conference hall - an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the people’s republic of china, the new parliament in Sri Jayawardenapura and the folk art center are some of the places of interest that one can visit to.

 

Dambulla Rock Temple

Dambulla Rock Temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. Dambulla is a world heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. The caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters.

Galle

Galle was once the chief port of Ceylon as Sri Lanka was named by the British. It is still well known for hand-made lace, tortoise shell curios and ebony elephants. You can also visit the Galle fort (spanning 90 acres), which was originally built by the Portuguese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. This is a world heritage site.

Hakgala Botanical Gardens

Hakgala Botanical Gardens was one of the pleasure gardens of king Ravana of the well-known epic Ramayanaya. This garden was expanded during the British period and has a wide variety of flowers, including an excellent collection of orchids.

Horton Plains

Horton Plains is located on a high windswept saddle at about 7,000 ft (2134 mtrs) elevation. The plains are an expanse of misty grassland with scraggy trees and ice-cold rivulets. World’s End is considered to be the finest view in all of Sri Lanka. The awesome escarpment drops vertically for about 4,000 feet, hence it's name was given. Plains are also famous for the greenery and the cold climate.

Hikkaduwa

99 km. from Colombo, this is the place for underwater delights where there is a marine sanctuary abundant with rare corals and tropical fish. The underwater world of colorful corals and beautiful shoals of fish can be explored either by snorkeling or taking a ride in a glass bottom boat visit the famous coral gardens off the shore of Hikkaduwa in a glass bottomed boat.

Hambantota

Hambantota is a rural town in southern coastal area of Sri Lanka. It is also the capital of the Hambantota District in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Hambantota is the electoral district of current president of Sri Lanka Hambantota District comprises the following electorals: Tissamaharama, Beliatta, Tangalle and Mulkirigala. Hambantota is famous for its salt flats and intensely hot arid zone climate. With sweeping sandy beaches on the side, it is also a convenient base for exploring the near by Bundala National Park, Yala National Park and the temples at Kataragama.

Kandy

The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a world heritage site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1806, visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts center and a gem museum and lapidary. The evening is the best time to visit the temple of the tooth relic and thereafter witness a traditional cultural dance show.

 

Kandy Perahera

Held annually in August for 01 week the kandy perahera is perhaps the most important and the most colourful of all pageants held in the island. kandy’s 4 devalas - natha, vishnu, skanda and pathini lead the procession each followed by a train of colourfully caparisoned elephants. the golden karanduwa - a replica of the dagoba shaped casket in which the sacred tooth is enshrined is carried by the magnificent tusked temple elephant adorned with colourful drapes, lined with tiny electric bulbs. the perahera or procession consists of approximately 100 elephants.

Kurunegala

Kurunegala was for a brief period, the capital of Sri Lanka. There is little evidence of the short time ancient glory, except for a few jumbled ruins and carved stairways.

Kithulgala

 

Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rain forest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month. The Academy Award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed on the Kelani River near Kitulgala, although nothing remains now except the concrete foundations for the bridge (and, supposedly, the submerged train cars that plunged into the river in the climactic scene). Kitulgala is also a base for white-water rafting, which starts a few kilometres upstream.

Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya

Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya built in the 3rd century BC, is one of the three places visited by lord Buddha in Sri Lanka. The Temple is magnificent with the paintings and the statues of Buddha. The Kelaniya city is the center for traditional Sri Lankan pottery.

Kalkudah & Passekudah

These are very fine beaches in the East Coast. Kalkudah Bay is a 2 km. long wide stretch of beach well protected from the monsoon by the off shore reef. Passekudah Bay is another wide beach 4 km. long just south of Kalkudah. The combined area of Passekudah and Kalkudah is an ideal stretch for bathing, windsurfing and water skiingnd beautiful shoals of fish can be explored either by snorkeling or taking a ride in a glass bottom boat

 

Mihintale

Mihintale was where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka and is therefore regarded as the cradle of Buddhism. On this rock are many shrines and dwellings, originally used by monks. A grand stairway of 1,840 steps made of granite slabs 15 feet wide, leads to the summit from where one could get a splendid view of the surrounding countryside.

Matara

Matara is a southern town on the banks of the Nilwala river. It was an ancient settlement, long before the Portuguese raised a stockade in the early 16th century. After the Matara fort was seized and badly damaged by a Kandyan army in 1716, the Dutch constructed another one called the little star fort. It’s a fine example of military architecture. 2 miles west of Matara is the Weherahena temple, noted for it's colossal Buddha statue.

Minneriya

Do a safari of the minneriya national park. the extent of this national park is about 8,889 hect. there are wet lands in this national park which have international importance, animal and plant species which are plenty in dry zone are found in this park. wild elephants, various amphibians, local and immigrant bird species are plenty in this park. about hundred and sixty species of birds, 09 amphibians, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species have been found in this area. there are bamboo trees which are rare in other parks and wild elephants can be seen conveniently.

Mt’ Lavinia

Mt’ Lavinia at southern suburb of Colombo Mt’ Lavinia is the best developed beach resorts in this region. Eleven kilometers south from Colombo along the road to Galle is the beach resort of Mt. Lavinia. The sea is safe for bathing and is a popular bathing spot with clean sandy beaches. The name Lavinia reminds of a secret love affair between a British Governor and a local damsel who used to meet at the holiday house of the Governor which stood on the spot where now the Mt. Lavinia Hotel is located.

Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya - is Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country producing 50% of the world’s best tea. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 ft) is located here. Nuwara Eliya is the location for one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in Asia.

Negombo

Negombo is in the heart of Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. The sea and catamarans are the backdrop of the Negombo scenery. Visit the Negombo lagoon and a fish auction. also visit the Dutch fort and a catholic church.

Nalanda Gedige

Nalanda nalanda is considered to ba in the exact center of the island. here is found the nalanda gedige, the earliest known all-stone building in sri lanka. dating back to the 8th century, it is one of the most remarkable examples of the amalgamation of hindu and buddhist architectures.

Nilaveli

This is a prime beach resort in the East Coast. It is ideally suited for sun bathing, sea bathing and diving. A few meters off shore is a small rocky island good for snorkeling.

 

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries A.D, and is a world heritage site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya (3 splendid statues of the Buddha in upright, sedentary and recumbent postures carved out of rock). The audience hall, the lotus bath, the Polonnaruwa statue (12th century) and the Parakrama Samudra tank (lake) built by king Parakramabahu the great. There are also ruins of famous places of worship such as the Shiva temple, the Lankatileka, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former temple of the tooth.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a home for about 60 elephants (out of which around 50 are baby elephants) found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authority. The best time for your visit is at 9 in the morning, when you will have the opportunity of seeing these ‘babes’ being bottle-fed. You could also see the elephants having their daily baths at a river close by.

Peradeniya

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. it is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.

Ratnapura

Ratnapura is the fabled city of gems. its name remains unchanged over the years and means “city of gems”. in Ratnapura prospecting and mining goes on everyday. visit a gem mine and a museum and strike a bargain at one of the shops.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Which is a world heritage site, built by king Kashyapa (473 - 491 A.D). The “lion rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. The base of the rock is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The world-renowned frescoes of the “heavenly maidens’ of Sigiriya which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway is one of the main attractions. The frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.

 

Sitha Eliya and Sitha Amman Kovil/temple

Sita Eliya Temple is located about 1km away from the Hakgala Gardens. According to legend the temple is believed to mark the spot where Sita, was held captive by her abductor, King Ravana. Though an average visitor might feel that the location and its surrounded green land has nothing much to offer, archeologists have discovered giant foot steps – believed to be of “Hanuman” and more ruins to look around. This temple/kovil is dedicated to “Seetha” the captive princess for her love, believe, faith, determination, honesty and loyalty towards Prince “Rama”. A believer, can still hear the silent mourns of Prince Seetha with a closer eavesdrop to the free flow of the water stream which flows next to the temple.The epic continue with an undiscovered tale of an underground tunnel network even below water levels of this area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spice Gardens

Visit a spice garden to see the different spices that Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

 

 

 

Turtle Hatchery

Turtle hatchery operated by the wild life protection society of sri lanka. several species of turtle, especially the hawksbill, are endangered; most vulnerable of all are their eggs; which are left uncovered on beaches all around the coast. the goodwill of kosgoda area fishermen, who bring these eggs gratis to the hatchery, has led to the hatching and release of 100,000 young turtles in only two years since the hatchery opened.

Trincomalee

Horatio Nelson, the British admiral of the 18th century had on arriving at the Trincomalee harbour described it as the finest harbour in the world. It is a beautiful natural harbour worthy of that description and had been in use from the days of the early Sinhala kings. The old Portuguese/Dutch Fort reminiscent of the colonial rule of the Island has the year 1676 inscribed above its entrance by the Dutch. It was subsequently named Ford Frederick by the British.

 

Whale Watching in Trincomalee

It is a whale of a time in East Coast.Get up close and personal with the largest animal on the earth.To see a Blue Whale in its natural habitat is something most of us can only dream of.To see more than one in a lifetime would be very rare experience reserved for a fortunate lot.

Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is famous for large herds of wild elephants and deer. crocodiles, wild buffalo, peacock and a large variety of bird life could also be seen.

 

Unawatuna

Four kilometers south of Galle is Unawatuna (120 km. from Colombo), a beautiful stretch of beach in the south safe for bathing. The road leading south from Colombo passes through the Southern Beach Resorts winding its way through stretches of coconut land. Along the drive, you could spot a man high up in the air crossing from tree to tree on two ropes tied tightly to the trees like a tight rope walker in a circus. He is a 'toddy tapper' getting about his daily chores tapping the sap off the tender inflorescence of the coconut trees which is used to distill Sri Lankan Arrack and other alcoholic beverages.

 

Yala

Situated 309 kms south of Colombo, Yala is approximately 1259 kms in extent and is located in the southeastern corner of the Island. The terrain is varied, flat plains alternating with rocky out crops. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. The specialty here is the large numbers of Elephants. Yala is the largest national park in sri lanka and is the home of wild elephants, wild boar, wild buffalo, leopard, bear, deer and crocodiles. isitors can also see large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds.

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