SRI LANKAN SITES

SRI LANKAN SITES

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Colombo is full of surprises and secrets, if you know where to look or are prepared to. Iconic landmarks of Colombo to be seen are the Town Hall, which looks like the White House in Washington and is the office of the city’s municipality, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) where all the country’s major conventions and exhibitions are hosted and the newly-built Nelum Pokuna Amphitheatre in Colombo 07, designed after a lotus flower. There is much awe in store for the seeker and the more you travel into its many streets, the more rewarding Colombo becomes. The Gangarama Temple in Slave Island has been in existence for over 120 years and is a sacred destination for Buddhists around the country. On the Poya Day of every February, it holds the Navam Perahera which is a religious procession of grand scale. Over a million people from outside the city and around the world descend on Colombo to watch this spectacle of light, colour, culture and tradition. Similar processions can be observed at the Hindu Kovils during different festivals. One such festival which can be seen in Colombo is the Mayurapathy Chariot Festival in July where male devotees hang themselves from chariots, by just hooks attached to their skin. The chariot processions are accompanied by traditional dancers and percussion instruments.

In the area of Kotahena, which is in the North of Colombo, you will find the Dutch-built Wolvendhal Church. The structure has been preserved to look that same way it did over 200 years ago and buried in its premises with tombstones larger than coffins, are of famous dignitaries from the British-colonial era, including past mayors of Colombo. Another Dutch structure that lives on today is the Dutch Hospital in Fort. As the name says, this was once a hospital but has now been converted into a retro shopping square with bars and restaurants. If you want to shop further, the best places would be the department store Odel in Colombo 07 or the malls Crescat in Colpetty and Majestic City in Bambalapitiya. Wherever you choose to dine in Colombo, expect a culinary adventure! If you seek the rice and curry we are famed for, there’s a place to buy on nearly every main street in Colombo. For everything else from Chinese to Indian to Mongolian to Burgers and Fries, the main hotels are the best place to satisfy your cravings.The night is always young in Colombo and it offers a myriad of bars, pubs and clubs. There are the dance clubs, karaoke pubs, a retro dance club and plenty of other pubs with different offerings for happy hour. If you are in for a different kind of late night thrill, you can try your luck in Colombo’s several casinos. If it’s something more calming you fancy, there’s an evening of jazz held on every first Sunday of the month.Soon becoming one of Asia's most exciting cities, Colombo is on the rise in the world. Today's metropolis started almost 500 years ago, as just a little fishing hamlet at the mouth of the Kelani River. Modern day Colombo is the result of centuries of transformation from trading hub to central town to colonial port city to economic centre of Sri Lanka. The city is a mosaic of old colonial Dutch, Portuguese and British architecture mixed with modern high rise buildings, religious institutions, parks and one of Asia's oldest Golf Clubs. 

The last capital of the era of the ancient kings, modern day Kandy is a bustling city situated in the hills. Referred to as the 'hill capital', Kandy is home to the Tooth Relic; an ancient artefact that Buddhists around the world believe belonged to the Buddha. The relic is enshrined in the Temple of the Tooth or the Dalada Maligawa as it is known locally. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage and draws millions of visitors to it every year. Many of these visitors converge on Kandy for the Dalada Perahera which is a procession held for 10 days between July and August, in honour of the sacred relic. It is a grand celebration of light and music that features 100s traditional dancers, fire-breathers, marching elephants and traditional musicians.This spectacle is best seen from Upper Lake Drive which offers a panoramic view of the lake and the city. The Gem Museum in Kandy is another interested site to be visited which in Kandy. It showcases the finest Sri Lankan precious stones and stunning jewel-encrusted artefacts from different time periods.A few kilometres away from the Kandy main city are the Royal Botanical Gardens, renowned for its extensive orchid collections and astonishing views. The Gardens was once used as a secret military operations headquarters during WWII. Slightly outside Kandy is the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage which has the largest captive herd of elephants in the world. Elephants from all over the country are brought here; blind or injured or abandoned or old and retired, and looked after by specialised caretakers. Visitors get the opportunity to get close and personal with the giant beasts and ride them or even bottle feed a calf

Galle

The Southern Capital of Galle is one of Sri Lanka's best travel destinations due to its variety of activities. This is where you will come across the 400-year old Galle Fort, which is Asia's oldest living fort, still inhabited today and maintained architecturally to look the way it did centuries ago. The Galle Fort hosts the annual Galle Literary Festival every January, which features writers and literary personalities from all around the world converging on Galle for a weekend of festivities. Galle still functions as a port city, as it has for centuries. Galle is also a prime region for growing low-country tea is grown and it is worth a visit as you get to watch the process of making cinnamon too. But the main reason to come to Galle is the beach. Just a few minutes further south of Galle's city centre lay Unawatuna, the personification of 'tropical paradise'. It is one of the best combinations of sun, sand, ocean and hospitality in Sri Lanka and probably in the world.

Bentota

Bentota was the first planned tourist resort in Sri Lanka. Located about an hour's drive from Colombo, Bentota is the perfect location for a day at the beach since it's far enough from the noise and commotion of the city, yet with minimum travel time. Equipped with a River Airport, Bentota is an all year destination and popular for the assortment of water sports it makes available, from diving to surfing to parasailing and much more. There are also river safaris that can be arranged, to gaze upon the different wildlife along the river. Located in close proximity to Bentota is nearby Induruwa and Kosgoda which have turtle hatcheries, which are a must-visit when in the area. Bentota is also home to practitioners of Eastern Ayurvedhic Medicine who use an ancient form of healing to cure ailments and promote health. Besides Negombo, Bentota is the place to go if you only have less than a day before you leave, but need one final beach run.

Dambulla

The city of Dambulla is situated right in the middle of the island and is part of the Cultural Triangle (which includes Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura). These are all ancient cities whose remnants still remain today in a preserved state, are World Heritage Sites and their ruins are carefully maintained by UNESCO and local authorities. Dambulla's main attraction is the Dambulla Rock Temple or Cave Temple. This marvel of ancient engineering was built in 1BC by King Walagambahu, right into the rock and is today, the best preserved and largest cave complex in Sri Lanka. It has five main caverns which contain over 150 statues of the Buddha, ranging in composition, posture and size. The highlight of the statues is the 14ft statue at the entrance, of Lord Buddha in meditating position. There are over 1500 paintings of the Buddha and this has been a sacred pilgrimage site for over 22 centuries. Dambulla is also famous for the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium and having the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia.

Nuwara Eliya

Once called 'Little England' during the colonial times, Nuwara Eliya is the place you see in the Sri Lankan postcards; the lush green terraced tea plantations on hills wrapped in mist. Nuwara Eliya is considered the most important area for tea growing in Sri Lanka as this is where the perfect conditions prevail for growing up-country tea. Nuwara Eliya takes tea experience further with the Tea Factory – a hotel built out of an old refurbished tea factory that lets one walk past the different machines used to make the world's finest blend. Situated in the Nuwara Eliya district are the breathtakingly scenic Devon and St. Clair's Waterfalls. Referred to locally by some, as the 'Little Niagara of Sri Lanka', and is the 20th tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Set against the green of the lush Nuwara Eliya mountains, this magnificent cascading waterfall is a must visit when in Sri Lanka.

Polonnaruwa

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and second most ancient kingdom in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa is a treasure trove in terms of ancient ruins and artefacts on display. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Polonnaruwa was declared the Capital of the North Central Province and many of the royal structures built then, have become the fascinating ruins that draw thousands of visitors a year. Ancient Polonnaruwa was a centre of engineering excellence back in its heyday and this is evident in the different ruins that remain today like the Gal Viharaya (Rock Temple). Polonnaruwa's Gal Viharaya features 4 statues of the Buddha, carved into a single granite rock. The statue of the Buddha in reclining position is 46ft from its head to toe, making it one of the largest Buddha statues in Southeast Asia. Also visible today are the ruins of the 10ft thick stone walls of the ancient Royal Palace which is said to have been 7-storeys high. Around this are decorative ponds and the Kumara Pond, which was the Royal Bathing Pool, all of which were supplied with water through complex underground aqueduct systems. Another astounding Polonnaruwa ruin is the Thiwanka Image House which is an ancient gallery which contained various paintings of the Buddha. Polonnaruwa gives us a great insight into the complexity of ancient Sri Lankan architecture and ingenuity.

Sigiriya

One of Sri Lanka's 8 World Heritage Sites, Sigiriya was once a lone magma plug from a long-extinct volcano sitting in the middle of a plain. Today it stands a monument, a true ancient marvel of Sri Lanka and is one of the island's most visited sites. Sigiriya was built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa and inhabited for 18 years until his death; the engineering of this royal citadel was ahead of its time. Sigiriya was once surrounded by a complex and beautiful garden that spread out across the plain to its boundaries and the rock had a built-in water-cooling system. Ringed with a moat and a rampart, the lion rock's entrance made of lion paws beckons you to discover and climb the 200 metres of rock that juts out from the foliage. The 'Ladies of Sigiriya' are famous all over the world and number in the 500s. They were once said to be one entire picture on the rock surface and if so, would have been the largest painting in the world. The view from the top of Sigiriya is awe-inspiring as it is the highest elevation above sea level, for miles.

Negombo

Historically one of Sri Lanka's main port cities, Negombo has transformed from just a little fishing village to a colonial trading hub to a prime holiday destination. The city is located in close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport and many popular historical tourist attractions. Negombo is an all year around destination that offers not just a relaxing beach holiday but also, a range of other activities and attractions which are easily reachable. Negombo has a multitude of different hotels on the beach to choose from and activities include going out to sea on a fishing trip with local fishermen, travelling the Old Dutch canals or just touring the culture-rich Negombo town. A highlight of visiting Negombo is the seafood. Some hotels in the area, on request, will take you to the fish market and let you select the fish of your choice fresh out of the sea and cook it in any way you prefer. And at night in Negombo, visit its many pubs for a beer with fired fish bites and even some retro music and karaoke. Nature lovers can go visit Muthurajawela, which is one of Sri Lanka's biggest marshlands and home to over 190 different species of wildlife.

Wildlife

Sri Lanka has been gifted with much in terms of nature and beauty. In total, we have 32 forests including mountain ranges like the Knuckles Mountain Range, nature reserves like Minneriya, national parks like Yala National Park, forest reserves like the Sinharaja Rainforest and sanctuaries like Wilpattu National Park. Each area has its own diverse ecosystem and supports a wide variety of flora and fauna which are indigenous to Sri Lanka, and sometimes to the area itself. Permission to explore depends on where you want to go. Yala is known for its safaris on which you get to see leopards, elephants and rare birds. Wildlife isn't limited to land; Sri Lankan seas are home to a diverse variety of aquatic life. Sri Lanka is rapidly becoming popular for whale and dolphin watching.

Prof. John Kurakar