Hot Spots in Sri Lanka

Colombo

Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and sea-port is a blend of old and new. This is a city with a colorful history, which dates back to the 5th century BC and has many reminders of its European colonial past. But the historical sites replete with colonial architectural marvels and ruins constitute the major attractions drawing thousands of domestic and foreign travelers every year. Despite the hustle and the bustle, the city has a way to work its charm and eventually grow on you. Apart from that Colombo is mostly a laidback city with lovely little tree-lined streets, colonial style mansions, and many upcoming condominiums amidst old buildings. The city offers quite a number of attractions for every traveller, the Fort district is where most of the historical sites are concentrated, known to the locals as Pettah, it is a bustling marketplace with each section of the bazaar selling its own specialty, ranging from food items to shoes to gold, with wholesale markets also found here. With the end of the civil war Colombo has been on a path to development with much of the city’s prominent areas slowly being transformed. With beautiful beaches to colorful festivals the city is sure to capture your heart and have you coming back for more of its charm.

Kandy

Kandy one of the most beautiful cities of Sri Lanka, located in the misty central highlands with a rich bio-diversity. The city provided a fortification for Sri Lanka’s last king Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe. Kandy is know for its scenic beauty and rich culture and is listed as a world heritage site of UNESCO. The name “Kandy” conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Kandy is a sleepy city, which has many of its legends, traditions and folklore still lovingly kept alive. The city promises a number of tourist attractions, which include the Old Royal Palace and the famous Temple of Tooth. The latter consists of the sacred relic of Buddha’s tooth because of which Buddhists regard Kandy as one of the most sacred places. Kandy offers an exciting shopping experience with souvenirs ranging from precious stones and handmade laces to stone and wooden carvings. If you visit the city in the month of August, you can get a taste of the Kandy Esala Perehera, an annual ritual of the Sacred Tooth Temple. Thus, your vacation can be an enriching and culturally uplifting if you choose this sacred and beautiful city.

Arugam Bay

Located in the dry Zone in the south-east region of the island Arugam Bay is a typical laid back fishing village famous for its point break famously known as one of the ten best surf spots in the world. During the months of July and August the area is teeming with eager surfers who come to ride the thrilling wave breaks. Altough surfing is the main attraction of this coastal region it is also famous for many other water sports as well. The sleepy village is dotted with little guesthouses, villas and restaurants and is rich in bird life and wildlife in the widespread jungle areas, wetlands and lagoons nearby, making it a great base for activities in the surrounding hinterlands. Further attractions include exploring the wilderness of the Lahugala National park where elephants roam and and the Pottuwil lagoon where crocodiles bask. Not to be missed in this surfing village is the amazing sea food it has to offer.

Galle Coast

Galle is the epitome of romanticism. The Portuguese annexed Galle from its Singhalese kings and built its first fortress naming it “Santacrusz”. The 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive in this old fortified town. The fort being its main attraction is a UNESCO protected world heritage site. Lined with tiny cobble stone streets and alleys, Dutch style old bungalows and villas, tiny shops with jewels, trinkets and other souvenirs, and intimate little boutique hotels, villas and restaurants, that walking these quaint streets will take you on a journey back in time. Galle is the most popular destination on the southern coastal belt, offering a treat to every eager traveler. Its sun kissed beaches are lined with an array of hotels ranging from budget to boutique options, and a variety of restaurants thus leaving you with much to select from. At night the coast comes to life with many bars to visit and sip a nice cocktail with the wind in your hair.

Cultural Triangle

From Tamraparni to Taprobane and from Ceylon to Sri Lanka, this stunning isle offers a rich and colorful history that is sure to leave you craving for more of Sri Lanka. The ancient wonders of the cultural triangle, which lies in the interiors of Sri Lanka lures millions of travellers from all around the world eager to taste the history of ancient Sri Lanka. Consisting of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla the amazing ruins of the cultural triangle date back to the 4th century BC, these ancient cities are protected by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. It has been derived from Pali and Singhala scriptures that it was here that the ancient kings developed remarkably advance civilizations while contributing much to the advancement of Buddhism more than any other cultural location in this paradise isle. The area has many hotels ready to cater to every type of traveller.

Hill Country

While the lowlands of the island bask in the heat of the sun the hill country dwells in a cool and soothing climate. Very few islands in the world are blessed with such geographical diversity, Sri Lanka being one of them. The entire region is carpeted in lush greenery and bright green tea plantations with cascading waterfalls plunging over cliffs into valleys hemmed in between high mountainsides wrapped in montane forests. In the 1800s Nuwara-Eliya served as a summer retreat to the British, with much of its colonial imprints still remaining. Resisting European invasion for over 300 years, Kandy served as the strong hold to Sri Lanka’s last king. Ella, Dikoya, Haputale and Bandarawella are sleepy hill country towns and villages where life is peaceful and slow-paced. The best way to experience Sri Lanka’s hill country is by train, which is rated as one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world. Tea being one of the islands main produces is enjoyed worldwide; enjoying a warm cup of fine Ceylon tea is must do on your list while in these hills.

Jaffna

Dotted with Palmyra trees and picturesque lagoons Jaffna is on a slow paced revival to development since the end of the civil war, which plagued the region for nearly three decades. Most of the art and culture of this ancient Tamil town was lost due to the damage incurred by the war between the LTTE and the armed forces of Sri Lanka, a conflict that was finally put to rest after 26 year. Jaffna is scattered with colorful ancient kovils, the ruins of colonial period churches and temples, most of which have been abandoned. In the period that followed after the war ended, the city was liberated inviting those who left the region to return once more, to salvage and rebuild what belonged to them. Although the journey seems long Jafffna is now on a path to reviving its Hindu cultures and values and shine as the glorious city it once was. The area is scattered with many nearby little islands, which can be visited by a ferry. It is an experience by itself for the adventurous traveller seeking to explore more.

Kitulgala and Ratnapura

Scattered with rolling hills, tropical rain forests and winding rivers and bordering the central highlands, the two regions contains a number of attractions to peruse. The town of Kitulgala is famous for white water rafting due to the Kelani River, which is one of the principal rivers of the island. Located in Kithulgala and visited by thousand of pilgrims is dams peak a sacred site located at an elevation of a mountaintop, which can only be reached on foot. Ratnapura is famed for non other than its gem industry. The island most prominent tropical forest; the Singharaja which is famed for its indigenous types of flora and fauna can be visited from Ratnapura. This tropical forest, which is a UNESCO protected site, offers an array of beautiful sites and sounds to be experienced by the avid trekker.

North East Coast

The north east coast of this tropical paradise is laid out with soft white sandy shores, spectacular blue seas and corrals. Sri Lanka is blessed with many breath-taking beaches but the best of them lie here in Trincomalee, Pasikuda and Batticaloa. Batticaloa boasts an interesting colonial past: a fort stands next to the lagoon, its solid coral walls protected by a moat on two sides and plunging directly into the water on the other; inside, a fine old two-storey Dutch-era building flanks one side of the interior courtyard, with a small and incongruous Hindu temple in the middle. It is the perfect place to sunbathe, go snorkeling to explore the marine life located around the corral reef in the area, or set out for some whale watching. Why not add some history into all that fun? The area is studed with ancient Hindu temple to explore and also the Trincomalle harbor which is known to be the world’s deepest and largest natural harbor.

North West Coast

Famed in ancient times as a centre for spices especially cinnamon and also for pearls the area was frequented by Roman, Chinese and Arab traders dating back to the 5th century BC. The stretch, which includes Negombo, Kalpitiya and Mannar, has varied landscapes with many attractions. The architecture of the area still portrays the shadows of the Dutch and Portuguese who settled on this coastal region in the 1800. Negombo being the most popular tourist destination of them is a famous fishing village with amazing stretches of beach has become a favorite resort to locals and tourists alike. Kalpitiya is a peninsular that separates the Puttalam lagoon from the Indian Ocean, and is a sanctuary to a diversity of marine life habitats, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches. Dolphin and whale watching is a popular attraction of the area. Located just 30km from India and jutting into the Pulk-Strait Mannar is an island with rows of fishing boats, wild donkeys, and palm trees. It serves as a hotspot for migrant birds from October to March. Yet another tantalizing attraction of this region is the Wilpattu wildlife reserve, which is a famous safari destination.

South Coast

A must on every travellers list is the South Coast; stretches of golden beaches, boutique hotels, bars, restaurant, which are teaming with tourists has gradually been transformed into a hot holiday resort. Galle famed for its Dutch fortress is the epitome of colonial life in this paradise isle, with streets lined with old, unrestored buildings imprinted with the shadows of the Dutch, Portuguese and British influence creates a time portal to every traveller who wanders inside the fortification. Famed for surfing and other water sport activities Mirissa is a hotspot for the adventurous. The perfect destination for the wintertime blues Tangalle is blessed with soft white sand, glimmering blues waters and cconut trees. To color your holiday palate with some history visit the natural caves of Mulkirigala, which contains ancient paintings and Buddha statues, located just 20km north of Tangalle.

Tissa and Kataragama

Famed for its holy sites the historical towns of Tissa and Kataragama attract thousand of pilgrims. Kataragama, which is famed for its Kovils, attracts devotees from every cast and creed, Hidus, Bhuddist, Muslim and Christian alike. Ancient dagobas dating from the 2nd century BC scatter the land of Tissa. Buttala foothills famed for the best National parks in the island, Yala, Udawalawe and Bundala, can be accessed on your journey to Tissa and Kataragama. The Yala National park is famed for Leopards. Udawalawe national park is famed for wild elephants and Bundala for Bird watching. Despite of its dry climate the vast lands spans with much greenery of forest, paddy and sugar cane cultivation and circulating soothing winds. The ancient rock sculptures of Buduruwagla is yet another historical treat.

West Coast

The west coast covers the stretch from Colombo to Hikkaduwa. The beaches of this are being its main attraction, include Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Ambalangoda, Ahungalla, Galle and Hikkaduwa. In relativity to the rest of the coastal regions of the island the west coast is the most sought after due to its close proximity to Colombo and the airport. Galle stands out due to its historical influences on the area with its magnificent Dutch fortification. Hikkaduwa is the ideal place to kick back and enjoy a chilled cocktail. Its long beaches inspire relaxation; while those looking for more activity can enjoy snorkelling and diving, and try riding some of the often-excellent waves, and also excellent night life. Other activities to enjoy are surfing, water skiing and deep sea fishing. Not to be missed on the list is the Kosgoda turtle hatchery.

Yala

Seeking for an adventure amidst wildlife? Yala is the most sought after national park of the island. The vegetation comprises mainly of thorny scrub plains, fresh water lakes, patches of fairly dese forest, rivers and beaches and mangrove vegetation that grow along the costal lagoons. It provides a protected space to many species of wild life, the most prominent being leopards, elephants, peacocks, sambar deer and sloth bears. Furthermore it is home to a vast number of endangered species of flora and fauna. Experience the wild side of Sri Lanka by embarking on a safari to the Yala national park