Sunday, July 3, 2016

Top 10 Things To Do In Sri Lanka

Welcome to the most beautiful island in the world.

Lying off the southern tip of India, the tropical island of Sri Lanka has attracted visitors for centuries with its natural beauty. Sri Lanka was the ideal stopover of ancient seafarers sailing across the Indian Ocean to the Orient. Marco Polo, a great seafarer, who arrived in Sri Lanka in 1265, said "Sri Lanka is the finest island of its size in all the world". Pliny (45 AD), one of the greatest Roman historians wrote: "It had been of long time thought by men in ancient days that Taprobane (Sri Lanka) was a second world".

A glorious history, a rich culture, age-old ruins, the world's most hospitable people, a rich biodiversity, endless tropical beaches, breathtaking coral reefs, verdant valleys of tea plantations, lush virgin rainforests, ranges of mist-clad mountains, splashing waterfalls, oodles of proboscideans in the wild, pods of giants in the blue, priceless gemstones beneath, mouthwatering spicy foods, delicious tropical fruits and what more to call Sri Lanka "A Land Like No Other". Home to eight world heritage sites, Sri Lanka though a small island, has much more to offer. In terms of diversity, Sri Lanka is incomparable and unbeatable. The tropical paradise is blessed with varied landscapes - flat to hilly, climates - hot to mild and cool, cultures - Buddhist to Hindu, fauna - vertebrates to invertebrates, flora - algae to blackwood and so on.

1) Beaches 

Since ancient times, Sri Lanka has been well known for its golden beaches, with the island earning the name ‘Thambapanni’, meaning copper red sand, nearly 2,500 years ago when the first King of Sri Lanka, Wijeya, landed from his voyage from India. While the traditional beaches are in the South and Western coasts such as Negombo, Bentota, Unawatuna, Tangalle, Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa,the development of infrastructure has brought into the limelight the magnificent beaches in the East Coast, such as Arugambay, Passikudah, and Kuchchaveli. Despite the Boxing Day Tsunami which ravaged most of the country’s coastal belt, the beaches of Sri Lanka still present pictures of undying beauty. Surfing, kite surfing, whale and dolphin watching, and diving are some of the activities one could experience off the beaches of Sri Lanka.

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2) Waterfall

Travelling inland into the Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces brings one into contact with the picturesque waterfalls the country has to offer. Due to the extensive network of natural waterways, the small island is home to over 100 waterfalls, a majority of them located in the Hill Country and the Central Highlands. Some of the most famous waterfalls in Sri Lanka include St. Claire, Devon, Ramboda, Hunnas and Dunhinda. It is quite difficult to reach the base of some waterfalls due to rugged terrain and dense forestation, while numerous ones are completely hidden from oft-travelled routes.


3) Mountains

Adam’s Peak is perhaps the most well-known mountain in Sri Lanka. Located in the Sabaragamuwa Province with an elevation of 2,243m, it is a place of worship for all of Sri Lanka’s major religions. However, in the very heart of the island; the Central Province, lies the hill country, which is a land of verticals. Sri Lankans, centuries ago, used the mountains as a natural defence against the colonizing British, with choke points and rolling boulders to protect the last kingdom of Kandy. Travelling through the roads that wind around the mountains presents breath-taking scenery, with tea estates than seem like miles of green carpet, waterfalls, and mist-covered peaks. Mount Pedro, with an elevation of 2,524m is the highest mountain of Sri Lanka, and is located here, close to the city of Nuwara Eliya. The Knuckles Mountain Range, Horton Plains, and Kirigalpoththa, Hakgala and Thotupola mountains are some of the other main attractions in Nuwara Eliya.


4) Wild parks 

While Yala in the dry zone of Hambantota remains the most famous wildlife park in Sri Lanka, other well-known wildlife parks include Kaudulla, Minneriya, Wilpattu, Wasgamuwa, Udawalawa and Gal Oya, to name a few. Drought seasons in different parts of the country mean that the animals move to different parts within the parks, or visit adjoining parks in search of food and water. Majestic elephants, deadly leopards, pythons and crocodiles, bears, deer, langur and wild boar are just a selection of the animals one could sight in the wildlife parks, in addition to the resplendent bird population. The Horton Plains National Park which is the highland from where 3 of the largest rivers of Sri Lanka originate, is also a mysterious paradise of wildlife.


5) Bird Sanctuary 

The tiny island is home to over 430 species of birds, 26 of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. Different seasons also bring in different migratory birds to the country. The best way to experience this diverse offering is to travel to the multitude of bird sanctuaries located across the island. From the mangroves and sand dunes of Bundala to the rolling plains and dry forests of Kumana and the lush rainforests of Sinharaja, the different ecologies of the dozens of bird sanctuaries in Sri Lanka offer unique bird watching experiences. The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka is the apex association related to the conservation and study of birds in the country.


6) Botanic Gardens 

The Botanic Gardens of Sri Lanka represent a significant national asset of the country. Being established in the early nineteenth century, the National Botanic Gardens have now become major tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Over 2 million people visit these botanic gardens annually for relaxation, entertainment, recreation, education, botany and horticulture.

Botanic gardens of Sri Lanka have a collection of over 6,000 diverse living plant species on display arranged in attractive, systematic and exciting ways. The gardens are oasis of beautifully cultivated flowers and trees of carefully designed and meticulously maintained environments.

Currently, there are five botanic gardens and one medicinal plant garden in Sri Lanka. Three of the botanic gardens were established by the British; i.e. Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, Hakgala Botanic Gardens and Gampaha Botanic Gardens. The botanic garden in Mirijjawila is the first botanic garden developed by local experts after 130 years and opened in 2013. Another new botanic garden is being established in Avissawella for ex-situ conservation of Wet Zone plants and will be opened soon.


7) Zoological Gardens 

The Colombo Zoo is a unique tourist destination in the world, situated inthe heart of the Colombo District of Sri Lanka and 9.5 kilometres from the Colombo city. The zoo is locally well known as Dehiwala Zoo


8) Elephant Orphanage 

Established in 1975 with five orphaned elephants in an area of 25 acres ofland at Pinnawala, a village in the Kegalle District, the Pinnawala ElephantOrphanage is the only orphanage of elephants which cares for the world’slargest herd of captive elephants that accounts for nearly 90 orphans.The orphanage which serves as a conservation and breeding centre as well as aplace of informal education on elephants and their conservation is a world famousattraction due to its unique way of maintaining such a large free herd of jumbos.The orphanage is a worth-seeing place for anyone into these pachyderms, their conservationand ecotourism. Visitors have opportunity not only to observe the entire herd bathing in theMa-Oya River but also to feed them with fruits and milk.


9) Diving

With the glittering sand and sun, fantastic weather, warm water, colourful marine wildlife, hundreds of shipwrecks and great visibility, Sri Lanka is a diver's dream. Feel, discover and swim with the beautiful marine life, learn to snorkel or dive or even to swim with the professionals who will accompany you to the bottom. The incredible hospitality and the care provided to you by the professional dive centres along the coastal belt of the island will assure your safety and pleasure.


10) Hot Air Ballooning 

Yet another aero adventure sport that you could do while holidaying in Sri Lanka, hot air ballooning is one of the popular adventures in Sri Lanka. A lot of hot air ballooning flight are available in the island with world's top quality balloons and well-trained balloon pilots. You can enjoy balloon excursions drifting over breathtaking villages, jungles, rivers, lakes, etc., while seeing the amazing beauty of the country.













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