Joanna James
At first glance, the hamlet of Habarana in Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura District, seem to be quite ordinary, but delve deep into its heart and you'll realise that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
One of the reasons that Habarana has become such a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka is because of its close proximity to Sigiriya. A hotel the likes of the Habarana Village by Cinnamon will arrange a tour to this world famous fortress for a special package including transport; so you can get yourself a good deal. It will take you about 30 minutes to reach Sigiriya from Habarana, and if you're not using the hotel's transport you can hail a tuk tuk, or better, a traditional bullock cart!
Amidst intricately designed gardens, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress stands at an impressive 660 feet in height. This UNESCO World Heritage site was created by King Kasyapa 5th Century. The highlights of a tour to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress are the stunning landscaped gardens that are some of the oldest in the world; a gigantic stone carving of lion paws, beautiful frescoes, a dazzling mirror wall, the palace remnants and of course the spectacular view from the top.
Excepting for the high-end luxury resorts you find here, Habarana is still a very rural town where the locals live very simple lives. Therefore, a village tour will give you the perfect opportunity to experience the culture of Sri Lanka and the traditional lifestyle of the locals. You can trek through lush paddy fields, climb atop a pela (traditional tree house) and enjoy a chat with a farmer over delicious ambula, a farmer's rice and curry dish. The village tour will also include cookery lessons and go on a fishing adventure.
The elephant is a true icon of Sri Lanka, and when in Habarana you have so many opportunities to see these gentle giants. Journey to the Minneriya National Park, that's just about 10 minutes away from Habarana, and you'll see them roaming around in the wild in all their glory. The sanctuary is famous for its elephant gathering which sees over 200 individuals attracted to the Minneriya tank and the verdant grass fields. The number of elephants seen here is said to go as high as 700 during the dry season when elephants from far as the Wasgamuwa National Park migrate here in search food and shelter.
In addition to elephants, the Minneriya National Park is home to a wide collection of wildlife which includes two species of monkeys that are endemic to the country; Sri Lankan sambar deer, sloth bears, the grey slender loris and the majestic Sri Lankan leopard, to name a few.
After you have explored Habarana on land, why not explore it in air? Go on a thrilling balloon ride and get a different perspective of all the attractions that you have visited. A typical balloon ride will last for about 2-3 hours and will take you about 1,000 – 2,000 feet above the ground. While the wind gently caresses you, look down upon the spectacular views below and around you. Fly over the Minneriya National Park and see the elephants roaming about, witness magnificent aerial views of Sigiriya...the sky's the limit to the amount of beauty you will see!
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