Joanna James
Sri Lanka a teardrop-shaped island sits on the Indian Ocean. A land of bio-diverse marvels, wildlife, and experiences of culture and traditions; here are a few reasons why this island is awesome. π π
Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise that is home to a wide variety of animal species. You can visit Yala National Park for one of Asia's largest convergences of leopards, check out Minneriya and other dry zone reserves for sights of wild elephants and play with dolphins off the coasts of Kalpitiya.
Places like Weligama Beach, home to Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa is one of the most popular spots for setting off on whale watching tours; if you are lucky enough to be visiting during the high season it's quite a thrill to experience some of the over 20 species of whales that frequent the coasts of Sri Lanka. Mind you Weligama hotel accommodations do tend to get snapped up during the season. ππ΄
Sri Lankan's love cricket! It's a staple, a fix and quite the adrenaline rush to follow the national team. Head over to the historic city of Galle and you can catch a game of international cricket at the popular grounds hugging the shores of the Galle harbour. π
In Galle cricket is the tip of the iceberg, easy to reach from popular Weligama resorts, the city is home to the vintage Dutch Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; explore the well preserved fort complete with cobblestone alleys, enjoy an ice cream on the ramparts, shop for jewellery and bask on the beach.
Photo: Shehanw, Sri Lanka vs Pakistan test match, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sri Lanka is proud of its ancient heritage steeped in Buddhism; head over to places such as Dambulla and you get to explore the 5th century network of caves. Consisting of over 20 caves of which 5 serve as temples, these caves were once a hideout for an exiled king.
The cave walls and roof are adorned with hand-drawn murals, while ancient statues of the Buddha, past kings and Hindu Gods will beguile and enthral the culture buff. The Dambulla caves sit on top of a huge boulder that towers over the town, and welcoming all visitors, in a rather cheeky manner, are the monkey colonies that call the rock home. π
Photo via: Maxpixel
Sri Lanka is blessed with stunning bio-diverse environs. Take the Yal Devi for instance, translating to Queen of Jaffna, the train service is up and running once more since the civil war was ended. The scenery on the train ride from Colombo to Jaffna is a rugged treat, dotted with unbelievable beauty.
To Change the scenery from rugged dry zones to verdant mist covered mountains, home to lush tea estates; you can ride from Colombo to Bandarawela and enjoy sights of lush waterfalls, breath-taking mountain scenery and cold chilly climates to bask in. π
Once you have tried a hot hopper, there is no going back! Hoppers are one of the most popular, if not versatile and utterly delicious snacks cum meals in Sri Lanka. It is a kind of pancake made with rice flour and thick coconut milk. Cooked in a wok the hopper has a soft centre and crispy sides that resemble a bowl.
Egg hoppers are utterly heavenly when they are eaten piping hot with a half cooked egg sitting in the middle. Hoppers are available with lunumiris, an onion relish, or with a spoon of sweet coconut milk in the centre kiri appa, with an egg cooked in the soft middle biththara appa and as an evening snack made with sweet jaggery, pani appa. Try them all for breakfast, tea or dinner and savour the best of Sri Lanka.
Photo Credit: Paul Joseph, Hoppers at house of dosas, CC BY 2.0
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
