Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a little island with a stunning array of delightful wonders that lies amidst the rolling waves of the Indian Ocean. Here you will find glorious beaches dazzling under the golden sun and majestic hills kissing the periwinkle skies. There are plenty of sites with religious and historical significance to admire in this land too. Read on and find out about some of the most charming experiences that you can look forward to having in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress has been a symbol of Sri Lankan pride for years. The fortress which is located near the town of Dambulla was built by King Kasyapa (477- 495 CE). It's one of the most popular tourist attractions of the island and is certainly one that you shouldn't miss.
The site plan of Sigiriya amazes the experts of the present day too. It wonderfully combines man-made elements with the natural beauty of the surrounding area to create a masterpiece of excellence. In Sigiriya, you will find ancient water gardens, boulder gardens and terraced gardens which are considered to be some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Then there are the glorious frescoes of the Sigiriya Damsels. It's quite interesting to note that these beautiful paintings had at one point in time covered the majority of the western face of the rock. Most of the damsels have vanished with the winds of time, but a few remain to attest to the grandeur and glory of their long-forgotten days.
The world-renowned Yala National Park is one of the most stunning destinations in Sri Lanka. The park is known to have one of the highest leopard densities in the world so during your tour you will most likely come across one or few of these majestic beings. There are also many elephants, Sri Lankan sloth bears, wild water buffaloes and fishing cats here that you will be able to spot.
Many holiday packages in Sri Lanka include tours of Yala National Park. Choose to travel with reputed tour operators in the island such as Holidays by Design to enjoy a truly delightful experience in the island.
The proud city of Kandy, the oldest capital of the ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka is replete with many stunning aspects that will render true joy to a traveller's heart. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is undoubtedly the main attraction of the city as it houses a relic of the tooth of Buddha. It's one of the most important sites of worship among the Buddhists of the island and many devotees visit the temple throughout the year. The temple's procession, which is known as Kandy Esala Perahera is known to be one of the grandest Buddhist festivals in the world. This spectacular event takes place in the months of July and August.
There are other prominent sites that you can visit in and around Kandy such as the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya, Kandy Garrison Cemetery and Gadaladeniya Viharaya.
In the waters that surround the island of Sri Lanka, you will see the breathtaking beauty of whales and dolphins if you visit at the right time. The town of Mirissa and the city of Trincomalee are known to provide some of the best whale watching experiences.
Season your exotic vacation with fine doses of luscious Sri Lankan cuisine and embark on an epic culinary adventure. The fire and spice of the dishes here are truly quite addictive! Do try out the famous kottu, hoppers as well as the delicious seafood when you are travelling on the island.
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.
