Joanna James
The sun-kissed golden sands and the vast blue glistening oceans are the not the only attractions that make Sri Lanka a pearl in the Indian Ocean. The country has a rich history, colourful festivals and a mix of great cultures that make it interesting and captivating. Situated in Matale District, Dambulla is a rather large city and was named a World Heritage City. If you are visiting Dambulla here are 7 places that you can visit.
Also known as the Golden Temple, this temple has drawings, murals and statues placed in the temple relating to the life and story of Lord Buddha. This is a temple that gains importance by the locals and the tourists equally; the locals for the religious importance and the tourists for the historical and cultural importance of the temple. There are many things to do in Dambulla, but this temple should definitely be the first stop.
The importance of the Namal Uyana is that biologists have claimed that there are 102 species of tropical plants in the area. The Jathika Namal Uyana in Sri Lanka is known to be the largest pink quartz and ironwood forest in Asia. Namal Uyana gained popularity only recently when it was named a National Heritage site. This is an ideal location for those who love nature and wish to go on a hike to have a day out in the mountains. The air ballooning experience provided by the Heritance Kandalama is an ideal way to take a glance at these mountains if you are not one to hike and climb.
One of the most amazing creations that were handed down from history is the Sigiriya rock, located only about a thirty-minute drive from Dambulla city. The natural rock which was formed into a city and a fortress are popular for the Sigiri frescos that can be seen drawn on the way to the summit of the rock. Sigiriya which is also known as 'Sinhagiriya' has got the name from the figure of a lion that has been carved at the midway entrance leading to what used to be the palace, during King Kashyapa's reign. The climb to the top is rather tedious but the view from the top is absolutely worth the effort.
As surprising as it sounds, this man-made forest is no second to nature's creations itself. The Popham's Arboretum is a nature lover's paradise to be able to walk around spending time and witnessing the different types of trees, butterflies and birds resting and chirping on the trees. The path set leading to the wooden bridges set over little streams is the perfect way to spend a romantic evening soaking in the peacefulness that nature surrounds you with.
The translation of this means 'a pond with black water'. This is the perfect experience for those seeking some quiet time after a hike. A hike of about an hour will take you to the top of a mountain revealing a breath-taking view with this small pond that is situated next to the ruins of an ancient temple. The serenity and the calmness in the area is the ideal location to relax and soak in nature in its true form.
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