Things to do around Kandalama - A few lovely gems to look at

Known to be one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island, Sigiriya is found at the top of a volcanic rock. Built by a king who was afraid of foreign invaders and enemies, this is an incredible fortress that is a must-visit especially if you are into the history and culture of the country. The climb up can be quite tedious and one has to be in a medium level of fitness to do it. After the first 100 or so steps, you will be able to stop at each viewpoint, enjoy what it has to offer and keep climbing until you reach the top. This place is a rock plateau that was created by an extinct volcano and stands up to 200 m taller than the trees around it giving you a view that is nothing short of stunning. Although what you find on top right now is just the ruins you will be able to imagine what it was like back during its glory days. If you are staying at one of the Sri Lanka resorts in this area like Heritance Kandalama, this is definitely one of the things you must do.

Just like the popular rock, the place where it is situated also has a few interesting things you can get up to after your climb up-and-down the summit. Take a walk and explore the lanes of the village and enjoy the local sites after nightfall.

This visit is yet another place with some climbing, but don't fret. it is not as high as the Sigiriya. This place also has quite the view of the hills, forests and the highways below, once you reach the top. Also known as the Golden Temple, the history of this place dates back to the 1st century BC. Inside the main temple, you will come across 5 smaller cave temples. Take your time to look around the place and if you can stay up there for the sunset, do so as it is quite the coveted, magnificent view.

This is quite an interesting place to go to. This is also known as the garden of the white man locally. A man-made garden found about 2 km of a from the main road in Kandalama, if you are not familiar with the word, this is a place where people study trees. This is the only dry zone garden as such found in the country and it was created about 40 years ago on an approximately 8-acre sized jungle.

If you are staying at Kandalama and do not mind travelling an hour or two to explore the historic attractions close by, make sure you visit the ancient cities, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Exploring these places require a day each respectively and will definitely be a fun tour to partake in.