Anuradha Silva
We all long to escape from the monotony of everyday life and explore the magical beauty of our beautiful Island. Sri Lanka offers many options for day trips. Listed below are a few of such places.
Yala is one of the ideal places for devotees of wildlife. From herds of elephants, 44 different animal species and 215 varieties of birds can be seen in Yala. The park comprises of forests, marshlands, grasslands, and sandy beaches. The park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares which is divided up into 5 blocks. Two blocks are currently open to the public.
Pinnawala has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. It is not only an orphanage, but a nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants. Located at Pinnawala village, 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Kegalle town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka, it was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanical Gardens is situated in the Colombo district, close to Avissawella, located in on the Puwakpitiya-Thummodara main road. It was opened to the public in October 2014. It has a calm and quiet environment with beautiful natural surroundings. There is a cool climate and a pleasant temperature in the botanical gardens. A beautiful stream flows through it and visitors can go on boat rides. This is an ideal place for a wonderful day out.
A few kilometers away from Lakshapana, Aberdeen is a must-visit if you happen to be passing by the area. The views are absolutely stunning. Standing 322 feet tall, it's got two 'pools', the more striking one being the one right at the bottom. The pools are deep in the middle and the rocks leading down to it are incredibly mossy and slimy as well, so caution need to be applied .
Sri Pada, is not just a mountain for hikers to climb but a pilgrimage for many people. The 'season' for Sri Pada is from December to May, beginning and ending from each month's respective full moons. It's a long and hard but fascinating climb with thousands of steps along the most popular path. But you've six paths to choose from. It's believed that the rock creation at the summit is the footprint of the Lord Buddha, but Muslims and Christians believe that it's Adam's. Sri Pada is just one hour away from the famous bungalows in Nuwara Eliya.
