Joanna James
From lounging on a deserted beach, climbing a sacred mountain enjoying a fragrant cuppa of Ceylon tea on a picture-perfect plantation, there are countless activities to indulge in the serendipitous island of Sri Lanka. Read on to find out more.
A famed UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island, this majestic rock top fortress dates its antiquated origins back to the fifth century AD. In its time it acted as a Buddhist monastery and then a grand royal palace. Key highlights to take in include beautifully landscaped gardens, a mirror wall, and the world-famous frescos of the divine apsara's bearing their king flowers. Visiting either during an early morning or evening is highly recommended as the mid-day heat in the area can get quite unbearable.
Visit the Udwalawe National Park for your best chance of seeing packs of wild herds of elephants roaming free among the lush undergrowth of the reserve. Originally created to protect the watershed of the massive Udawalawe Reservoir, the part currently is home to riverine forest, scrub forest, and extensive stretches of grassland. Additionally, this is one of the best locations in Sri Lanka to enjoy birdwatching.
Today, Pasikuda Beach is toted as a pin-up of picture-postcard beaches of the world, thanks to its translucent blue waters, powdery white sands. Between the months of May to September Pasikuda is easily one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka to treat yourself to an idyllic seaside holiday in paradise. On most days the skies are cloudless with the endless sun to complement, while the water is warm and inviting with fantastic visibility making it ideal for diving, and snorkeling. One will also have a wide range of accommodation options to choose from as the area is home to many Pasikuda hotels including the likes of Amaya Beach to choose from.
At the heart of Sri Lanka's rich and extensive tea industry lies its stunningly lush and vernal tea estates, which offer a charming throwback to the country's colonial yesteryear. No trip to the island is complete without taking the time to tour expansive yet neatly terraced tea slopes, watch the busy tea pickers at work, and finally sample a fragrant cup of Ceylon tea to round your experience off. If you are a tea lover, consider visiting the hill country's lush Haputale Mountains, where Sir Thomas Lipton famously launched his tea empire. Here one will be able to take in where it all began!
Pay a visit to the walled city of Galle built in the year 1663 by the Dutch, located on the island's southern coast, and succumb to the charm of the island's rich colonial history. Inside the fort, one can take in Dutch colonial buildings, plenty of churches, museums, and much more.
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