Joanna James
Be it the tea carpets of the hill country, lush vegetation and exotic flora and fauna all over the island, the amazing beaches and ancient history, Sri Lanka is home to all this and the warmth of its friendly people. Read on to discover the best attractions to your liking and needs amongst many.
Sitting on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Mirissa is blessed with a long stretch of mesmerizing beach embellished with touches of green by the swaying coconut palms and brilliant blue skies. Very close to the beach is the elevated lookout on a large rock called Parrot Rock both of which are enjoyed by locals and visitors staying over at beach villas in Sri Lanka to relax and capture some breathtaking views across from the rock.
This small seaside town is blessed with a pristine beach and an abundance of coral reefs thus enticing visitors to enjoy the waters with family and friends, or laze about acquiring a tan and those more adventurous ones to explore the vibrant marine life by diving or snorkelling as they wish. Many operators have trained teams and equipment to support interested visitors. A string of restaurants keeps the crowds from hotels such as Villa 700 sated and delighted with the hot favourites being their delicious seafood.
The national parks in Sri Lanka are great places to get sightings of wild flora and fauna. At this park, one is assured of getting a good sighting of the majestic Sri Lankan elephants. A tour of the park in the morning hours is ideal to view not only herds of elephants but also other types of fauna such as water buffaloes, crafty crocodiles, deer, colourful peacocks, and jackals etc. The diverse landscape within the park attracts a great variety of birds too as you would spot on your tour.
Situated in the hill country, the Temple of the Tooth is a much-revered place of worship as a tooth relic of Lord Buddha is ensconced within an inner chamber at this ancient temple which is situated in the ancient palace grounds of the last kingdom of Sri Lanka, the Kandyan Kingdom. Every year during August a special colourful procession is held by the temple over several days drawing crowds of Buddhists from all over the world to pay homage to the tooth relic.
Plan a visit to this beauty on the way to Ella,.in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka. At an elevation of 1041 metres above sea level, the area is rich in biodiversity too. If you are visiting during the summer months go prepared to do a dip in the pool to cool off. During rainy months, it is still worth seeing as the falls are strong and the curtain of water is simply amazing. Whilst you are there explore the wildlife sanctuary and learn about the cave complex nearby and the local legends surrounding the caves.
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.
