Joanna James
There is a lot to do and see in Sri Lanka, and three weeks won't seem enough if you intend to cover the major sites on the island. Below is a rough plan to map out your stay, so you can make most of your time traversing the island.
In the first week, discover the coastal regions of Sri Lanka. Starting from the southern coastal city of Galle, the Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and nearby are the famous Unawatuna, Jungle beach, and Koggala beach. If you venture further along the southern coast, you will encounter beach towns like Mirissa, Dickwella, Matara and Tangalle. All are beautiful coastal towns with plenty of sun and surf, with lots of great restaurants and star-class accommodation.
For cultural and religious sites, you can visit either the sacred city of Kataragama, Tissamaharama, Kirinda temple, Mulkirigala Temple or the ancient Sithulpawwa Rock Monastery. In terms of wildlife, the southern coast is also home to Yala National Park, Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, and Bundala National Park.
From Kataragama or Tangalle, make your way to Ella. From Kataragama to Ella, it will roughly be a two-hours, from Tangalle it will take 2.5-hours. Travelling by taxi is recommended to save time as public transport can take over 6 to 8 hours.
In Ella, the main attractions are the scenery and the hikes. The climate is cool and comfortable, in complete contrast to the humid south coast. The Ella Rock, little Adams peak, and Nine Arches Bridge are some of the best attractions. Liptons Seat in Haputale amid lush tea plantations is also a good day trip when in Ella.
Two days in Ella is sufficient to cover the major sites and relax. From Ella, you can take the scenic train to Kandy, which is roughly 6. 5-hours. Make sure to get second-class reserved/unreserved tickets to get better views of the beautiful landscape.
You can spend two or more in Kandy, visiting the Temple of the Tooth, Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, The Royal Palace and ancient temples like Gadaladeniya and Lankatilaka Temple.
From Kandy, make your way to Dambulla, towards the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. There is a direct bus from Kandy to Dambulla, which takes around 2 hours. Plan to stay here for at least 2 days as the city is home to the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, and Sigiriya is just 30 minutes away.
From Dambulla, travel to Anuradhapura, via bus it will take around 2.5 hours, and a taxi will get you there in little than 60 minutes. Anuradhapura is an ancient city with ruins and impressive stupas. The rural setting is charming and beautiful, and you get a glimpse of what ancient Sri Lanka would have been like.
From Anuradhapura, you have the option of going to Willpattu National Park, which is an hour away. Or spend the rest of your week exploring the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which is two hours via taxi.
In Sri Lanka buses and trains provide decent connectivity but can get limited to certain routes, plus extremely slow due to multiple stops. Thus, you will be spending a lot of time on the road.
For faster and more comfortable travel, opt for taxis, even tuk-tuks are good for shorter distances. Rented vehicles and luxury tours in Sri Lanka are a great way to see the country. Many tour operators like Walkers Tours can customise an itinerary to suit your interests.
Sri Lanka can be visited all year round and has a tropical weather climate. The southwest season carries rain to the west, southwestern coasts, and the hillsides from April to May, with sporadic rains till June.
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.
