Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a land of many undiscovered treasures. Take your time to explore this unique land by detouring from the time-tested tourist trail and venturing off into parts of Sri Lanka that no one knows!
There are several islands between Northern Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu that belong to Sri Lanka, and Delft is the most popular of these. Also known as Neduntheevu in Tamil, its wild horse population is the star attraction of the island! These horses happen to be the ancestors of the horses left behind by the Dutch colonialists. You can also find a thousand-year-old Chola Period temple and the ruins of the Old Dutch Fort on the island.
Richmond Castle in Kalutara is an Edwardian-style mansion built by Mudaliyar Don Arthur Siriwardena in the early 1900s. The mansion is located on a hill close to the Kalu Ganga (river) on 42 acres of land. It now comes under the purview of the Public Trustee, and visitors are allowed to visit the premises. One can encounter many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka along the western coast; the likes of Amaya Resorts & Spas are some to look out for!
The temple is located 11 km from Pottuvil, in Arugambay and situated on the northern periphery of the Lahugala National Park. This temple commemorates the marriage of King Kavantissa and Princess Viharamahadevi, two important personages in Sri Lankan history. The temple surroundings extend across 10 000 acres, with ruins of rock ponds, stupas and moonstones. Magul Maha Viharaya falls under the protection of the Lahugala National Park, where many wild animals like elephants, deer, bears and leopards make their home.
This ancient sanctuary was built in 246 BCE by King Devanampiyatissa as a meditative sanctuary for monks desiring solitude for meditation. For decades, it was off-limits due to terrorist activity in these parts of the island. The sanctuary is built high up into rocky, mountainous terrain, and is close to the entrance of the bird sanctuary, Kumana. Kudumbigala is located in the village of Panama, which is 30 kilometres southward of Arugambay on the East Coast of the island. From high atop the rocky plateau, you can witness the thick jungle surrounding the rock. There are over 200 rock caves found all over its terrain, and the only remaining cylindrical stupa in Sri Lanka. The site remains abandoned at present, with no human settlements or monks residing within its environs. Its location within the heart of nature imbues a special aura, ideal for meditative calm and inner reflection.
Found in a village called Yatagampitiya, it is among the biggest caves in Sri Lanka. The cave is a site of archaeological discoveries, unearthing human skulls over 37,000 years old! According to legend, the travelling Buddhist monk Fa-Hien lived and studied in this cave for many years during his visit to Sri Lanka.
Encircled by lush greenery, the massive cave is 200 feet in length, and has an entrance over 175 feet tall! It has a width of 160 feet and sits 400 metres above sea level, while certain areas in the cave are over 400 feet in height. There is also a Buddhist temple and an impressive 40-foot reclining statue of the Buddha inside!
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 pas...
