Joanna James
The teardrop island of Sri Lanka is scattered with beautiful, exotic destinations. That is why ancient explorers like Marco polo and today's travellers describe it as one of the finest islands in the world. It is small yet full of beauty, variety, and adventure. Let's take a look at 7 of the best places to discover in Sri Lanka.
This iconic train ride is famous on Instagram. You can pre-book an intercity train. The observation deck is pretty comfortable, and you'll make the most of the scenic surroundings. However, the observation car tickets are a little more expensive than the rest. You should reserve a seat in advance to avoid getting into a crowded car. Sit back and enjoy the ride through forest covers, misty hills, ancient bridges, murmuring streams and tea plantations. If you are really open to a local experience, buy a snack from train vendors and chat with a local family. You can use websites like Truly Sri Lanka to look for suitable Sri Lanka hotels for your hillside stays in Ella.
There are about 25 wildlife parks in Sri Lanka, but the annual elephant gathering at the Minneriya National Park tops them all in majesty. Come dry season, between July and October, about 300 dark gray elephants make their way to the Minneriya reservoir to quench their unbearable thirst. You can hire a safari jeep to explore the park and make it there in time for the meeting of the great beasts to drink water. They will dip their trunks in water and drink up their fill, munch some grass and fill the very air with their graceful presence. The park itself is home to numerous exotic birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and much more.
Once upon a time, an illegitimate son of a King claimed his right to the throne and built himself a palatial rock fortress away from his enemies. King Kyashapa loved art, architecture, and sensuous living. He filled his rock fortress with all things a king could desire including water gardens, rockeries, beautiful women, art, and luxury. Today, the remnants of this palatial rock beckon visitors to discover the secrets of engineering marvels that build the well-functioning plumbing system up a colossal rock and admire its art and design excellence. You should make the climb to the top early in the morning to avoid the sun's wrath. Don't forget to visit the rock gardens and surrounding landscape as well.
The Galle Fort witnessed a lot of action during its heyday with the Portuguese and Dutch colonials. Today, the fort is a site of much beauty and rich culture. You can climb up the ramparts early in the morning and catch stunning views of the rolling ocean. Afterwards, make your way into the inner sanctum of Galle Fort for breakfast at an inspired restaurant. Take a stroll along the cobblestoned lanes, with red-tiled roofs all around it. Visit the art shops, and boutique ethnic stores, get some ice cream and catch glimpses of the ocean.
You can head down south for laid-back beach days of mild surfing, swimming, snorkelling and drinking cocktails by the beach. Find a lovely spot and soak up the sun with a good book and plenty of fruity drinks. Make time for a few spa days to truly relax. If you visit between November and April – go dolphin and whale watching in Mirissa. Remote Tangalle has some of the best beaches in the county. Make your way to Arugam Bay for some serious surfing and arid land explorations. Feast on seafood and catch sunsets. In Arugam bay, visit elephant rock, peanut farm and pottuvil point for the best breaks. The surfing season occurs between May and September.
Sri Lanka's ancient civilization sprung up in the dry zones of Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa. They built artificial lakes and reservoirs to preserve water for massive projects of rice cultivation and the royal families commissioned massive temples and stupas to bring attention to their glory. Today, the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are still scattered with remnants of architectural wonders and a still functioning system of irrigation.
Pick a village like Habarana or Hiriwadunna for a day to observe the slow flow of village life in Sri Lanka. Taka walks along the scrub jungles, watching rice farming and vegetable orchards come to life. Go trekking through a forest and take a boat ride to catch fish for dinner. Sign up for a cooking class to see the process of concocting wholesome Sri Lankan food. Don't forget to try some 'toddy' (coconut flower alcohol).
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