Joanna James
The drop of paradise amidst the wide-open Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is blessed with everything the island nation could wish for to charm its many visitors. Complementing oodles of nature and beauty are the scores of luxury resorts, inviting you to experience lavish island living on the teardrop island.
The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is something almost all tourists to the island country look forward to and Cape Weligama in the charming beach town of Weligama is a delightful retreat to play host to your seaside getaway. The palatial resort sitting atop a singular promontory is just a stone's throw away from the turquoise blue water and affords mind-blowing views of the wide-open seas. Laze in the beachfront infinity pool and experience the epitome of luxury island living in one of the 39 meticulously designed cottages.
Venturing inland from the palm-fringed beachside to the charming central highlands, Kandy is your gateway to the best of Sri Lanka's hill country. While the nature and general atmosphere of Kandy are definitely more tranquil than the rest of the island, Kandy city itself is noisy and rather chaotic. Kandy House, a 20-minute drive away from the city centre, is the perfect sanctuary to savour the peace and tranquillity that Kandy is renowned for. Nestled in the serenity of a thick jungle, this 200-year-old white-bathed bungalow is as secluded as it gets.
Moving further north from Kandy, 40 kilometres away from the widely visited city of Nuwara Eliya, is one of the least visited towns in the central highlands, lovely Hatton. Ceylon Tea Trails in Hatton is not just one property, but 5 Colonial planter's bungalows scattered within the beautiful Castlereagh Estate. Choose one of the five bungalows you fancy and treat yourself to an experience of an English Planter, where emerald-green tea fields and dramatic mountains are your neighbours.
No trip to Sri Lanka would be complete without experiencing the island's fascinating tropical fauna. Wild Coast Tented Lodge is the ideal host for your wildlife experience in Sri Lanka. The elegant safari lodge is set on the fringes of Yala National Park — the most visited out of the 22 national parks on the island — overlooking the turquoise blue waters of the majestic Indian Ocean. The 28 cocoon-like soaring canvas tents are what you want to come to after a day of exploring the dense wilderness.
The crown jewel of Sri Lanka and a star attraction in many Sri Lanka tour packages by agents like Ceylon Tours, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress offers an unmissable experience on your getaway to the island country. It is, without a doubt, one of the most attractive places in Sri Lanka and will have you bewitched by its grandeur. If luxury and undisturbed tranquillity are what you are looking for here in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, look no further than Water Garden Sigiriya, where it is just about that.
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.
