05 cool, hidden and unusual things to do in Sri Lanka- Experience Lanka like never before!

Found between Northern Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, Delft Island, also called Neduntheevu in Tamil, is popularly known for its wild horses. Its land mass is around 50 km, and the island is home to a small Tamil community. You will encounter semi-arid tropical weather, with vegetation like palmyra and banana, alongside dry grasses and shrubs. Herds of feral horses left behind by the Dutch colonialists are one of the island's star attractions. Visitors to the island can further explore the ruins of the Old Dutch Fort and the Chola Temple, thousands of years old. 

Richmond Castle is an Edwardian-style mansion found in Kalutara, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It was built during the early 1900s and lies close to the Kalu Ganga (river). It was once the home of Mudaliyar Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena, an aristocrat and a King's official. Visitors can explore the premises and its extensive garden overlooking coconut plantations. The likes of Aitken Spence Hotels are a good option to stay when travelling around this region, or for any particular area where you find yourself looking for hotels in Sri Lanka. 

Located in Arugambay, this ancient temple commemorates the marriage of two important historical figures in Sri Lankan history, Princess Vihara Maha Devi and King Kavantissa. The temple is surrounded by 10,000 acres of land filled with ruins like rock ponds, stupas, and moonstones and situated within the Lahugala National Park. An important habitat for the Sri Lankan elephant, sambars, leopards, deer and many species of birds.

One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries on the island, with a history dating back to over 2000 years! This meditative sanctuary can be found near the village of Panama, close to Potuvil on the East Coast of Sri Lanka. The monastery lies ensconced on the Kudumbigala rock, with fantastic views of the surrounding jungle from the summit. There are over 200 rock caves and the last cylindrical stupa on the island, and the site was abandoned for many decades during the Separatist war with the terrorist outfit, LTTE. This monastery is once again occupied by simple forest monks, dedicated to the ancient forest tradition extolled by the Buddha.

This large cave, located in Yatagampitiya, in Kalutara, is one of the biggest prehistoric caves in Sri Lanka and the largest stone cave in South Asia. Its entrance is over 175 feet tall and visitors to the site can discover an archaeological history dating back 37,000 years. According to many anecdotes, the travelling Buddhist monk Fa-Hien lived and studied in this cave for many years during his visit to the island. You can also find a Buddhist temple and a 40-foot reclining Buddha statue inside the cave.