Introduction:
For a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames: Serendib,
Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma,
Pearl of the Orient. This colourful collection reveals its
richness and beauty, and the intensity of the affection it
evokes in its visitors.
Head for the rolling hills to escape the heat of the plains
in the cool of tea plantations. The entire island is teeming
with bird life, and exotics like elephants and leopards are
not uncommon. To top it all off, the people are friendly,
the food is delicious and costs are low.
Marco Polo considered Sri Lanka the finest island of its size
in all the world, and you'll likely agree after exploring
the country's fabled delights. What takes your fancy? Beaches?
The coastal stretch south of Colombo offers palm-lined sandy
expanses as far as the eye can see. Culture? Try the Kandyan
dances, a procession of elephants or the masked devil dances.
Ruins? You'll find enough ancient and inspiring architecture
in the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to satisfy that
inner archaeologist.
When to
Visit Sri Lanka Seychelles:
Climatically the driest and best seasons are from December
to March on the west and south coasts and in the hill country,
and from May to September on the east coast. December to March
is also the time when most foreign tourists come, the majority
of them escaping the European winter.
Out of season travel has its advantages - not only do the
crowds go away but many airfares and accommodation prices
go right down. Nor does it rain all the time. Reefs may protect
a beach area and make swimming quite feasible at places like
Hikkaduwa, which during the monsoon can be quite pleasant.
Attraction
in Sri Lanka Seychelles:
Colombo
Colombo, the island's largest city, is noisy, frenetic - and
just a little crazy. Thankfully, the breakdowns, snarled traffic
and power cuts are received with a shrug and a smile. While
the city holds less obvious interest than many other parts
of the island, it's still colourful and worth a look.
To the north of the centre is the Fort district, the country's
business centre. South is Galle Face Green, a seafront expanse
of occasional green graced by cricket games and trysting lovers.
Cinammon Gardens, further south, is the most fashionable neighbourhood,
with mansions and tree-lined streets.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is Sri Lanka's first capital, a potent symbol
of Sinhalese power, and the most extensive and important of
Sri Lanka's ancient cities. It became a capital in 380 BC
and for over 1000 years Sinhalese kings ruled from this great
city.
The Sacred Bo-Tree is the city's holiest site, and was grown
from the tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment. The
Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest of the many temples in Anuradhapura,
is believed to contain the right collar-bone of Buddha.
Kandy
The laidback 'capital' of the hill country, and the historical
bastion of Buddhist power, is built around a peaceful lake
and set in a picturesque bowl of hills. It has a distinctive
architectural character and the town centre is a delightful
compendium of old shops, buses, markets and hotels.
Its standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa,
a temple which houses Sri Lanka's most important religious
relic - the sacred tooth of Buddha. There are daily ceremonies
of homage to the Tooth Relic, each attracting white-clad pilgrims
carrying lotus blossoms and frangipani.
Galle
The port of Galle, thought by some to be the Biblical city
of Tarshish, splendidly illustrates the solidity of the Dutch
presence in Sri Lanka. The 36ha (89ac) Dutch Fort, built in
1663, has withstood the ravages of time. Its massive ramparts
surround the promontory that forms the older part of Galle,
and shelters within its walls sturdy Dutch houses, museums
and churches. The New Oriental Hotel, built for Dutch governors
in 1684, is a colonial gem with a wonderfully atmospheric
bar. Nearby is a tiny sliver of a beach suitable for a dip,
though most travellers prefer to head along the coast to the
fine beaches at Unuwatuna, Weligama and Tangalla.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa has been severely affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami
of 26 December 2004. The area has suffered extensive damage
and loss of life. Infrastructure is slowly being rebuilt and
services restored but check with the relevant authorities
before travelling to the area in the immediate future.
Hikkaduwa is the island's most developed beach resort. It
has a range of accommodation, good restaurants and pleasant
cafe-lined beaches. There's good snorkelling at an attractive
and easily accessible coral sanctuary, scuba diving at a number
of wrecks in the bay, tours by glass-bottomed boats and pretty
good surfing. It's a relaxed place, similar to many Asian
beach resorts popular with Western travellers. There are also
plenty of handicraft shops catering to tourist whims, a Buddhist
temple, a nearby lake with abundant birdlife and some pretty
dangerous traffic hurtling down the main road.
Nuwara Eliya
Once the favourite hill station of the British, Nuwara Eliya
still retains the vestiges of Empire: a blend of Tudor and
Georgian architecture, gabled roofs, immaculate lawns and
moss-covered gravestones. Soak up the quaint atmosphere by
visiting the Hill Club - by jove, there's a golf course, tennis
courts, even copies of Country Life here - or visit the botanic
gardens and tea plantations in the surrounding hills.
Adam's Peak
From December to April, pilgrims converge to climb the 2224m
(7295ft) Adam's Peak. At the top is a huge 'footprint', claimed
by Muslims to belong to Adam, who stood there in expiation
of his sin in the Garden of Eden. Never mind that Buddhists
believe it to be the mark of Buddha or that Hindus hold the
print to have been made by Lord Shiva, the fact remains that
it is has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1000 years.
The view from the peak at dawn is enough to shock the most
cynical agnostic into a state of reverie. It takes about four
hours to climb to the top from the town of Dalhousie.
Reaching the base of Adam's Peak is simple and if you're making
a night ascent, you've got all day to arrive. Buses run to
Dalhousie from Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Colombo in the pilgrimage
season. Otherwise you need to get first to Hatton or Maskeliya.
If you're really running late, taxis will take you to Hatton
or Dalhousie. You'll need to cover 220km (136mi) to get there
from Colombo.
Yala West
Though it sustained some damage due to the 2004 tsunami, Yala
West is one of the few Sri Lankan national parks still open
to travellers. It has scrub, lagoons and rocky outcrops, and
is in the country's southeast; it's a particularly good place
to see elephants.
There are also leopards, bears, deer, crocodiles, wild boar,
monkeys, buffalo and wild peacocks. It's best to hire a jeep
and driver in Tissamaharama and be in place near a waterhole
at dawn or dusk. Nearby Bundala National Park is Sri Lanka's
best spot for birdwatching.
 Yala West is closed in September and usually part of August
and October too. But when it's open the best way to get there
is to catch a bus to the coastal town of Tissamaharama, 241km
(149mi) from Colombo, and then hire a jeep and a driver. If
you have your own four wheel drive you can just drive up to
the front gate and pay the entrance, insurance and tracker
fees.
Reaching Sri Lanka Seychelles:
The only way to enter Sri Lanka is by flying. Colombo is the
international gateway for direct flights from Europe, Asia,
Australia and the Middle East. There are cheap flights available
between Colombo and Madras, Trichy, Trivandrum and Bombay.
Departure tax is 10.00. |
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