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Kandy |
Kandy
the last royal capital of
Sri Lanka is a major tourist
destination. ( 115kM from
Colombo at 465 meters above
sea level). Famous for the
Temple of the Tooth and
many other temples the city
could be called the cultural
capital of the island.
Kandy Perahera, the pageant
of the temple of tooth where
Buddha's tooth is kept is
held either in July or August
each year to parade the
golden caskets is a must
see itenary if one is visiting
Sri Lanka during these months. |
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Dambulla |
Dambulla
Temple is a unique complex
of 5 cave image houses containing
over 150 Buddha and other
statues along with beautifully
painted walls and ceilings.
The temple, constructed
by a king in appreciation
for providing shelter for
him when escaping an enemy
attack in the 1 century
BC is now declared as a
world heritage site. |
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Sigiriya |
Built
in the 5 century AC this
magnificent complex of geometrically
laid gardens, pools, fountains
(still working today) as
well as oldest surviving
murals of maidens has been
a palace of the King Kasyapa.
Built on top of a 200m high
rock, the entrance to the
climb once has been through
a lions head. Only the huge
paws remain today |
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Galle |
The
capital of the southern
province is a city with
a colourful history. UNESCO
declared World Heritage
Site the magnificent Dutch
fort is the most popular
attraction of the town.
300 year old Dutch atmosphere
is still very much alive
around the fort and amidst
its many historical buildings
not invaded by the skyscrapers.
The beautiful beach of Unawatuna
is just 6km south east of
the city
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Matara |
Southern
most major town in Sri Lanka and the terminus of
the coastal rail line has also been under the Portuguese
and Dutch rule. The star shaped fort at Matara is
an unusual and a unique structure. There are several
beautiful and less crowded beaches along the coast
between Galle and Matara and the closest to the
town is at Polhena. Another attraction is a 25m
high colourful Buddha statue built at Veherahena
Temple.
The temple is about 2 kM from the town centre and
about 1 Km inland from Pallimulla on the main road |
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Yala National Park |
Ruhuna
National Park at Yala is Sri Lanka’s most
popular wild life safari destination. Situated about
300kM from Colombo the 1250 sq kM park is home to
leopards, crocodile, elephant, deer, sambar, bear,
wild bore, wild buffalo and peacock and may varieties
of birds including migratory birds such as flamingos.
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Nuwara Eliya |
Situated
at around 2000m above sea level and s urrounded
by lush tea plantations Nuwara Eliya is the
main hill resort of Sri Lanka and the heart
of the tea industry. Once a pleasure retreat
of the European planters the town is still
very much an English town with many English
style bungalows and buildings. Nuwara Eliya
is a good escape for those who miss cool breez.
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Pinnawala |
See
baby jumbos wondering around their cramped
foster home or bottle fed and bathed by their
human foster fathers at Pinnawala, about 90Km
from Colombo towards Kandy is the home to
some 60 or more elephant orphans.
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