Nuwara Eliya

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If it is in Colombo and elsewhere in the level in July or August will be very sticky, fleeing members of the local middle and upper class here. Cooling, it is almost the whole year, sometimes even really cold. The "City of Light," as Nuwara Eliya (43 000 Ew.) Translated means, is located at 2000 m altitude. As one looks forward to the crackling fireplace in the afternoon, perhaps even on the hot-water bottle, which in some places into the hotel bed is laid. The golf course is on the eastern e...

Kataragama

Kataragama is one of the 16 principal places of Buddhist pilgrimage to be visited in Sri Lanka. According to the chronicle of Sri Lankan history the Mahawamsa, when the Bo-sapling or Pipil tree sapling under which Gotama Buddha attained enlightenment in North India was brought to the city of Anuradhapura 2,300 years ago, the warriors or Kshatriyas from Kataragama were present on the occasion to pay homage and respect. The Buddhist Kiri Vehera Dagoba which stands in close proximity to the Hindu temple was built by the King Mahasena. According to the legend, Lord Buddha, on his third and the last visit to Sri Lanka, was believed to have met the King Mahasena who ruled over the Kataragama area in 580 BC. Thus the local Sinhalese Buddhists believe that Kataragama was sanctified by Lord Buddha. The King met the Lord Buddha and listened to the Buddha's discourse and as a token of gratitude, the Dagoba was built on that exact spot where it now stands.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage- This orphanage is a government run sanctuary for elephants. Baby elephants that have been abandoned or injured in the wild are brought, reared and trained here to eventually become working animals. The best time to visit is at feeding and bathing time.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, according to legend, was first settled by Anuradha, a follower of Prince Vijaya the founder of the Sinhala race. Later, it was made the Capital by King Pandu kabhaya about 380 BCE.

According to the Mahavamsa, the epic of Sinhala History, King Pandu kabhaya’s city was a model of planning. Precincts were set aside for huntsmen, for scavengers and for heretics as well as for foreigners. There were hostels and hospitals, at least one Jain chapel, and cemeteries for high and low castes.

Water supply was assured by the construction of 'tanks', artificial reservoirs, of which the one called after himself, exists to this day under the altered name of Baswak Kulam.

kandy

Kandy is the famous city of Sinhala history culture, religion and pageantry. The Kandyan Kingdom, the last independent state in Sri Lanka withstood the onlaught of three invading European nations for over two centuries. The Temple of the Tooth houses the most sacred Buddhist relic, the tooth of the Buddha.

polonnaruwa

This was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 10th Century AD. In its time the city was protected by 6 km (3 ½ miles) of encircling walls and strategically commanded all the crossings over the Mahaveli River guarding the Southern Province.

Kumana sanctuaries

The sanctuaries at Kumana 312 km. from Colombo, Wirawila 261 km. Bundala 259 km. and Kalametiya 224 km. are all lagoon locations in Sri Lanka's extreme south eastern coast. The Giant's Tank in the north western corner of the island is a huge ancient irrigation reservoir of 3,800 hectares. The coastal sanctuaries are exotically picturesque with combinations of lagoon, swamp, river, jungle, lake and plain. Large flocks can be found here of both resident and migrant aquatic birds. The highland sanctuaries at Udawattakele 118 km. from Colombo and the Peak Wilderness 141 km.

Yala national park

Ruhuna Yala Group of National Reserves covering over 100,000ha is divided into 5 blocks of which only block 1 is open to the public. The five blocks together with Strict Natural Reserve, Yala East National Park, Kudumbigala sancutaury Buddhist monastery & LHT (Living Heritage Trust) Okanda Heritage Conservation Zone are surrounded by a long strip of buffer zone with the coast to the south. That's a pretty long range

It is recorded, in the course of his duties, Henry Englebrecht, the first Camp Warden (1907-1928) of the Ruhuna Yala Group of National Reserves used to traverse Panama, Okanda, Kumana, Yala, Buthawa, Palatupana, Kirinda, Tissamaharama areas finally arriving at Hambantota where he collected his pay packet from the Government authority & also bought his provisions & other necessities, returning along the same route.

sigiriya

In classic feudal style, this wealth was consolidated into the hands of a small number of megalomaniac kings, who wisely invested it in a series of epic ancient cities. Thousands of slaves were employed as each king sought to out do their predecessor – often a blood relative they had killed to gain their position – by building structures that were bigger, higher or contained more Buddhas. In their day the results must have been spectacular – sixty-metre dagobas, seven-storey palaces and complex gravity powered fountains set in water-gardens to rival Versailles. The king who built Sigiriya had a harem of five hundred wives, who spent their days lounging around four Olympic-sized swimming pools. Sigiriya is a rightful contender for the much claimed title of the ‘eight wonder of the world’

Belihuloya

This is a trail with remarkable diversity of terrain, weather and vegitation. It starts off with a stretch across beautiful paddy fields. You will then be walking (and of course climbing) through pines plots, grass lands, montane forest patches, tea estates and finally through a cloud forest to reach world’s end

Adam's Peak

1.Hatton – Nallathanni route is the most popular trail to the summit of Sri Pada or Adam’s peak. This trail is the shortest amongst the conventional trails leading to Sripada. Not only it is short, it is also the trail that starts off from the highest elevation which makes it the trail with lowest elevation gain

2.Kuruwita – Erathna trail to Sri Pada is the third most popular trail leading to Adam’s peak. This trail is much difficult to tackle than the most popular Hatton-Nallathanni route.

While this trail is about 3km longer than the second most popular Rathnapura – Palabathgala route, the trail conditions and the surrounding environment is very much similar to the Palabathgala trail. In fact these two trails meet 2km before the summit

3.This trail goes through the evergreen rain forest of the peak wilderness sanctuary and it is closer with the nature compared to the popular Hatton – Maskeliya route to Adam’s peak. Low land vegetation (tall trees – thick canopy) covers the trail at the beginning and vegetation gradually transforms to a mountain cloud forest (shorter, more heavily stemmed, moss covered trees) towards the trail end. Peak wilderness sanctuary is among the best areas for birds and butterflies in Sri Lanka as well

Minneriya national park

Minneriya National Park is situated in the north-central plains of Sri Lanka, 20 kilometers from Polonnaruwa. The park encompasses the beautiful Minneriya tank, built by King Mahasena (in 3rd century AD). This tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants that come to bathe and graze on the grasses as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants, painted storks, open-bills, Pelicans and many other species of waders) that come to fish in the shallow waters.

Main entrance of Minneriya National park is located facing Habarana – Polonnaruwa road (A11). From Colombo reach Habarana junction via Kurunegala, Dambulla (A1, A6), and take the right turn from Habarana towards Polonnaruwa. Drive 10 km towards Polonnaruwa to reach Minneriya National Park. Distance from Colombo is around 182km and total driving time will be around 4-5 hours.

1. Elephants, elephants and a lot of them !. You can witness how dominant female guide and protect the family, young calves playing and exploring the surrounding under the close supervision of adults, young males fighting for dominance and if you are lucky, you may be able to see one or more majestic tuskers
2. Birds watching – A large number of birds gather in the park to feed on the fish that get trapped in drying water holes in the lake bed. Huge flocks of birds like cormorants, painted storks, open-bills, Pelicans can be seen.
3. Beautiful Landscape – The lake, lush green lake bed and the surrounding mountains create memorable landscapes enhanced by warm light during the late afternoons

Babara kanda water fall

Bambarakanda waterfall is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Situated in the hill town of Kalupahana near Haldumulla in the south eastern slopes of central hills. The area around Bambarakanda is rich with scenic beauty, rugged terrain, waterfalls, tea fields and cool climate making it an attractive destination for nature lovers.

Colombo -> Ratnapura -> Balangoda -> Kalupahana (left turn from Colombo – Badulla highway [A4] at Kalupahana, between 172nd and 173rd km post & Drive 5km) -> Bambarakanda Rest

1. Hiking – There are plenty of trails to waterfalls and mountain peaks. They are Trail to Lanka Ella waterfall, Trail to the top of Bambarakanda waterfall, Trail to Uduwara and Nagadowa waterfalls and Wangedigala and Gonamale rocky mountain peak hike.
2. Beautiful Landscape – The view all around is pretty beautiful including the mighty Bambarakanda falls and the surrounding hills
3. 4WD - Jeep track to Horton Plain via Devil’s Staircase
4. Natural Bath – Cool Bath in the Natural Pool complex known as “Seven Basins” or the natural pools at top and bottom of Bambarakanda falls

Hortan place

Horton Plains is a unique natural attraction in Sri Lanka. It is located in the
highest plateau of the country and its known for its beautiful landscapes and
rare plant and animal life. The Horton plains is one of the most important catchment
areas in Sri Lanka which acts as a giant sponge which store rain water and then feed
seveal major rivers of the country through out theMain entrance to Horton Plains National Park and the visitor center is located on the Ohiya – Pattipola road. There are two ticket offices at Ohiya side and Pattipola side of this road.
Access By Road
Route1: Colombo-> Nanu-oya -> Black Pool -> Ambewela -> Pattipola -> Horton Plains [200 km]
Route2: Colombo -> Haputale -> Boralanda -> Ohiya -> Horton Plains [215km]
Route3: Bandarawela -> Boralanda -> Ohiya -> Horton Plains [40km] | Discussion: Horton Plains via Boralanda on Lakdasun Forum
Public Transport in only available up to Pattipola and Ohiya.
Access By Train On Colombo – Badulla line, get down either at Pattipola or Ohiya Railway station. The road connecting these two towns goes through the Horton plains and its visitor center is just 10km from both Pattipola and Ohiya.
A 4WD Trail You can drive a 4WD drive from Kalupahana on Colombo – Badulla highway up to Horton Plains [24km from Kalupahana].
Hiking from Belihuloya You can hike up to Hortan Plains from Belihul-Oya on Colombo – Badulla Highway [9km from Galagama] or hike up to Horton Plains from Dayagama Estate, Agarapathana [5.6km from the estate border] year.