Sri Lanka - The Place of a Lifetime

Sigiriya

Sigiriya  is a major archaeological site in Sri Lanka. It was made a World Heritage Site, by UNESCO in 1982. Rising 200 meters vertically from the flat pains, Sigiriya Rock provides you with one of the most dramatic sites in Sri Lanka. The Sigiriya site consists of a 200 meter tall granite rock, whose sides are so steep that at some points the top overhangs the base. Ruins of various chambers, stairways and pools can be seen at the top of this rock. There is a stone stairway leading from the base to the top of the mountain. About half way to the top, there is a giant pair of lions paws which is in fact are the remains of a huge head of a lion whose open mouth served as the entrance to the royal palace. Surrounding the palace complex are the ruins of a garden complex consisting of two moats and various pools, some with water fountains still functioning after 1500 years.

Unawatuna Beach

Unawatuna is a cautionary tale for the rest of Sri Lanka's south coast. Where there was once a flawless crescent of golden sand that swept along a palm-lined shore with turquoise waters that had just enough surf to make for ideal swimming conditions, there is now one of Sri Lanka's less appealing beach towns.

The beautiful water is still there and you can still find decent patches of sand, but in several places greed has replaced good taste and common sense. Bulldozers have pushed huge boulders right up to and beyond the high tide line, allowing for the construction of some especially ugly hotels and cafes. Ironically, authorities have actually enforced setbacks on the west half of Unawatuna's beach and the result is much more salubrious.

Beautiful Sri Lanka

PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDEN

As Sri Lanka’s largest garden an elegant and spacious 147-acres (60-hectares) plenty of time is needed to stroll Peradeniya’s imposing Avenue of Royal Palms.

There are some 4,000 different species of plants at Peradeniya Gardens. The 10,000 or so trees, which are the stars, are mature, lofty giants, many of them tropical timber trees. Highlights of the collection include the Giant Bamboo of Burma, capable of growing to 40 meters height (130 feet) with a 25-centimetre (10-inch) stem diameter. And it can grow by a rapid 30 centimeters a day (12 inches).

Absolutely sensational is the century old giant Javan fig tree, its tentacle like roots spread across the enormous area of about 1,800 square meters (19,375 square feet) a massive central trunk beneath the tree’s vast canopy ‘umbrella’.

The Cannonball tree is also intriguing, with its cannonball-like fruit hanging off the trunk and large open, waxy pink-white flowers. So is the Double Coconut Palm, one of 200 types of palms displayed at Peradeniya – originating from the Seychelles, this tree produces the largest seed known. Its fruits take five years to mature.

The gardens showcase all of Sri Lanka’s flora and representative species from around the tropical world. Luminaries as varied as Queen Elizabeth II , Marshal Tito and Yuri Gugarin have planted trees to mark their visits to the garden.

Source :http://www.botanicgardens.gov.lk/

My First visit to Sri Lanka

I could spend 10 beautiful days in the pearl of Indian Ocean on my last summer vacation. Indeed this country is a pearl, it has everything. I must say that the country may look so small in scale but the heart of the people there full-size. It is hard even to imagine that one small place carries so many beautiful aspects in it. When we (me and my family) first landed the people at the airport greeted us saying “Ayubowan”, which was firstly little unfamiliar to me.

I have been to Asia before but this was the first time to Sri Lanka for all my family members. So we celebrated the return to Asia with yummy Sri Lankan foods at the hotel we stayed. The spice flavor was a great heal for my tiredness of travelling more than five hours in the flight. The little adventure journey started form the next day itself and kept going for 10 more days. We could visit several places in Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Pinnawala and in the hill country as well. The journey was full of excitements, Joy and filled with some unforgettable experiences. I was lucky as we got a chance to travel by train from Colombo to Kandy. What so special in a train right? But if you visiting Sri Lanka train ride is a must I would say.

Unfortunately the ten days went so fast and I am back to my home. But my experience in Sri Lanka will always be unforgettable. The people, their generosity, the ancient Buddhist ruins, the war ruins, the yummy curry dishes, elephants made 2015 so special for me. It was small 10 days we had to explore every corner of this amazing country. But Sri Lanka I will definitely come back again coz 10 days were not enough for me.

Bird eye view of Sri Lanka

Top reasons To Visit Sri Lanka

* Regarded as one of the best places for brid watching where more than 33 species are endemic to Sri Lanka.

* Sun-bathing all year round , including recreational activities such as scuba diving , snorkeling, wind surfing.

* Ancient cities and architecture dating back to more than 2500 years

* Considered at the ultimate romantic destination for honeymooner.

* Safari trips and night camping in forests and wild life santuaries.

* One of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

* Chosen as the second best travel destination by National Geographic.

* A great place to wind down , relax and have a great vacation.

* Beautiful nature sceneries of waterfalls, forests, beaches, etc.

* Forbes ranked Sri Lanka high in its list for best countries to do business with.

* New York Times published Sri Lanka as one of the great vacation spots in the world.

* According to a Newsweek survey Sri Lanka is the 5th best Asian Country.

Sri Lanka

Planning to take a tropical island vacation?

In that case, you should seriously consider a trip to Sri Lanka. This little tropical island has so many things to see and do that a list of reasons why you should visit could be potentially endless. Nevertheless, we tried to compile a list of 5 of the most compelling reasons why you should visit Sri Lanka.

Geography of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka may be a small country, but this only plays to its advantage as a tourist destination. This is because the island’s unique geography gives it a variety of beautiful landscapes, ranging from beaches of white sand to seas of green plantations to misty hills and mountains, so travelling from one location to another does not take much time. This means that on a short vacation to Sri Lanka, you will be able to experience and enjoy a wide variety of sights without spending too much time with travelling from one location to the next.

Hospitality in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankans have long been well known for the level of hospitality they display to tourists and travelers. Being a prime tourist destination, the locals tend to see foreigners rather often, but this does not mean that they’ve grown tired of them. In fact, most locals will tend to go out of their way to help out a lost traveler or one in need of assistance. While there are occasional ‘tourist traps’ to take advantage of the unwary traveler, this is not commonly practiced, and definitely not on par with the level that is carried out in tourist hotspots like Thailand or Indonesia. Visitors to Sri Lanka will generally find the Sri Lankan people to be very friendly.

Accommodation in Sri Lanka

The level of accommodation you can find in Sri Lanka is also very high in standard. From boutique hotels to five-star luxury resorts to affordable inns and guest houses, finding a place to stay with good service and a lovely view is an easy task. Whether you want to see the beach, the forest, the hills or the plantations, you will be able to find a hotel of suitable standard to rest and enjoy the experience. Combine this with the level of hospitality you will receive from your host, and you will be pampered throughout your holiday.

Food in Sri Lanka

With a population that is so ethnically and culturally diverse, it comes as no surprise that Sri Lankan cuisine has several unique dishes that are a result of this diversity. While Sri Lankans in general prefer spicy food, as evidenced by the numerous curries and sambols, there are also many other dishes that can be enjoyed by visitors with less adventurous palates. Dishes like hoppers, kottu roti and biriyani made in Sri Lanka have a unique taste that cannot be matched anywhere else in the world. In addition to such meals, many of the sweets and side dishes prepared in Sri Lanka cannot be found anywhere else either. This makes a trip to Sri Lanka a vacation for your taste buds as well.

Festivals in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a country with a very high number of national holidays, as it observes holidays for several different cultures and religions. With the celebration of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian holidays, there is guaranteed to be at least one holiday in each month of the year. Some of these holidays are also celebrated with great festivals. At a Buddhist Perahera, for instance, you will see dancers marching in procession alongside fire-breathers and trained elephants. Other festivals are conducted with the same level of grandeur, and visitors will be able to catch such memorable events at any time of the year