“The island of Ceylon(Sri Lanka) is a small universe; it contains as many variations of culture, scenery, and climate as some countries a dozen times its size.”

-          Sir Arthur C Clarke

BEACHES

Toes curling into fine sand.

The aquamarine blue waves of the Indian Ocean gently unfolding on the golden shore.

A fresh coconut sipped in the shade of wind-whispering palms.

A (not-too-long) bask in the early morning or late afternoon sun.

A cool-off in the vast expanse of sun-glittering sea.

Some of the delights of Sri Lankan beach.

The southern coast

Most visitors to Sri Lanka head to the beach destinations of the southern coast, mostly situated south of Colombo. Each destination has developed its own distinctive character and highlights, and all are within easy reach of the capital. Let’s start with Negombo, situated only 6km from the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The town has a long history of tourism and a wide beach, but also tempts the visitor with Dutch canal boat tours, a colourful fish market and lively bars after dark. Equally convenient for those visiting the capital is Mount Lavinia beach – mere 12km south of the city centre. The beach is a great place to stroll in the evenings and on holidays, and enjoy dining at one of the many and varied restaurants.

Moving down the coast, the visitor leaves the urban sprawl and begins to sense the more relaxed nature of the south-west coast. Wadduwa is a favourite weekend destination for many Colombo dwellers and features one of the most beautiful hotels on the coast.

Kaluthara hosts a number of star-class hotels, another typically stunning beach, and also a majestic three-story Buddhist temple, which has the world’s only hollow stupa. The road finally joins the coastline after crossing the railway tracks at Payagala and from this point onwards you are treated to a stunning drive overlooking cove after cove of pristine beach.

Bentota remains one of the most delightful beach resorts of this coast with large star-class hotels and exclusive boutiques. On top of all this, Bentota boasts wide, picturesque beaches, and the Benota River on which tourists can take a cruise inland or take part in water-sports.

From Bentota onwards, beaches stretch before the visitor consistently through Induruwa until finally we reach Hikkaduwa – one of the most famous beach resorts in the island. Hikkaduwa is renowned for its surfing and nightlife.

The historic port city of Galle with its UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Dutch Fort – and boutique hotels has little beach. But just south of Galle is the famous beach of Unawatuna which continues to be a favourite of most visitors to Sri Lanka in search of sun, sea and sand. Unawatuna was voted among the top 12 beaches in the world and boasts excellent diving, a relaxed atmosphere and lively nights.

Throughout the stretch of beach from Negombo to Unawatuna there is ample opportunity to take part in water-and beach-sports, experience the highest standards of service and accommodation, and yet still be within easy reach of the capital and the airport. The best time to visit the southern beaches is from November to April when the sun shines temptingly while the monsoon is on the east coast.

The deep south

For those who are happy to travel slightly further comes the joy of new discoveries, and of remote beaches in the deep south of Sri Lanka.

Weligama bay is simply picturesque, with still-fishermen perched out to sea and catamarans gliding by. For those who are looking for something special, Taprobane Island can be waded to from the bay.

Just pass Weligama lies Mirissa, which many feel is the best beach destination in the deep south as it retains an unspoilt feel and features a beautiful cove. A favourite with surfers, Mirissa is a place for the sporty and laid-back traveler. Finally on this stretch of coastline comes Tangalle, which boasts stunning deserted beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, and the chance to watch turtles at Rekawa, and visit the nearby rock temple of Mulkirigala with its cave paintings and unforgettable views of the countryside.

The east coast

For truly pristine, unadulterated beach experience, there is no place than the east coast. Nilaveli and Uppuvelie to the north of Trincomalee and have for many years provided warm hospitality on stunning wide sandy beaches. Offshore lies Pigeon Island – a treat for divers with its vibrant coral gardens and swarms of tropical fish. From here the visitors can also discover hot springs, the fifth largest natural harbor in the world at Trincomalee, and numerous revered Buddhist and Hindu temples.

Near Batticaloa are Kalkudah and Pasikudah beaches, which are the last-visited on the east coast. Altogether they form 6km of fine sand and calm aquamarine seas that benefit from the protection of an offshore coral reef. Finally, on the east coast is Arugam Bay, with its well-established surfing scene and untouched beaches that stretch both to the north and to the south of the town. Close by is the Lahugala National Park, which hosts an array of tropical birdlife and herds of elephants.

The north coast

The north of Sri Lanka offers its own distinctive beach experience, with offshore islands dotted around the Jaffna coast, virgin beaches fringed with palmyrah trees such as the famous shallow transparent waters of Casuarina Beach, and the wild and unforgettable sand dunes of Manalkadu. On the north-west coast of Sri Lanka is Kalpitiya with its pristine beaches and azure sea which plays host to dolphins and whales during the season, and is also home to the famous Bar Reef – the largest coral reef in Sri Lanka. The best time to visit is from May to September

The Deep Blue Adventure

For divers, places to visit are Negombo , Hikkaduwa,  Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa, Tangalle, Pigeon Island and bar Reef near Kalpitiya. Not only will you encounter exotic reef fish and some of Sri Lanka’s 138 species of corals, but you have the chance to dive on some of the island’s submerged shipwrecks. If you prefer to remain above water but love sea-life, then there is the chance to go whale-and dolphin watching in Mirissa, Trincomalee and Kalpitiya. For those who like to surf then head for Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Arugam Bay.

Whether you yearn for a five-star beach resort, a laidback surfer’s paradise or a wreck-dive among multi- coloured tropical fish, Sri Lanka has the right beach destination for you. Amazingly, all of these beaches are within a day’s journey of the capital- a journey that reveals many of the island’s physical diversity – all in all, a small miracle indeed.



HILL COUNTRY

Mist-shrouded mountains, rolling tea plantations, cascading waterfalls and quaint hilltop villages – these are some of the aspects of the enchanting hill country, which rises over 2,500m in the island’s central heartland. A short distance by car or rail from Colombo, this region offers you the chance to escape into a world that scarcely seems possible in the tropics. With surreal landscapes, cool climes and a rich heritage, the hill country is a heaven for nature lovers, hikers, adventure seekers and those simply in search of peace and tranquility.

Royal City of Kandy

Nestled in lush green hills and built around a scenic lake, the Royal City of Kandy, at 500m above sea level, is the hub of any visit to the hill country. Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The showpiece of the city is the Dalada Maligawa or Temple of Tooth which hosts the Buddha’s tooth relic, an item of veneration to all Buddhist. Strolling around the lake or exploring the numerous temples that dot the hills nearby is a great way to get the feel of this historic city. Each year, in July or August, the city holds the Esala Perahara, a spectacular display of medieval pageantry replete with caparisoned elephants, whirling fire dancers and pulsating drummers.

The journey from Colombo to Kandy is a treat with fine views of the scenery afforded from the road or railway. Just outside Kandy at Peradeniya, the Royal Botanical Gardens contains a bewildering array of local and foreign species set in a tranquil site adjacent to the mighty Mahaweli Ganga, Sri Lanka’s most important river.

For many centuries, traders have been drawn to the island by the allure of its spices. Numerous spice gardens to the north of Kandy allow you to see how cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and cardamom all continue to flourish in the island’s fertile soil. Golfing enthusiasts should not miss the stunning Victoria Golf Course, set on the edge of a vast reservoir 20km east of Kandy.

Knuckles Mountain Range

Further east of Kandy, the Knuckles Mountain Range provides intrepid travelers with the opportunity to experience Sri Lanka at mst primal.a rugged area of pristine wilderness – including rare dwarf cloud forest – Knuckles has 27 peaks over 1,000m, with the highest rising nearly 2,000m. it is also home to an exceptional array of endemic animal and plant species.

Nuwara-Eliya

At the heart of the southern hill country is Nuwara-Eliya, Sri Lanka’s highest town and favourite hill station during British Colonial times. The town is still touted as ‘Little England’, an illusion maintained by the presence of an 18-hole golf course, a racecourse, the Victoria Park and excellent trout fishing in nearby lakes and rivers. Nuwara-Eliya is a great base to explore the surrounding countryside and there are many walks on offer, including hiking around the lower slopes of the thickly forested Mount Piduruthalagala, at 2,555m the island’s highest peak. A visit to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, a short distance from Nuwara-Eliya, is also recommended.

Tea Country

Among the most iconic vistas of the hill country are the rolling tea estates that carpet vast swathes of terrain in an emerald sea. Women draped in colourful saris resemble butterflies as they work their way deftly along the tea bushes, picking just two leaves and a bud from each branch and tossing them in to the baskets slung on their backs. Introduced to the island in the late 19^th century by the British, tea remains of vital importance to the economy. Some of the finest teas in the world are produced in the hill country and a visit to a tea factory during a trip to this region is highly recommended.

Horton Plains

South of Nuwara-Eliya, the Horton Plains is a hauntingly desolate, windswept plateau set at an elevation over 2,000m. A world apart from the rest of Sri Lanka, the plains offer excellent trekking, including a 9km circular walk to World’s End, where the cliff plunges dramatically for nearly 1,000m, offering marvelous views to the south. Herds of samber deer, beautiful lizards and many endemic bird species enhance the Horton Plains experience and there is always the hope of a glimpse of a leopard.

Nearby is the ancient Ravana rock temple, the Ravana Ella cave and Ravana Ella Falls, all linked by legend to the Ramayana, the 2,000-year-old Hindu epic. It was in Ella that the demon-king Ravana is said to have hidden Princess Sita after abducting her from her husband Rama in India. From Ella, it is also possible to visit the remarkable rock carvings at Buduruwagala, one of the island’s most atmospheric ancient sites. Other hill country towns worth checking out include Haputale, Bandarawela and Badulla.

For visitors who are not in a hurry, riding the hill country train is an excellent way to savour the delights of this region, in addition to being a practical way of getting around. Snaking its way through tea plantations, pine forests and plunging ravines, this is rightly regarded as one of the finest railway journeys in the world. Ascending to a height over 2,000m, the journey affords stunning views of the scenery.

Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada)

Soaring above the surrounding hills in the southwest of the hill country is Adam’s Peak. Known also as Sri Pada (Sacred Footprint) due to the curious footprint-shaped indention at its summit, the mountain is considered sacred to adherents of all of Sri Lanka’s main faiths-Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians – and attracts many pilgrims between December and May each year. The ascent requires stamina rather than mountaineering skills and consists of over 4,800 steps to the summit. The best time to make the ascent is during the night, when the twinkling lights of the illuminated pathway appear to rise like a stairway to heaven.

Kitulgala

In the west of the hill country is the scenic village of Kitulgala. The landscape here is particularly dramatic with vertiginous forest-clad cliffs plummeting down to the wild waters of Kelani river. This is also the site of some of the best whitewater rafting in Sri Lanka with grade three rapids some 5km upstream.

Kithulgala’s other claim to fame is that it was the site for the filming of the 1957 Academy Award winning film, The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Ratnapura & Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sri Lanka has been famous for its gems since antiquity – legend has it that a Sri Lankan ruby was given by king Solomon to the Queen Sheba. Ratnapura, ensconced in the verdant hills at the south-western corner of the hill country, is the island’s richest source of gems. A trip to working gem mine provides a fascinating glimpse into the mining process, which is still largely carried out by hand.

From Rathnapura, it is also possible to visit Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESO World Heritage Site and the last extensive stretch of virgin rainforest on the island. Stretching for nearly 30km across the wet zone at the southern edge of the hill country, Sinharaja is a global biodiversity hotspot. Damp, mysterious and teeming with life, it is a must visit for those seeking an authentic jungle experience.