Now that peace has returned and restricted areas reopened, tourism in Sri Lanka enjoys a healthy revival. Visitors from the UK alone are up 51% and 2011 has been designated ‘Visit Sri Lanka Year’.
Just beyond the tip of India in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka offers excellent value for money and a rich variety of natural and cultural attractions. National parks and reserves teem with over 400 species of birds and other wildlife, the coast is lined with pristine beaches and there are eight World Heritage sites, including ancient capitals, temples and natural wonders.
It’s also the land of Ayurveda, spices and gems where today a warm welcome awaits all who come by.
Head for the Beach in Sri Lanka
- Relax in the ever popular resorts of the west coast from Negombo to Beruwala and beyond. Enjoy a range of watersports on the Bentota lagoon, buy lace in Galle and puppets and masks in Ambalangoda.
- Visit the Turtle Conservation project in Kosgoda where up to 10 000 hatchlings a year are released into the ocean. Volunteers are welcome to help maintain the beach, post-tsunami.
- Get away from it all on the east coast where deserted sands attract visitors once again. Best known is Trincomalee with its impressive harbour and nearby beaches ideal for surfing, scuba diving and whale watching.
Discover Sri Lanka’s Cultural Wonders, from Sigiriya to Kandy
- Pack sun cream and hat and climb up to Sigiriya where the remains of a 5th century palace are perched 180 metres above the plain, on a seemingly inaccessible rock. See the sculpted lion’s paws at the half way stage, the mirror wall and the cave frescoes of beautiful women.
- Explore the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa with their palaces and temples, giant sculptures and Buddhist stupas. Look out for the impressive Gal Vahara rock sculptures in Polonnaruwa, depicting three Buddha, standing, seated and reclining.
- Visit the hilltop monastic complex of Mihintale with its caves, temples and ruins leading to a white dagoba below a towering rock. To the south, the great Aukana Buddha is well worth a detour.
- Spend a few days in the ancient capital of Kandy. See the famous Temple of the Tooth and during the summer full moon, enjoy the colourful Perahera festival. Visit the Botanical Gardens, the nearby elephant orphanage and the tea and spice plantations.
Enjoy Sri Lanka’s Natural World
- Book a safari in the Yala National Park down south, a vast area of dry shrub and evergreen forest dotted with waterholes and rocky outcrops. Look out for wild elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and birds.
- Explore the central Highlands, the latest World Heritage site (2010), covering the Peak Wilderness, the Horton Plain and Knuckles Reserve. At 2500 metres, endangered species include the Sri Lankan leopard, slender loris and purple-faced langur monkey.
- Ramble in the hills, exploring forest reserves and tea plantations, rice fields, villages and spectacular waterfalls. In the winter months, the climb to Adam’s Peak is a night time adventure for pilgrims and visitors eager to see the sunrise and the magical ‘shadow of the peak’.
Solange Hando - I am a travel writer, editor and photographer, contributing to a range of publications in the UK and worldwide.
Join the Conversation