GENERAL INFORMATION
TRAVEL IDEAS
- Colombo, 3 days
- Sri Lanka Highlights Tour, 6 days
Tirukoneswaram Kovil - Trincomalee
or call 1-800-387-8850
Sri Lanka
ARRIVAL GUIDE
COLOMBO
Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and has a fascination of its own. Nearly every visitor to Sri Lanka begins or ends their stay here. More than anywhere else in the country it's a city where the old and new co-exist. There are high-rise complexes & colonial mansions, supermarkets & street bazaars, flashy western fashions & traditional sarongs, speedy sports cars & one-man rickshaws. Most of the remnants found in Colombo today are the legacy of the British, Dutch & Portuguese. Horseracing was a regular activity on the seaside Galle Face Green. Today, most of the hotels are gathered around this same Green, now minus the horses.
Places of interest:
Vihara Maha Devi Park and the colonial style brilliant white Town Hall; the Museum which houses many rare treasures; the parliamentary complex at Sri Jayawardhanapura, the administrative capital, a unique work of architecture set on an island. The Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall with its spacious gardens and right opposite is the colossal statue of Lord Buddha. Galle Face Green; the Zoological Gardens – reputed to be one of Asia's finest; handloom & handicraft shops. And there are plenty of Night Clubs & Casinos to keep you busy at night.
RATNAPURA
Visit the gem area and see the panning of gem; watch men at work with their age-old customs and rituals; experience the thrill of unearthing a priceless treasure; visit a gem cutting and polishing centre and the gem museum; view an exhibition of Sri Lankan Gems.
ANURADHAPURA
Anuradhapura has been the greatest city of all. It remained the capital of Sri Lanka for about 1400 years. Its ruin's today displays infinite details of rare beauty, delicately set in the world's mightiest masses of monumental masonry second only to the Pyramids of Egypt. The best time to visit Anuradhapura is during "Poson Poya" June - the most sacred place is the "Sri Maha Bodhiya". Worship at the bo tree has continued unbroken for 23 centuries.
MIHINTALE
The story of Mihintale is a story etched deep in the national consciousness. It was at Mihintale that, King Devanampiyatissa while on a deer hunt with his attendants encountered the grandest event in the history of this land – the advent of Buddhism.
The Mihintale Mountain, less than 13 km from Anuradhapura has never ceased to fascinate both local and foreign visitors since it is the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Visitors can join in the ascent of one of the world's most antiquated stone stairway climbing 1840 steps to reach the summit.
KANDY
Kandy, the royal city, nestled among the mid-country hills was the last seat of the Sinhalese King, Sri Wickremarajasinghe. Every visit to Sri Lanka should include its second largest city, Kandy, the Sinhalese cultural and spiritual centre, made even more appealing by its comfortable climate. It is the home of the sacred temple in which is enshrined the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Kandy is also famous for its art and crafts and ancient dance forms. Visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya on the banks of the Sri Lanka's longest river. It's biggest attraction is the annual Kandy Esala Perahera (an elaborate religious procession to honour the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha), a magnificent elephant procession – which fills the town to bursting point with tourists from all over the world. Thousands of dancers and more than 100 elephants make it one of the highlights of the Sri Lankan year.
MATALE
The main tourist attraction in Matale is the handicrafts & Spice Gardens where one can view various spices that have been grown. A guided tour explains the herbal and medicinal value of these spices. Matale is also known to have some of the best craftsmen in the country. Having learnt the work from their ancestors, these talented craftsmen strive to create works of art making use of the traditional methods to suit the modern day living styles. Apart from spices and handicrafts, the colourful batiks (a traditional Sri Lankan form of hand painted designs onto cloth) are also a great attraction.
THE SANDY COAST OF BEACHES
Sri Lanka boasts some of the most beautiful and accessible soft-sandy beaches in the world.
NEGOMBO (North of Colombo)
The major beach resort on the coast north of Colombo is Negombo, popularly known as the Fishing Village. Here is an old world atmosphere of 17th century churches that line the highway and forts. The feast of St. Anne is celebrated here in late July in a carnival atmosphere. Like many other coastal towns in Sri Lanka, Negombo was an important spice port long before the Portuguese set foot on the island. The Negombo Lagoon is a good place to watch the Karava fisherman at work. These fishermen bring their daily catch of fish, crabs and prawns to the fish market. During the day they are seen mending their nets on the beach.
SOUTH OF COLOMBO
(Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwela, Aluthgama, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unuwatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Dikwella, Tangalle)
All of these towns have very good beaches and have an array of hotels to choose from.
Along the coast there are a variety of activities including water sports, a visit to the botanical gardens, river boat rides (Bentota); a visit to a turtle hatchery (Bentota, Induruwa & Kosgoda); glass bottom boat rides to see corals, snorkelling, diving & surfing (Hikkaduwa), or visiting a mask museum & factory and lace factory. (Ambalangoda - just before Hikkaduwa.) Of course, seafood is predominant throughout.
GALLE
Galle the seaside town is famous for its well-preserved 17th century Dutch Fort, lace making and ebony carvings. The journey to Galle is along the Palm fringed coast passing Ambalangoda, famous for its mask makers and Hikkaduwa with its incredibly beautiful coral gardens and exotic tropical fish. Seafood is a speciality all the way. Another interesting place to visit is a Turtle Hatchery.
