Translate this Blog

Categories

Followers

Join us on facebook

Trincomalee

Admin 0 comments


After a long 7 and ½ or 8 hours drive by bus, van or car you will be able to reach thebreathtaking beaches of Trincomalee, situated 257km away from Colombo. In the eastern coast this city is considered to be extremely important because it has one of the most important and natural harbours in Sri Lanka.
The gorgeous beaches of Nilaveli and Uppuveli that’s sited not so far away from the famous city are considered as two of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. The light blue water that you’ll always remember is not very deep and it’s perfect for snorkelling or for a lovely sea bath.
This city which was once affected by the cruel war with LTTE was once colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch and the English as well. The Sami Rock which is above 120m’s above sea level is a sacred place to Hindu’s and has a prominent corner named, the lover’s leap, where the Dutch Officer, Sgt. Major Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede leaped after getting her heart broken from a love affair. The famous Tiru Koneswara Kovil is a great place to visit while you visit this famous place with a tale.
Your site-seeing will not be complete if you do not visit the 7 hot springs of Kanniya, situated not so far away from each other and has different temperatures in each one. Both local and foreign tourists visit these natural hot springs and have a bath as well.
The war ridden city is developing quite fast at present and the hotels are getting refurbished and new ones are coming up every year. Some great star class hotels you can visit are, Nilaveli Beach Hotel and Chaaya Blue. There are high recommendations from tourists about the Welcombe Hotel as well, which is situated in front of a scenic view of a lagoon. If you are looking for a place for great food you should try the food at Palm Beach Resort and Captain’s Deck.
Even though Trincomalee is situated far away from Colombo the great beaches, amazing sites, accommodation and many tales told will make it a trip worthwhile. 
Read More »

Hambantota

Admin 0 comments

Hambantota, the coastal city that is going through major developments at present is situated 240Km’s away from Colombo. Presently it will take around 8 hours to get there by a private intercity bus. By using a hired car you can reach this city in 5 hours if you go via Avissawella – Ratnapura Road, but if you take the Galle Road you will only get to Hambantota in 8 hours. When the Southern Highway and Airport construction finishes in the near future you will be able to reach this city in matter of less than 3 hours.

This city is very famous for its Salt that is made in large scale. You will be able to see the salt flats stored in line as you pass by. Martello Tower, once a lighthouse built by the British is now turned in to a small Fisheries Museum is a site you should definitely see in this city.
Merchants from Siam, China and many other countries used to use Hambantota’s natural harbour for trading hundreds of years ago. In the recent years the same port was developed by the current government and it can accommodate many vessels.
Hambantota is developing literary in lightning speed has an International Cricket Stadium that was used for the first time for 2011 Cricket World Cup and now it is used for other international cricket tournaments as well. They  had the 1st South Asian Beach Festival at this lovely city and it was a baby step taken towards the Commonwealth Games in 2018 that the Government of Sri Lanka is going to bid for in the near future and Sri Lanka’s second International Airport will be open to visitors by that time as well.
Bundala and Yala National Parks that is filled with wildlife is not very far from this city. You can reach the most famous religious places such as Tissamaharamaya Temple, Kataragama Devalaya and Kirivihera Temple in around half an hour. At present there are not many great hotels in this city so you can try to find accommodation at Tissamaharamaya or Kataragama or at Yala without much trouble.
If you love sweets don’t forget to get your hands on some Kalu Dodol, a delicious sweet meat specially made in this area.
Read More »

Hikkaduwa

Admin 0 comments

An out and out tourist destination, seaside Hikkaduwa is completely geared to please tourists. Reminiscent of the flower power era, Hikkaduwa is a laid back town, where the only dress code is beachwear. Surfing is a popular pursuit and international snorkelling and surfing instructors are accessible for first timers. It is primarily a tourist destination and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel, dive and enjoy the sun. Pro surfing tours are also held annually, where pros from around the world converge on the seaside town. The warm waters and challenging waves provide hours of surfing pleasure.

There is a buzz around the marketplace where colourful masks, batik shirts and other colourful beach wear is hawked. Plenty of sun, sand and sea, nightfall brings alive another facet of Hikkaduwa - a vibrant nightlife. A variety of quaint restaurants and beachside cabanas and hotels organise rave parties and fresh seafood.

The area has a host of Turtle Sanctuaries, working to protect the endangered species. Turtle eggs selected for hatching and progressive stages of the development of turtles can be seen here. Glass-bottomed boats offer glimpses of corals and tropical fish. The annual Hikkaduwa Beach Fest is fast catching on as a yearly festival of music and soulful dance vibes and is held in the month of August where tourist can truly let their hair down.
Read More »

Dambulla

Admin 0 comments

As you drive into Dambulla, the rugged yet lush landscape evokes a spirit of adventure. Cricket lovers the world over may know it most famously perhaps for the Rangiri International Cricket Stadium, which hosts the world’s greatest cricketing nations. But this heartwarming city has much more to offer those who are fortunate enough to visit it. Dambulla is also part of the Cultural Triangle and houses the great Dambulla Cave Temple.

Located 78 kms north of Kandy, the Dambulla caves date back to the 1st century BC. Originally the refuge of King Valagama Bahu, who sought refuge here, the caves were later converted into a rock temple, which houses exquisite frescoes and an imposing 15 metre-long reclining Buddha. Hindu deities are also represented in these caves. The caves are considered to be the finest repository of Sinhala art and sculpture. These famous cave temples are now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and being preserved with care.

A trek to the highest Rose Quartz Mountain Range in South Asia offers the satisfaction of a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside for miles around. Although the mountain is made of rose quartz it is not easy to recognize it as such. With a history spanning 1,000 years, the Jathika Namal Uyana, also known as the Ironwood Forest, offers a fascinating trek through a deep jungle comprising of the Sri Lankan national tree, the Naa. The forest is of significant ecological importance and is the focus of studies by ecologists and students of nature.

The Dambulla Rock offers a scenic view of the surrounding area, including the rock fortress of Sigiriya, a mere 19 km away. Visiting Dambulla can be combined with Sigiriya as the two sites lie in close proximity to each other and tourists can avail of some world-class hotels strategically located near these sites.
Read More »

Nuwara Eliya

Admin 0 comments

Nuwara Eliya is a mountain station at 1,868 m (6,128 ft) of altitude, in a splendid landscape. The city pretends to be particularly well-kept and neat, and the always green grass gives to the locality an aspect of “colonial British style".
Nuwara Eliya was built entirely during the 19th century and its architecture mimics that of an English country town, with red-brick walls, country house like hill club and mock-Tudor half-timbering.
Read More »

Jaffna

Admin 0 comments

Jaffna,Situated 396Km’s away from Colombo is the amazing city of Jaffna that was hidden to many of us during the harsh war times between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE. It will take about 14 hours to get to Jaffna from Colombo on the A9 route. But since the Sangupiddy Bridge was opened this January 2011, the distance has shortened to around 10 to 11 hours drive. If you hate to travel long hours you can always take a flight to Jaffna from Colombo that would take only less than 1 hour.

This city better known as Yaal Paanam, among the Tamils in the area, is considered as the Capital of Northern Province and this city use to be one of the most flourishing cities before the war.

For some spectacular sites with rich stories behind them, Jaffna is the ideal city to visit. This city was used as a trading city from the 16th century by the Portuguese, and then the Dutch and English to produce clothing, items of Gold and Silver, process Tobacco and sell different food items. The Dutch has built the famous Fort Hammenheil to protect this important city and it still remains in an admirable condition under the protection of the Sri Lankan Navy. Jaffna Public Library, University of Jaffna and the harbour are some of the great sites you should not miss.

Naga Vihara in Stanley Road is a famous temple with deep roots to the ancient times and considered extremely important among the Buddhist.  Hindu people consider beautifully structured, Nallur Kovil equally important to them. The best time to visit this Kovil will be between 4pm and 5pm to see the main ceremonial activities. Men are supposed to take off their shirts at the ceremony and women are to cover their shoulders and legs as a sign of respect when visiting the Kovil.

Keerimalai Tank is a natural spring that you need to see with a great tank build around it. This tank lies right next to the sea but the water stays fresh without getting mixed with sea water. Hindu people believe that this water holds a miraculous power.

 The picturesque Casuarina Beach in this city full of ruins will tempt you to stay a couple of days to lie down and bath in the hot sun. The weather is quite hot and sunny and forgetting your sun resistant lotion will be a bad idea. Something uniquely different about the whole of Jaffna peninsula from the rest of the country is that it is made ofminerals. 

You should not leave Jaffna without tasting the indigenous Tamil food served by them. The Palm Beach Restaurant in Jaffna serves an amazing dish of Chicken Kaddai you are sure to like.

In this city it might be a little difficult for you to communicate with the people if you do not speak Tamil. Knowing a few important phrases or having a guide who have a good understanding about the area will be quite helpful if you want to have a great experience in Jaffna. But the people in Jaffna will be friendly and cooperative as they can.

You will love shopping for Gold and colourful sarees at the Bazaar in Jaffna and try having some fun by trying to do a little bargaining.

Even though it’s a long trip to this city you will definitely feel it was really worth once you experience their rich culture and heritage, amazing food and sceneries that will leave you speechless.
Read More »

Sigiriya

Admin 0 comments

Sigiriya, a city situated 151Km’s away from the Colombo is situated in the Matale District that has a huge Rock Fortress named ‘Sigiriya’ itself, that can be thought of as one of the wonders of the prehistoric world and considered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The most convenient way to reach this city is to travel by car/van and it will take around 4 hours to get to there. If you are planning to use public transport then you should take the train to Matale and travel rest of the way by bus.
This ancient fortress was built by King Kasyapa who ruled the country in AD 477 – 495. After he was defeated in war this fortress was turned in to a Buddhist Monastery in the 5th Century. There are many interesting tales about this massive rock with paintings of Frescos on the rocks itself.
If you are an art enthusiast or not you will fall under the spell of those beautiful paintings of frescos which are 140 metres long and 40 metres high and the writing of poetry from the ancient time. This site will keep you fascinated at all times. The beautiful gardens, differentiated as Water Gardens, Boulder Gardens and Terrace Gardens has very unique features of its own. You will be able to see the mirrored wall the King has used to look at himself and the view you will be able to see from top of the mountain will truly leave you speechless by its beauty.
There are plenty of great hotels in the city of Sigiriya because it is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya Village Hotel, Elephant Corridor Hotel, Jetwing Vil Uyana Hotel and Sigiriya Hotel are some of the great hotels that you will be able to find in Sigiriya for a luxurious holiday with spectacular sceneries.
Don’t forget to grab some postcards from souvenir shops of the lovely Sigiriya and its Frescos that will speak a thousand words for itself to your friends and family. 
Read More »

Older Posts

Like This

Archives

Sponsors

i'm listed in Entertainment