Sri Lanka – The Island Jewel of the Indian Ocean

The country of Sri Lanka is a beautiful island that is acclaimed to the ideal place in the world for screening the universe. Flanked with the golden-sand beaches; occupied by hills, tea cultivations, and waterfalls; and adorned with national parks; this island is geographically connected with Indian state of Tamil Nadu through a delicate land bridge in the north west. This site is simply amazing to see.

With much more unique experiences of scenery, culture, and history; the country proudly welcomes visitors all the year around.

Sri Lanka Tourist Attractions

Colombo

This is the capital, the biggest city, and an important port of the nation. Here, we visited the following places.

• Dehiwala Zoo:
  It offers different birds, big cats, monkeys, elephants, and an aquarium. Do visit the elephant show during which these huge animals flock on stage to perform different acts.
• Dutch Period Museum:
  Formerly used as the 17th century residence of the Dutch governor, Catholic seminary, a military hospital, a police station, and a post office; it now exhibits the Dutch colonial furniture and other artifacts.
• Fort Clock Tower:
  This is at the confluence of Chatham St and Janadhipathi Mawatha (once Queen St).
• Gangaramaya Temple:
  Situated close to the Beira Lake, this is a major Buddhist centre offering a library, museum, and gilded presents of the devotees.

• Seema Malakaya:
  Located on the Beira Lake, this small one holds two-island pavilions of 1985 and run by the Gangaramaya Temple. One of them is adorned with the Thai bronze Buddhas, while the other holds a bodhi tree and four Brahmanist images. Visit this at night when illuminated.
• Gotami Vihara:
  This contains some beautiful Jataka murals related to the life stories of Buddha located at 6 km southeast of Fort in Borella.
• Grand Mosque:
  This is the most vital mosque in the city.
• Independence Hall:
  This marks the country’s independence in 1948 with carefully maintained parkland.
• Isipathanaramaya Temple:
  This is famous for its splendid frescoes.
• Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque:
  This is an ornamental one with red and white brickwork.
• Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara:
  This is the worth visiting Buddhist temple of 19th century.
• Lionel Wendt Centre:
  This is a chic site hosting modern art and craft display along with musical shows and sales of items sometimes.
• Mt. Lavinia Beach:
  This is the only beach suitable for swimming.
• National Art Gallery:
  Located besides the Natural History Museum in Viharamahadevi Park, it hosts several portraits and short-term exhibitions by Sri Lankan artists.
• National Museum:
  This exhibits ancient royal ceremonial objects, Sinhalese artwork, historic furniture, ola (talipot palm leaves) manuscripts, 19th century English paintings of Sri Lanka, and antique demon masks.
• New Kathiresan Kovil (Hindu Temple):
  Located on Sea St, the New and Old Kathiresan Kovil is devoted to Murugan (Skanda) the war God. It is from here when the giant vel (trident) chariot is drawn to other kovils (temples) in Bambalapitiya during the annual Hindu Vel festival in July/August.
• Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam:
  This is the most ancient Hindu temple in the city dedicated to Lord Shiva and his elephant-headed son, Lord Ganesh.
• Other Temples:
  These include Sri Muthumariamman Kovil,  Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil of South Indian granite, and the huge – Sri Shiva Subramaniam Swami Kovil.
• St Anthony’s Church:
  Its exterior tells it to be a Portuguese Catholic church, while its interior is clearly subcontinental. Here, the statue of St Anthony is blessed with amazing qualities.
• St Lucia’s Cathedral:
  This is an imposing church and the biggest one that can hold 5000 devotees at a time.

Kandy

Located 115 km from Colombo, this is the one of the two real cities in the country out of which one is the capital. This is the capital of the Hill Country lush with history, urban culture, and forested hills.

• Asgiriya Maha Vihara:
  This is one of the principal Buddhist monasteries worth a visit.
• Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue:
  This is a giant statue located at 20 minutes walk uphill from the Peradeniya Rd. Save your money.
• Kandy Lake:
  Made in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha (the last ruler), this is precisely the place where several small-scale local chiefs were executed in the lakebed for protesting against their people objecting on the project labor.
• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic:
  Located north of the lake, this is the home of the most vital Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha.
• Sri Dalada Museum:
  Located at the rear of the tooth shrine, this is the three-storey Alut Maligawa that is a new and large shrine hall of several bronze Buddhas given by Thai devotees.
• Malwatte Maha Vihara:
  This is another most important Buddhist monastery across the lake whose head monks take the care of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
• National Museum:
  This exhibits royal ceremonial objects and recallers of pre-European Sinhalese era.
• Tea Museum:
  Possessing the 1925 classical, four-storey Hanthana Tea Factory, it is at 4 km south of Kandy. You can see 19th century rollers, dryers, and other tea-factory equipment, and life works of Ceylon tea establishers – James Taylor and Thomas Lipton.
• Udawattakelle Sanctuary:
  Situated to the north of the lake, this is a calm and pleasant forest with innumerable big trees, birds, insects, and monkeys. I suggest not go alone here.

Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

• December to March for west and south coast and hillside
• April to September for east coast and old cities

Sri Lanka Accommodation

In Colombo:

• Tropic Inn (Hotel) – $17
• Grand Oriental Hotel (3 star Hotel) – $67
• Taj Samudra (3 star Hotel) – $110

• Colombo City Hotels (Hotel) – $58

In Kandy:

• Thilanka (Hotel) – $50
• Kandy View Hotel – $16
• The Mansion (Hotel) – $31