Ayubowan, ‘might you will have the present of lengthy life’, is the normal greeting in Sri Lanka. This can be a nation the place hospitality isn’t only a custom, it’s a lifestyle. Referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean, each smile, greeting, or shared cup of tea in Sri Lanka displays its folks’s real heat. This can be a place I may fortunately return to time and time once more.
Listed here are the highlights of my newest go to, and I can say with out hesitation, that each single considered one of these locations deserves a spot in your Sri Lanka itinerary.
Negombo
At round 8km from Colombo’s Bandaranaike Worldwide Airport, Negombo is a superb place for vacationers searching for a mild welcome to Sri Lanka, whereas avoiding the hustle and bustle of the large metropolis. There’s a cluster of seaside resorts right here, supreme for these flying into Colombo, or those that wish to take it straightforward in earlier than flying residence.
The place to remain
Perched on the banks of a lotus-filled lake inside straightforward attain of the worldwide airport, The Notary’s House in Makandura is a perfect first or closing cease in your island journey. This luxurious boutique lodge, set amidst massive gardens and a coconut grove, is conveniently positioned simply 45 minutes from the airport and half-hour from Negombo.
The home was designed with the large open areas of nature in thoughts and is a cautious stability of luxurious and leisure. Every of the six high-ceilinged rooms overlooks manicured gardens and the calm waters of the lake, whereas the fusion of up to date structure and quirky vintage decor provides oodles of character. Remnants of the unique home, together with a powerful frescoed Buddhist shrine have been rigorously preserved.
Wilpattu Nationwide Park
At 130,000 hectares, Wilpattu Nationwide Park is Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest wildlife sanctuary. Wilpattu means ‘pure lakes’ in Sinhala and ’10 lakes’ in Tamil. The whole park is dotted with pure lakes that entice wildlife, particularly throughout the dry season. Customer numbers are low, even in excessive season, giving the park a real sense of wilderness. You do need to work somewhat tougher for animal sightings, this can be a place for the extra devoted safari-goer, however you’ll (hopefully) discover an array of wildlife, together with leopards, sloth bears, noticed and sambar deer, wild pigs and crocodiles.
Dwelling to roughly 149 hen species, together with residents, migratory birds, and endemic species birders, particularly, will love Wilpattu.
The place to remain
Adjoining to Wilpattu, Thamaravila Wilpattu is completely positioned for visits to the park. Thamaravila is glamping in fashion – 5 luxurious tented chalets, constructed on stilts with thatched roofs, wood decks and plunge swimming pools.
Safaris may be organized and Nadeesha Deemantha, the resident safari information, is extraordinarily skilled and educated.
The north
The north is a world away from the remainder of Sri Lanka. Nearer to southern India than to Colombo, the area was settled in across the 2nd century by Tamil migrants from southern India and has retained a novel character and tradition, one which owes extra to Hindu India than Buddhist Sri Lanka.
All the things it’s good to plan your journey in 2024
Jaffna
In contrast to anyplace else in Sri Lanka, Jaffna within the northern tip of Sri Lanka, presents an interesting perception into the island’s Tamil tradition, in addition to many reminders of its colonial and civil struggle previous. Jaffna was the capital of a Tamil kingdom for hundreds of years earlier than it was conquered by the Portuguese in 1619. A bastion of Hindu tradition and custom, Jaffna is off the same old vacationer path, however you’ll discover each a heat welcome and a wealth of historical past right here.
When visiting Jaffna, begin with the city’s immense fort. Constructed by the Portuguese within the 17th century, and later occupied by the Dutch and the British, the pentagon-shaped fort is the most important in Asia and overlooks the Jaffna lagoon.
Subsequent head to the large Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil temple. Courting from 1734, that is essentially the most spectacular Hindu temple in Sri Lanka. Topped by a towering god-encrusted, golden-ochre entrance tower, the large compound is stuffed with ornamental brasswork, larger-than-life murals, pillared halls and a colonnaded holy pool. Cacophonous pujas are held seven occasions a day and the temple is the main focus of the spectacular Nallur Pageant, which runs for 25 days in midsummer.
Cross by the Jaffna Public Library. Burnt down by pro-government mobs in July 1981, throughout the build-up to the civil struggle, the library was an essential Tamil cultural and historic establishment. Its world-renowned assortment, destroyed within the hearth, as soon as included greater than 90,000 volumes, most irreplaceable. The library was one of many first main buildings to be rebuilt after the 2002 ceasefire.
Close to the library is one other architectural curiosity that’s price a fast look. The spindly Clock Tower was erected in 1875 to honour a go to by the Prince of Wales. In 2000 the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles, donated new clocks, to exchange these broken within the struggle.
Set again from the street, Mantiri Manai, now derelict, its partitions coated in graffiti, is a keeper of secrets and techniques. There’s a lot debate about its background. Some say it’s from the Jaffna Kingdom, others place it within the Dutch or Portuguese colonial period, whereas just a few declare it was constructed as just lately because the Eighteen Nineties. No matter its historical past, the dilapidated mansion appears to embody each colonial and Hindu structure and is price a go to.
The place to remain
The Thinnai was Jaffna’s first five-star boutique lodge. Providing 39 suites and heat, genuine northern Sri Lankan hospitality, the lodge is nice for travellers who wish to unwind in what could be a barely chaotic city.
There’s a particular emphasis on sustainability right here, with the recent produce used within the kitchens coming from the lodge’s natural farm, positioned just some km away, or native farmers and fishermen.
Be part of the lodge’s cooks for an interesting cooking demonstration and uncover the secrets and techniques behind Jaffna’s wealthy and various delicacies – a speciality is the normal crab curry, a neighborhood favorite.
The east coast
Sri Lanka’s east coast is a mirror picture of its west. When it’s monsoon season within the west, the solar is shining within the east; the place the west coast is predominantly Sinhalese, the east is essentially Tamil and Muslim; and whereas components of the west coast may be reasonably crowded with vacationers and a surfeit of motels, the east coast stays largely untouched and tourist-free.
Kalkudah Seashore
In the event you’re searching for a tropical paradise with swaying palms, countless sandy seashores, and a relaxed, easy-going vibe, you’ll adore it right here. Kalkudah Seashore stretches so far as the attention can see and is lined with coconut palm estates and cashew nut plantations. Except for a sprinkling of resorts, the seaside is in any other case utterly undeveloped.
You’ll be able to stroll for miles alongside delicate sand with out seeing a soul, aside from native fishermen casting their nets into the ocean.
The place to remain
Set on a former coconut plantation, Karpaha Sands is a luxurious boutique lodge with 17 tented suites, tucked away in lush gardens. Monumental rooms with hovering canvas roofs, large beds, deep bathtubs and incredible outside rain showers.
Quirky paintings is dotted across the property and the meals is incredible – a mix of Sri Lankan and Mediterranean, that includes domestically sourced elements, with seafood being caught by the native fishermen.
The Cultural Triangle
Central Sri Lanka served because the cradle of the nation’s civilization for nearly two thousand years – from the institution of the primary Sinhalese capital in about 400 BC to the ultimate abandonment of town of Polonnaruwa within the thirteenth century. For hundreds of years these nice cities lay forgotten, reclaimed by the jungle, till rediscovered by the British within the nineteenth century.
The spectacular citadel of Sigiriya rises sheer and impregnable out of the plains, sitting atop an enormous outcrop of rock towering 200m above the encircling countryside. The shortest-lived however essentially the most extraordinary of all Sri Lanka’s medieval capitals, Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is a World Heritage Web site and a outstanding archaeological web site.
The good ruined capital of Polonnaruwa is among the undisputed highlights of the Cultural Triangle, certainly of the entire island. Within the twelfth century, Polonnaruwa was one of many nice city centres of South Asia. Inside a century although, town had been deserted to the jungle, the place it remained hidden for seven centuries.
The atmospheric Buddhist rock temples of Dambulla are stuffed with lots of of statues and embellished with the best murals within the nation. In the meantime, the ruins of the traditional metropolis of Anuradhapura are considered one of Sri Lanka’s most compelling historic websites, and Mihintale is revered because the place the place Buddhism was launched to the island.
Minneriya Nationwide Park presents a change of surroundings for these saturated with ruins. This is among the greatest locations within the nation to see wild elephants. This comparatively small park has a very good vary of wildlife, together with deer, langur monkeys and macaques, buffalo, the occasional leopard, and a myriad of various birds, however it’s most well-known for elephants. Giant numbers of elephants are discovered right here year-round, however throughout the dry months (July – October) herds of elephants transfer by the park in the hunt for water and recent grass. Minneriya Tank is a man-made reservoir constructed within the third Century. Referred to as ‘The Gathering’, as many as 300 elephants may be noticed on the reservoir throughout the dry season, making it the largest focus of untamed Asian elephants on the earth.
The place to remain
Water Garden Sigiriya overlooks the traditional rock fortress of Sigiriya. The grounds are an oasis of lakes and streams, paying homage to the traditional water gardens of Sigiriya fortress.
The 30 freestanding villas, a number of with non-public swimming pools, really feel terribly spacious and are organized across the birdlife-rich lakes.
The south coast
Sri Lanka’s south coast is superb, golden sand seashores, set towards emerald paddy fields, coconut groves and sleepy villages.
Galle
Perched on the coast near the island’s southernmost level, Galle is Sri Lanka’s most completely preserved colonial city, its historic Dutch quarter hidden behind the large ramparts of Galle Fort.
If Galle Fort may speak it could be Shanjei Malraj Perumal. Shanjei gave up a profession in promoting to turn out to be a strolling tour information, although he’ll inform you “I don’t do excursions and I’m not a tour information. I’m an entertainer and what I do is experiences”. Be part of considered one of his Gale Fort Walks and also you’ll not solely have an attention-grabbing cellular historical past lesson of ‘tall tales and true’, however you’ll spend a few hours wandering the fort’s charming, cobblestoned streets, studying about every little thing from colonialism to structure, politics to avenue meals, and possibly stopping alongside the best way for a beer in a traditional Sri Lankan dive bar – the proper introduction to native historical past and tradition.
Rathgama
The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is stuffed with motels and a fair proportion of ‘vacationer tat’, however there’s a stretch, simply north of Galle, that’s largely unknown. Rathgama, a small coastal city, is residence to a ravishing seaside, the place palm timber wave within the salty breeze and fishing shacks substitute huge resorts.
The place to remain
On the pristine seashores of Rathgama, Aditya Rathgama is a small luxurious lodge, set in a shady, hammock-strewn backyard, on a stretch of abandoned seaside.
The lodge is small and intimate, and its gentle, ethereal rooms function antiques and paintings from throughout the subcontinent.
There are non-public plunge swimming pools, expansive balconies overlooking the ocean, and a spa is famend as among the finest wellness retreats in Sri Lanka.
The west coast
The west coast of Sri Lanka stretches from Galle all the best way to Colombo.
Kalutara
Situated simply 43km south of Colombo, Kulutara has a vibrant cultural heritage. Significantly price a point out are the Warakagoda Gallena Rajamaha Viharaya, a historic Buddhist cave temple, and Fa-Hien caves, the most important pure stone caves in South Asia, inhabited since prehistoric occasions.
The place to remain
Glenross Living is a 160-year-old colonial manor home, on a former tea, rubber and cinnamon plantation. Set on a misty hilltop, amid tropical forest, this boutique lodge is a haven of wellness. With a holistic strategy to wholesome dwelling, on supply are guided meditation periods, yoga lessons, Angampora lessons (an historic martial artwork), and health periods. Add to this a luxurious spa, an in-house nutritionist and natural eating. That is the proper place to focus in your well-being.
The previous manor home on the coronary heart of the property has been lovingly restored, and a brief distance away, three stand-alone placing trendy villas cling to the hillside, with non-public infinity swimming pools and 180° panoramic views.
Colombo
About two-thirds of the best way down the west coast, Sri Lanka’s sprawling capital, Colombo, is often low on guests’ checklist of priorities, nevertheless, beneath its unprepossessing floor lies a vibrant and characterful metropolis.
Join with Colombo City Walks for a personalised, leisurely 2-3 hour stroll, that may take you thru the hidden treasures of Colombo’s heritage. Take the heartbeat of the capital metropolis with Colombo by Jeep and cruise by Colombo’s streets on a metropolis tour in an open-air classic jeep. Immerse your self in centuries of historical past and uncover a number of the metropolis’s hidden treasures, all whereas using in jeeps that after carried presidents and troopers.
Finish your day at Galle Face Inexperienced – take a stroll alongside the seafront promenade, seize a avenue meals snack or head for a sundowner on the historic Galle Face Resort.
The place to remain
The Galle Face Hotel is located alongside the seafront and dealing with Galle Face Inexperienced. Inbuilt 1864, that is town’s most well-known lodge and an oceanfront landmark, with baggage of colonial attraction and quirky character. The lodge embraces its historical past and traditions, proper right down to the bagpiper who serenades the reducing of the nationwide flag at sundown every day, on the lodge’s oceanfront terrace.
The rooms could also be somewhat pale, however they’re atmospheric and no go to to Colombo is full with out staying at this iconic lodge.
Sri Lanka is a world in a single island. Palm-fringed seashores, rice paddies and lily ponds, historic cities, lush rainforests, fabulous nationwide parks and heat, beneficiant welcoming folks; this tear-drop-shaped island undoubtedly doesn’t disappoint.
Selecting a very good journey planner for Sri Lanka
This was my second go to to Sri Lanka. I’d liked my first and was eager to return, and as soon as I’d met Sheri Fazleabas, I found simply how a lot I’d missed out the primary time.
Born in Sri Lanka, Sheri’s love for journey began younger. “My household was all the time travelling, we spent weekends and holidays exploring each nook of the nation.” After time at boarding college in England, Sherri returned to Sri Lanka and started a profession in journey planning that has spanned a long time.
Now dwelling within the USA, Sheri’s connection to her roots stays sturdy. “Sri Lanka is residence. I’m going again yearly, making it a degree to discover the nation over again – there’s all the time one thing new to find.” In the present day her firm, A&S Signature Journeys, is thought for crafting bespoke journey experiences. “It’s not nearly reserving flights and motels,” she says. “We dive deep into understanding what our purchasers need. Are they foodies? Historical past buffs? Journey seekers? Each itinerary is tailor-made to their pursuits and finances.”
Sheri not solely deliberate the proper itinerary, however she additionally gave me the sort of insider suggestions and suggestions that you simply simply don’t discover in any guidebook.
Ayubowan, Sri Lanka!
Sarah Kingdom
Sarah Kingdom is a journey author from Sydney, Australia. When she isn’t climbing or touring, she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia.
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