Teardrop of India, resplendent Isle, pearl of the Orient… there are just some of the many names that have been given to this fascinating island. Another is Serendipity, the art of making unexpected and happy discoveries and for centuries travelers have been seduced by its breathtaking scenery and amazing diversity. Palm fringed beaches, hills swathed in tea plantations, exotic wildlife, Buddhist and Hindu temple, Christian churches, mosques, these and many more “Happy discoveries” lie in store. You will also be enchanted by the warmth of the people who welcome foreign visitors with open arms. The coastal areas of Sri Lanka enjoy a steady temperature of around 27 °C all the year around. On the west coast, where the resorts are situated, the driest season is from December to March. In recent years, however, the weather has become more unpredictable.
With its rich mix of cultures and religions, Sri Lanka probably hotels more festivals than any other country in the world. Every 28 days or so, Buddhist celebrate Poya Days, when the full moon marks the beginning of another lunar month. This is good time to relax on the beach, as most shop and businesses close and alcohol is not served. The time of Muslim festivals varies from year to year. The most significant is Id-ul-Fitr, which falls at the end of Ramadan.

January Poya day commemorates the Buddha’s alleged visit to Sri Lanka with a procession from the Kelaniya Temple just outside Colombo. This is also the month when the Hindus celebrate the new harvest with the festival of Thai Pungal. on 4th February people all over the island parade through the streets to mark the day in 1948 when the island gained its independence from the British. One of the highlights of Easter is the annual passion play held on the island of Duwa just off Negombo. At around the same time, in mid-April, the Sinhalese and Tamils herald the arrival of the New Year. Vesak in May is one of the most sacred Poya days, as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Late July/early August see another impotent poya day, which is marked in Kandy with spectacular processions and dazzling displays of dancing. The Hindus Vel Festival in Colombo is held at the same time. Thousands of oil lamps are lit to mark Deepavaili, the Hindu festival of Light, which take place in November to December. This is followed by Christmas, which resembles Christmas back home, although it is much less commercialized.

Sri Lanka is a melting pot of cultures and faiths. The Sinhalese majority is predominantly Buddhist, while the minorities include Tamil Hindus, Arab Muslims and a sharply declining number of Burghers of Portuguese and Dutch descent. There is also a sizeable community of Christian Tamils and Sinhalese as well as a sprinkling of Veddhas, whose ancestors were the island’s first inhabitants. According to tradition, the founder of modern Sri Lanka was Prince Vijaya, who emigrated here from northern India in the 5th century BC.
In 380 BC Anuradhapura was established as the first capital city. Following the arrival of Buddhism in 250 BC, a civilization rich in Indo-Aryan culture took root. Over the years, the kings of southern India mounted sporadic invasions, and the base of power shifted first to Polonnaruwa and then to other cities including Kotte and Kandy.By 1815 the entire island was under British control and it only regained independence in 1948.

In 1956 Sinhala replaced English as the official language, a decision that infuriated the Tamils and sparked the beginning of the island’s ethnic and religious problems. Until a solution is found, the northern third of the island and the eastern remain off limits. Local Cuisine

The staple diet of Sri Lankans is rice and curry, usually served with salad, pappadoms and sambol (a spicy accompaniment made with onions, vegetables, grated coconut and pepper). The genuine article is bursting with chillies, but most restaurants are happy to serve milder versions. For breakfast, you might like to try hoppers, crisp pancakes with a soft middle, eaten with curry or an egg. Local cuisine has been influenced by the people who have invaded over the centuries.

Anuradhapura- Urban Culture

Distance from Colombo 208km
Sri Lanka’s first capital is situated in the dry zone. It is one of Sri Lanka’s premier ancient cities. Attractions: the sacred Bo Tree, temples, Brazen Place, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna, and Mihintale (12km from Anuradhapura)- a rock dotted with shrines and dwellings – a grand stairway of 1840 steps made of granite slabs that leads to a summit with a splendid view of the countryside.

Batticoloa

Distance from Colombo 303km
Batticoloa is surrounded by a large lagoon, home of the famous ‘Singing Fish’. Certainly in the months of April and September on moonlit nights, you can hear a musical vibration emanating from the water. Batticoloa is a quiet little place, with a small but well-preserved Dutch fort.

Colombo

Distance from Colombo international airport 31km
Colombo is fascinating city, not only for its cosy mixture of past and present. It is the commercial capital of the country.  Attractions a Buddhist temple, Hindu temples, churches the old parliament building, the zoo, museums, and art galleries. 

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Dambulla

Distance from Colombo 148km
Like Sigiriya, Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass, which houses a rock temple (formerly caves). Some of its frescoes are over 2 000 years old and there is a colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha caved out of the rock, some 14 meters long.

Kandy

Distance from Colombo 116km
Sri Lanka’s hill capital is, perhaps, its most beautiful town. It is 488 meters above sea level, and next to Colombo, Kandy is Sri Lanka’s most visited place. The focal point of the town is the golden-roofed Dalada Maligawa, where the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha is enshrined. The highlight of the year is the Esala Perehera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession, accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and some 100 elephants on n ten glittering nights in July/August. There are numerous shrines and temples in and around Kandy. Where, you will see rare paintings, frescoes, and stone carvings. Do not miss the Peradeniya Gardens, with an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. Kandy is an existing place for shopping, with souvenirs in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony, and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and rush and reed-ware can also be purchased.

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Negombo

Distance from Colombo 37km
A characteristic fishing town 6km from the international airport, Negombo has a fascinating and picturesque beachfront. The town has several buildings dating back to the Dutch and Portuguese Colonial days. The lagoon is famous for its harvest of lobsters, crabs and prawns and fish auctions on the beach that are worth a look.

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Polonnaruwa

Distance from Colombo 216km
The island’s medieval capital rose to fame after Anuradhapura’s decline. The larger of its many reservoirs, the Parakrama Samudra, is larger than the Colombo harbor. Attractions: Remains of the King’s council chamber, the Royal Citadel, the Kumara Pokuna, the Royal Pavilion, the Vatadage relic House (which is lavished with moonstones, guard stones, and a sculptured railing), Kiri Vehera, and Gal Vihare.

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Sigiriya

Distance from Colombo 169km
This rock fortress was a royal citadel for more than 18 years. In a sheltered pocket, approached by a spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes. The summit of the rock, with an area of nearly one hectare, was the site of the very brink of the precipice; The UNESCO-sponsored Central Cultural Found has restored Sigiriya 5th century Water Gardens to its former glory.  

Galle

Distance from Colombo 116km
In this coastal town, the Dutch presence is still visible. Galle was an ancient port (said to be the legendary Tarshish of the Bible), and our first international commerce and trade centre. Today, Galle is the bustling provincial capital and administrative centre of the south. It is famous for its lovely Unawatuna Bay, where the sea is reef protected and therefore safe for swimming. The old Dutch ‘star’ fort (a World Heritages Site) covering 36 hectares, the well-preserved Groote Kerk (Dutch Church) Dutch Government House, the new oriental Hotel (build in 1684) old bell tower and a tide-based sewage-System, also introduced by the Dutch. In Galle they still make the Dutch ‘pillo-lace’ and do fine ebony-carving and gem-polishing.

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Hambantota

Distance from Colombo 238km
Hambantota, In Sri Lanka, dry zone, is best-known for its beautiful crescent-shaped bay and its slat pans, a very ancient industry that is still thriving. The slat pans line the main road for over 16km.

Hikkaduwa

Distance from Colombo 99km
The first area to be developed for tourism, this is still one of the most popular of our beach resorts. Hikkaduwa is famous for its coral and sub tropical fish. The reef, which runs parallel to the shore and is only a few meters below the water, can be explored with snorkel and fippers, or in a glass-bottomed boat. There are several wrecks in the area which offer interesting dives. Scuba equipment and the services of licensed instructions are on hire from PADI centers. A little further down the coast, there is good surf for board or body-surfing. There is a generally a community of international surfers in and around Hikkaduwa.

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Jaffna

Distance from Colombo 396km
The peninsula is practically an island, connected the rest of Sri Lanka by a narrow spit of land which houses the Chundikkulam bird sanctuary and a causeway known as Elephant Pass because elephants would once cross the shallow lagoon at this point. Topographically quaint until the rest of lush Sri Lanka, only hard work and aggressive irrigation will coax a living out of this inhospitable northern soil. Jaffna is justly famous for the deliciousness of its mangoes and toddy from the palmyrah palm. There are plenty of beaches but no resorts. The Dutch ‘star’ fort in Jaffna is said to be Asia’s best example of Dutch fortification. Inside it are the king’s House and the Dutch Church. Since Jaffna’s population is predominantly Tamil, there are also many Hindu Kovils. 

Kalutara

Distance from Colombo 43km
More or less synonymous with rush and reed ware, Kalutara was also a famous spice centre in the 16th to 18th centuries. There are fine beaches safe for swimming. Immediately south of the Kalu Ganga Bridge on the main road is the Gangatil Vihara, which has a hollow dageba (Buddhist shrine) with an interesting painted terior. By the roadside there is small shrine and the Bodhi tree where driver soften stop to make offerings to ensure a safe journey to Wadduwa, 8km north of Kalutara.

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Kotte

Distance from Colombo 11km
Kotte, rename as Sri Jayewardenepura in located 11km from Fort. Here, Sri Lanka’s new parliamentary complex and administrative capital was developed. It is surrounded by the water of Lake Diyawanna Oya. Kotte also had been a Capital City at the time of the arrival of Portuguese.

Kurunegala

Distance from Colombo 93km
Now, a thriving regional centre and the National Capital for brief period centuries ago. Kurunegala also lies within the best coconut growing area or the also called Coconut Triangle. It is famous for the range of mountains (Rocks) Ethugala or the Elephant Rock, Ibbagala or Tortoise rock jumbled with ruins of carved stairs and doorjambs, Andagala or Eel rock, Kuruminigala or Beatle rock, Waduragala or Monkey rock and Elluwagala or Goat rock.

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Matara

Distance from Colombo 160km
160km from Colombo and is the end of southern railway line. There is long stretch of beach for holiday makers. Matara also has two excellent Dutch Forts; the larger one contains much of old Matara including the excellent rest house which is said to be building on the site where captured elephants were corralled. The other fort, the small 1763 Star Fort, is now used as a library and has an attractive and unusual gateway.

Nuwara Eliya

Distance from Colombo 180km
Set in the heart of tea-country, this beautiful town is where the British succeeded in creating an English countryside, with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne. Well-kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican church, a famous golf course and beautiful parks give the place an air of nostalgia. Situated 1890 meters above sea level, the air is cool and fresh a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo. Close to Nuwara Eliya is Horton Plains, Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau. Nature lovers will revel in this wide, patna-grass covered plain, the haunt of many wild, yet harmless, animals and the home of many species of birds. Bridle paths will take you to the precipice known as world’s End a sheer drop of 1050 meters. Acres and acres of tea with its lush green foliage extend miles across the hills, and no visit to the hill country is complete without a visit to a tea estate, and the chance to purchase some of the world’s finest flavored tea.

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Ratnapura

Distance from Colombo 101km
Sri Lanka‘s City of Gems’ and the centre of its gemming industry. Gems include sapphire, ruby, cat’s eye, alexandrite, topaz, amethyst, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet and zircon. Visits to gem mines can be arranged through travel agents. Gem collections can be seen at the National Museum, Ratnapura, and a number of private museums.

Trincomalee

Distance from Colombo 340km
The best known town on the east coast of Sri Lanka is Trincomalee. Sunny weather throughout the year; mile after mile of broad, white, sandy beaches, sheltered bays and a warm and calm sea are the features that draw sun and sea-lovers to Sri Lanka’s eastern seaboard’s main city. From time immemorial, Trincomalee’s main attraction, however, is a large, safe and one of the best natural harbours of the world.   

Pinnawala

The Pinnawala Elephant Organization is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hill of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department in a 25 acre coconut property near the Maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2003, there were 65 elephants.    

Wilpattu National Wildlife Park

WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK is located 26 km north of Puttalam (approximately 180 km north of Colombo) spanning from the northwest coast inland towards the ancient capital of Anuradhapura (50 km to the east of the park). Covering an impressive 425 sq miles, the park is Sri Lanka’s largest, and having reopened in 2003 it is now an increasingly popular eco-tourism destination.
Wilpattu is a fairly thick dry zone jungle interspersed with a number of flood plain lakes banked with delicate white sands. It boasts an impressive variety of flora in huge expanses of forest, and varied wildlife, including deer, elephants, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards.

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK is located approximately 200 km south-east of Colombo city and is a major eco tourism destination in Sri Lanka . The 30,821 hectares dry zone game park has an annual rainfall of 1524 mm and an average temperature of 29.4°C.
It is most famous for the many elephants that live there (about 400 in total). During a visit, it is not unusual to see whole herds of adults and young elephants– feeding or bathing and playing in the water! In addition to this main attraction, the park is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard, as well as being an exciting location for bird enthusiasts.

A 4WD open-top safari is the only way to see all the wonders that this protected reserve has to offer and our experienced and knowledgeable nature guides will make this an unforgettable experience.

YALA NATIONAL PARK

SINHARAJA RAINFOREST is a world heritage site and major eco tourism destination, which can also be described as a Tropical Lowland Rainforest or Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest . Whatever its 'technical' name, it is undoubtedly a rich treasure trove of nature with a great diversity of habitats and a vast repository of Sri Lanka's endemic species found no where else in the world. BIRD WATCHING in this ecosystem is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka ! Named as a world heritage site in 1989, this lowland evergreen rain forest is steeped in deep legend and mystery. The word 'Sinharaja' means, Lion (Sinha) King (Raja), and it is popular belief that the legendary origin of the Sinhala people is from the union between a princess and the lion king who once lived in the forest!