SRI LANKA – YOTRIPP TRAVEL https://yotripp.com Travel and Travel Marketing Sun, 22 Oct 2023 14:52:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 POPULAR PLACES IN SRI LANKA https://yotripp.com/popular-places-in-sri-lanka/ https://yotripp.com/popular-places-in-sri-lanka/#respond Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:21:26 +0000 https://yotripp.com/?p=1733

POPULAR PLACES IN SRI LANKA

Pristine beaches, beautiful temples, mesmerizing mountains and scenic tea gardens are just the tip of the iceberg at the island country of Sri Lanka. Formerly known as Ceylon, this small nation is situated in South Asia, in the Indian Ocean. The natural beauty of the island makes this a wonderful vacation spot for tourists. The vestiges of the Dutch, Portuguese and English rule in the region add to its charm.

Here are some of the most popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka that must not be missed, especially if you are a tourist-loving person who’d prefer the popular attractions over the less-touristy places in Sri Lanka.

01.

Colombo

Colombo is the judicial and executive capital of Sri Lanka and largely serves as an entry point to the country. 

One of the most famous tourist spots in the city is the Galle Green Face, a seaside urban park along the Indian Ocean. 

Named after Queen Viharamahadevi, Colombo boasts of a grand public park that has a mini zoo, aquarium, children’s play zone, a lake and a suspension bridge.

An iconic Buddhist temple is the Gangaramaya Temple located in Colombo- a wonderful mix of Indian, Thai, Chinese and Burmese architecture. 

The National Museum of Colombo is a must-visit for history buffs. Built in an Italian architectural style, the museum houses many valuable relics of ancient dynasties and palm-leaf manuscripts in various languages.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Farhath Firows on Unsplash

02.

Sigiriya Fortress

Sigiriya is a world heritage site and a breath-taking wonder atop a mountain. The Lion’s Rock plateau is almost 600 ft high and overlooks the jungle below. Sigiriya fortress dates back to the 3rd century B.C. It was a monastery before becoming the royal residence. 


This is truly an engineering marvel; a little piece of history perched on a summit.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Carl Nenzen Loven on Unsplash

03.

Kandy

Kandy is the second-largest city in Sri Lanka, famous for tea and rubber plantations. It is also home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, which houses a tooth of the Buddha. 


Also known as the Golden Rock Temple, the Dambulla Cave Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Kandy. This sacred Buddhist site has more than 80 caves out of which five have many beautiful paintings and statues. 


The Bahiravakanda Vihara Buddha, an 88ft white Buddha statue is located on the Bahirava Kanda hill, offering great panoramic views of the city. Best time to visit the place and see the magnificence of the statue is early morning or post sunset.


The Ceylon Tea Museum in Kandy offers tourists a tour of tea making and opportunities to buy the delicious varieties as well.

Travel tips: 

The Tea Museum is closed on Mondays.

Tourists have free entry to Dambulla Cave Temple on full moon nights.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash

04.

Galle

Galle is a fortified town famous for its Portuguese and Dutch influences on architecture and city planning. The Galle Fort is an important tourist destination, which today houses various businesses and courts. Popular attractions nearby include a maritime museum, the country’s oldest lighthouse, a Shiva temple and a cathedral.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Shainee Fernando on Unsplash

05.

Arugam Bay

Adventure sports enthusiasts can head to Arugam Bay, located on the east coast of Sri Lanka. This town is a surfer’s paradise. There are multiple spots along the coast that offer adrenaline-pumping surfing opportunities for novices as well as experts. The Main Point surf break is a popular spot for experienced surfers. If you are not an expert, ride the waves at Whiskey Point or Peanut Farm. The areas along the beach offer great culinary joints and shopping options.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash

06.

Yala National Park

Located about 250kms from Colombo, in the south-eastern part of Sri Lanka, the Yala National Park is home to many wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and water buffaloes are found here in large numbers. Leopards are the main attraction here and chances of spotting them are high. Tourists can opt for walking trails or safaris to explore the park. Camping and wildlife photography are wildly popular activities here.

Travel tip:

The park is closed in September owing to leopard breeding season.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash

08.

Nuwara Eliya

A visit to the lush green tea gardens at the production capital of the country- Nuwara Eliya is a must. This hill town was founded in the 19th century and is also fondly called Little England due to the Britishers who came to stay here. 


Nearby attractions include strawberry fields, Gregory Lake, Victoria Park and botanical gardens. It is the best place for a scenic train ride as well.

Travel tip:

The Best time to visit is between March and May when the tea plantations are in full bloom. Sri Lankan New Year also takes place in April.

These were some of the more popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. If you are someone who hates crowds and prefers off-the-grid, low-key, not-so-popular tourist spots, here are 6 offbeat destinations in Sri Lanka that you may find to be more to your liking.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Rowan Heuvel on Unsplash

  • 8 Popular Touristy Places in Sri Lanka: Travel to Sri Lanka
  • Popular Places in Sri Lanka

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]]> https://yotripp.com/popular-places-in-sri-lanka/feed/ 0 OFFBEAT, CROWD-FREE SRI LANKA https://yotripp.com/offbeat-crowd-free-sri-lanka/ https://yotripp.com/offbeat-crowd-free-sri-lanka/#respond Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:14:55 +0000 https://yotripp.com/?p=1728

OFFBEAT, CROWD-FREE SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is a wonderful island country in the Indian Ocean and makes for a scenic and affordable holiday destination; whether you are visiting with family, on a romantic getaway with your spouse or looking for some peaceful time alone. 


But no matter where you go, the tranquillity is often marred by throngs of tourists and local crowd flocking to every beach and every cave. This often puts a damper in your plans of having a quiet, relaxing vacation.

 
Here we have a list of offbeat places in Sri Lanka that are known only to a few and visited by even fewer. Of course, if you prefer more touristy destinations, check out these 8 popular places to visit in Sri Lanka instead.

01.

Hikkaduwa

From snorkelling, surfing and exploring coral reefs to lazing around on the beach, Hikkaduwa offers visitors an idyllic beach holiday.


You can explore the coral reef and see the vibrant, colourful fish in the waters. Hikkaduwa also has four shipwrecks that take diving experiences up a notch. North of the town, you can find the Hikkaduwa Turtle Hatchery that protects this endangered species. 


Situated close by is the Tsunami Museum as well. To the South are beautiful inland lakes and eco-gardens that are worth a visit.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Achref Kachti on Unsplash

02.

Handungoda

Nestled within the foothills of Ahangama, lies the Handungoda Tea Estate, probably the world’s only tea plantation so close to the sea. The estate is known for producing the world-famous ‘Virgin White Tea’ using traditional Chinese methods where no bare hands touch the tea leaf at any point during processing. 


Visit Handungoda for a unique tea tour experience where you can taste the delicious varieties and end with a slice of cake!

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Drew Farwell on Unsplash

03.

Haputale

Another mesmerizing spot for nature lovers is Haputale, in Badulla district. The Lipton Seat is a famous spot for watching the sunrise and taking in the green expanse in front of you turn golden. 


But the highlight of the place is the magnificent 863 feet high (Sri Lanka’s tallest) waterfall, that can be found about 16kms from Haputale. You can make a trip to this less-visited tropical paradise which is as picturesque as can be.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by Yasasi Rajapakse on Unsplash

04.

Batticaloa

An exotic destination, full of beautiful lagoons, museums, churches and forts; Batticaloa is a great place if you want to relax and laze around.


A visit to the Batticaloa (Dutch) Fort and Museum will give you a chance to see some rare colonial artefacts and manuscripts. The Batticaloa Gate-the point of loading and unloading cargo that reached the port can also be seen nearby.


The biggest attraction of Batticaloa though is the Kallady Beach and ‘Singing Fish’. It is believed that a particular type of fish in the waters of Kallady emanate a singing sound at night, in certain seasons. Since olden days, Tamil fishermen have claimed that they navigate the lagoon using this mysterious sound.

Picture Courtesy:Wikimedia Commons: Evan Florian

05.

Mannar

Mannar, located in the Northern Sri Lankan Province is the perfect combination of natural beauty, history, culture and wonderful architecture. 


The Mannar Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1560 AD. Taken over by the Dutch in 1658, the Fort got an additional four parapets. A beautifully carved entrance, the remains of a dungeon, a bell tower and a chapel is what you can explore here.


The Ketheeswaram temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Our Lady of Madhu Church are places of religious importance to Sri Lankan Tamils and Catholics. The temple is said to have been mentioned in the Ramayana. The Church has seen destruction during the Sri Lankan Civil War but still stands today, a witness to history.


The massive Baobab Tree here which is locally known as the ‘elephant tree’ was planted by Arabs about 700 years back and has a 20 metres wide trunk.

Picture Courtesy:Photo by saajid luenzo on Unsplash

06.

Beruwala

For those who are looking for some self-pampering, head to Beruwala, a quiet town in the Western Province, famous for its ‘Golden Mile’ beach, Yoga retreats and Ayurvedic Spa centres. 


Beruwala was the first Muslim (Moor) colony and houses Sri Lanka’s oldest mosque. Established by the British in the early nineties, the Beruwala Lighthouse is 34 metres tall with 150 steps to get to the top. It is a 10-minute boat ride away from the main town and gives you a magnificent aerial view of the surroundings.


The gem trading area of Beruwala is China Fort. The Moors of the region have engaged in coloured precious stone trading for many decades. So, while you are here, you can indulge in sight-seeing, water sports and shopping.

If you prefer places that are more ‘hot and happening’ in terms of tourist footfall, don’t forget to check out these 8 popular places to visit in Sri Lanka.

Picture Courtesy:Wikimedia Commons: Salitha Indrajith

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