One Week in Sri Lanka

DAY 01PINNAWALA | Sirigiya & dambulla

Located in Kegalle district, Pinnawala village is important as a tourist attraction due to the establishment of an elephants’ orphanage. It is set up to rehabilitate elephants that have been injured due to various human activities and to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves. Facilities are also provided to engage in activities such as watching the elephants as well as milking the baby elephants.

Ma Oya flows near the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and seeing the elephants engaged in water sports in the Ma Oya is a great delight for tourists. Pinnawala Zoological Park, which is located right next to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, has managed to bring some safari experience. Due to its proximity to Rambukkana railway station, tourists visiting Pinnawala by train are also popular. There are several other places located near the Elephants’ Orphanage that provide facilities for participating in elephant bathing activities, elephant outings etc. and these activities are of high interest among local and foreign tourists.

Both Dambulla and Sigiriya are ancient inhabited cities dating back to prehistoric times. Both cities have Buddhist and Hindu ruins dating back to the third century BC. It also has many ruins of ancient kingdoms dating back to the first century AD.

Today, in addition to the ruins, it is an area with a natural environment of wild animals such as elephants, tigers, birds, protected forests, lakes, etc. Also, there are many big and small tourist resorts-restaurants and other institutions that provide many quality services for tourists.

A wide range of activities are open to the tourists like ruins visit and study - Safari tours in the parks - Ayurvedic treatments and massages - Close up of tame elephants - Elephant trekking - Village safaris offering food experiences of local village life as well as hot air balloon rides.

DAY 02KANDY

Named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka surrounded by many wonderful tourist attractions. Kandy and the surrounding mountainous environment with its beautiful natural beauty are blessed with a mild climate. Kandy has seen many remnants of the historical sites of the "Mahanuwara kingdom era".

KANDY TEMPLE OF TOOTH RELIC takes the leading place among the ancient places of Kandy. It is the place where the tooth relic of LEGENDARY leader "Gautama Buddha" who is loved and respected by most of the people living around the world, is preserved and maintained with constant attractive worship practices. 

In addition to the daily Tevas (the rituals), the annual Asala Maha Perahera (the procession) is a huge pooja (paying homage) for the Buddha. There are foreign tourists who come to this country with the sole purpose of seeing it. The cultural elements included in the procession and the cultural variety show held daily in the premises near Dalada Maliga is also an element that has attracted a lot of tourists.

Other historical places in Dalada Maligawa premises are Raja Vasala (Royal Palace) - Magul Maduwa/Raja Sabhawa (The king assumed the leadership of all the three bodies of legislative, executive and judiciary) - Meda Vasala (Palace of Queen Consort) - Palle Vahala / Biso Maligaya (Palace of harem) - Ulpangeya (Bathhouse) - Natha Temple - etc. are places to be observed and studied by tourists. Garrison Graveyard - Ambakke Temple - Lankathilaka Temple - Degaldoruwa Temple - Ranawana Purana Raja Maha Vihara hold prominence as other historical tourist attractions in and around Kandy.

As a tourist attraction in Kandy, Peradeniya Botanical Garden is a very prominent place. Gannoruwa Agricultural Technology Park - Udawatta Kale Forest Reserve - Nelligala International Buddhist Center are some other tourist attractions around Kandy. “Kandy City Centre” Commercial and Shopping Complex is a modern commercial complex, where any tourist visiting Kandy should visit. The Complex is designed with ultra-modern features yet preserving the iconic Kandyan architecture. Several leading banks, a fully equipped supermarket, a variety of restaurants, an entertainment zone, a well-designed state of the art food court is also featured in the Complex. Kandy Municipal Central Market is also popular among tourists for buying fresh fruits and vegetables in Kandy.

DAY 03NUWARA-ELIYA 

A mountainous area that was used for tea cultivation during the British colonial period due to its fertile soil and favorable climatic conditions. Nuwara - Eliya is a mind-blowing city that has won the tourist attraction of mild climate known as Little England due to the average temperature of British springtime with many houses built according to the British architectural style.

There are many tourist attractions in Nuwara - Eliya city and surrounding area; Gregory Lake built to beautify the city - Victoria Garden - Hakgala Flower Garden - Ambewela Animal Farm - Strawberry Farm - Horton Plain - Baker's Falls - Tea Factories and Sita Amman Temple are among them. 

DAY 04ELla  | YALA NATIONAL PARK

Located in the Badulla district of Uva Province in Sri Lanka, Ella can be introduced as a tourist paradise with its mountainous natural beauty. There are a large number of tourist accommodation service providers and various dining halls in the Ella tourist area, which shows a variety of natural life including vegetation, birds, reptiles, mammals related to the mountainous environment.

Many tourists love to experience the beauty while walking in the environment. "Ella" has given tourists the opportunity to experience many activities including adventure activities.

Nine Arched stone bridge, Ravana Falls, “Demodara” Railway Station, Mini Adam’s Peak etc. are very popular tourist attractions. Tourists also enjoy the natural beauty observation train tour associated with the “Ella” There are short tuk tuk tours and observation tours by double decker bus in the Ella area

Yala, which used to be a densely populated agricultural land in ancient times, is now designated as a dry zone forest reserve and inherits a unique biodiversity. A large group of mammals such as elephants, leopards, bears, deer, sambur, wild boars, small cattle, as well as many species of very large birds, many species of reptiles and amphibians, and a large number of insects, including butterflies, are animals that can be seen in a very short time. Yala Reserve is a haven for animal behavioral studies that amuses safari tourists.

There is scope to provide necessary facilities for study tours, animal wildlife photography and painting. There are places to pitch tents in the forest. 

DAY 05mirissa

 A scenic beach town located in Matara district. Late night restaurants are very popular among the tourist facilities on the beautiful beaches. Dolphin and whale watching facilities have intensified the tourism attraction. Stilt fishing scenes are widely used for symbolic representation in the tourism industry of this region as well as Sri Lanka.

DAY 06GALLE | HIKKADUWA | AMBALANGODA | Bentota

Galle is a city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Galle Lighthouse stands on the fort’s southeast tip

Dutch Reformed Church, Maritime Museum, Galle Museum, Old Dutch Hospital and Meeran Jumma Mosque are ancient buildings found in Galle. Rumassala and Unawatuna Beach has become a paradise for tourists throughout the year. Galle Harbor has facilities for travelers arriving on yachts to Sri Lanka. There is a facility in Galle Harbor for arrival of tourists from passenger ships too.

Hikkaduwa is a seaside resort-town in southwestern Sri Lanka. It’s known for its strong surf and beaches, including palm-dotted Hikkaduwa Beach, lined with sea-food restaurants and bars that are popular for nightlife in Sri Lanka. The shallow waters opposite Hikkaduwa Beach shelter the Hikkaduwa Marine National Park, which is a coral sanctuary and home to marine turtles and exotic fish. Tourists love to have a Safari on Coral Garden. They never forget to buy some souvenirs out of abandant sovevir shops in the area. 

The art of Sri Lankan Masks was existing from time immemorial. Mask carving is a local tradition in the southern coastal region in Sri Lanka. Ambalangoda is well known for traditional masks carvings and masks dancing. 

“Rukada” is what a puppet is called in Sri Lanka. It literally means “figure” or “doll that is made of wood”. It started with the south – eastern artists in the country, who made masks. When they started to make dolls for entertainments, they were soon joined by musicians and actors and began to perform at festivals and fairs. Puppetry has been a basic folk art in Sri Lanka, but it started to become famous in the country about 300 years ago.

DAY 07BENTOTA

Bentota is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Coral-rich dive sites include Canoe Rock. Bentota River, joins the sea at Bentota where it is a an area of rich of bio diversity is popular among tourists for Safari. Many water sports, spa treatments and it’s natural beauty attracts tourists all around the world keeping the area full of tourists throughout the year. Paramotoring is the newest adventure added recently to Bentota. 

DAY 08Colombo

Colombo being the commercial capital of the country is itself a tourist attraction. All tourists visiting Colombo must visit the Galle Face Green that is located in the heart of the city along the Indian Ocean coast and is a destination for tourists and residents alike. The Galle Face Hotel is a historic landmark on the southern edge of this promenade. The new Port City is an artificially built island in front of Galle face Green is becoming a tourist attraction. The artificial beach built within the Colombo Port City limits is now open for the general public

Gangaramaya Temple is the secondly most visited attraction in Colombo is one of the most important temples in Colombo. The temple's architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architecture. The Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park) is an urban park located next to the National Museum of Colombo and the Town Hall. It is the oldest and largest park in Colombo and features a large Buddha statue. As part of the Urban Regeneration Program of the Government of Sri Lanka, many old sites and buildings were revamped into modern public recreational spaces and shopping precincts. These include Independence Memorial Hall Square, Pettah Floating Market and Old Dutch Hospital, among others. Adding a new experience to the Sri Lankan landscape, the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia and the tallest skyscraper in the country, the Lotus Tower is the ultimate culmination of ingenuity and innovation. Rising towards Colombo’s skyline the Nelum Kuluna is an iconic landmark that reflects the spirit of a nation. Her resilience and her strength.

Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, One Galle Face, Arcade Independence Square, Colombo City Centre, Marino Mall, Crescat Boulevard Mall & Liberty Plaza are only a some of many popular areas of good shopping experiences in Sri Lanka.