Category: Sri Lanka

Kandy is considered as a chief tourist destination of Sri Lanka. The city of Kandy is the second largest city after Colombo and it is also regarded as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. What’s more, Kandy is nestled in the hills at an altitude of 488 meters and it is situated 115 km away from Colombo. Besides, the city lies in the middle of hills in the Kandy plateau and the city is both an administrative and religious city in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Interestingly, the name of this city was given from the word ‘Kanda’ (means a hill) in Sinhala by the colonial rulers.

Things to see in Kandy

The Temple of Tooth: The temple of the tooth is one of the most significant attractions of Kandy. This temple is also most-valued Buddhist place of worship in the entire Sri Lanka. The major attraction of the temple is the Buddha’s teeth, which was kept in the temple. Usually, the temple is opened from dawn to dusk and it was built in the 16th century. You have to wear a certain dress to enter into the temple. There is a set of rituals that are performed daily. All in all, this temple is one of the sacred shrines of Sri Lanka.

Old Royal Palace Compound: Old Royal Palace Compound is by far the most striking tourist attraction in Kandy. You will enjoy a lot while taking tours to the quarters of the royal concubines, old royal palace, queen’s chambers, the council chambers, and the armory. In order to represent the Kandyan era, almost all the places are used as museums. Also, these places represent several historical events of Kandyan era.

The Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya: The Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya is the best botanical garden in Kandy and the most visited botanical garden in Sri Lanka. The ancient kings of Sri Lanka had made this botanical garden, but the British have refurbished the look of the garden as well. They used the garden to grow trees that were not possible to grow in the Great Britain. This botanical garden consists of a big banyan tree, an orchid house, and the suspension bridge.

The Spice Garden: Kandy is renowned for lots of spice garden. You will see different spices and plants such as – cinnamon, alo-evera, etc. In short, the spice gardens are quite interesting and you will definitely enjoy watching them.

Things to do in Kandy

Ride on an Elephant: The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage offers you something different travel experience. Here, you can feed and ride on the elephants. Also, you can enjoy the sights of an elephant shower while getting up close to them. Above all, visiting this elephant orphanage is a must do activity in Kandy.

Visit the Big Buddha: Visiting the Big Buddha on top of the hill is beat everything in Kandy. This Big Buddha is a part of the small temple complex. What you will most enjoy is the view of Kandy from the top. The city, the mountain ranges in the background, the lake; you can see everything from the top. So, you can’t simply miss the Big Buddha.

Explore a Tea Garden: Sri Lanka is the number one country for producing a large amount tea in the world and Kandy houses many renowned tea gardens. So, taking a tour to explore a tea garden would provide you some amazing sights like tea workers plucking tea plants, beautiful smell of raw teas, and many more natural sights.

Do some shopping in the Kandy City Center: This city center in Kandy is a 10-storied complex. After 12 years of construction, the city center was opened in 2005. Now, you can do some shopping in this city center since the complex offers a wide variety of shopping options. Plus, this city center is the only shopping complex in the entire city of Kandy.

Also read our guide on best hotels in Kandy to select the best accommodation in Kandy.

How is the weather of Kandy?

The weather of Kandy is cooler and wetter than the usual tropical weather of Sri Lanka. Generally, Kandy has two different seasons – the monsoon season and the dry season. In Kandy, the driest months are December to April and the average temperature is in between 22°C and 30°C. On the other hand, the monsoon season in Kandy starts from May and lasts until August. In the monsoon season, the average temperature ranges from 25°C to 29°C. Finally, the humidity of Kandy lies in between 70% and 79%.

How to reach Kandy?

In order to reach Kandy, you can take the following options –

By Bus: Bus is the best option to reach Kandy. From the Bandaranaike International Airport, you can take the free shuttle bus to reach the bus terminal. From the terminal, you can take the local bus to reach Kandy. The estimated journey time will around three hours. Also, you can reach Kandy from Colombo by getting on the public buses.

By Train: Traveling by train is the cheapest option and using the trains to reach Kandy would be far easier. With that said, intercity express trains are trouble-free and scenic. You have to book your reservation in advance. The entire trip from Colombo to Kandy would cost you LKR220 in second class and the first class would cost LKR750.

By Taxi: Traveling taxi represents a comfortable journey to Kandy, but it will be expensive as well. You can hire a taxi from the Colombo airport terminal for around LKR 6,000. The estimated duration of the journey is approximately three hours.

Finally, Kandy is one of the prominent cities of Sri Lanka that symbolizes the culture of the country. It is a city with diverse elements and sights. Also, this is why people from around the world flock in numbers to visit this city. So, pack your bags today and hop over a travel trip to Kandy with our Kandy travel guide!

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Select our Sri Lanka 1 month itinerary where Kandy has included.

Ella is a small hilly town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by an urban council. The town is just about 200 kilometers east of the city of Colombo and it resides at an elevation of 1,041 meters beyond the sea level. In addition to this, Ella has some stunning tourist attractions and sightseeing spectacles such as – the Ella Gap, Little AdamsPeak, etc. Also, it has an affluent bio-diversity dense along with loads of flora and fauna. To add to the fact, the place is encircled with hills, which are filled with tea plantations and cloud forests. In short, Ella is a wonderful place for having a relaxing vacation. So, let’s discover the important facts about Ella.

Things to see in Ella

Ella Gap: Ella Gap is a magnificent location in Ella. The small town is enclosed by tall mountains in the central hills. There is a gap among these mountains and from that gap; you can easily get outstanding views of the ocean that stretched to the Hambantota coastline.

Little AdamsPeak: Little AdamsPeak is a pyramid-shaped rock that stands in the opposite direction of the big Ella Rock. When you are in Ella, walking up to the top of AdamsPeak would be one of the highlights of your trip. The top of AdamsPeak will provide you excellent views out over the hills and the climbing would not be a difficult one like the rest of hills.

Rawana Waterfall: The Rawana Waterfalls is a 25-meter high waterfall that flows from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. Generally, the flow of this waterfall gets dry in the dry season. But, when the rainy season comes, the waterfall becomes an Areca flower with contemptuous petals. The main source of the waterfall is the Bandarawela Hill Oya Reservoir and this waterfall is a part of Ella Wildlife Sanctuary.

Things to do in Ella

Hike around Ella Rock: The Ella Rock looms large over the small town village of Ella. Hiking around Ella is the most rewarding element in Ella because of its grand size. Usually, it will take a four-hour hiking tour to discover the Ella Rock. The most interesting fact about Ella Rock is that it combines with a rail track, tea plantation, and some dangerous stuff close to the peak. When you are hiking, you must bring essential elements such as – food, water, footwear, etc. Furthermore, the tracks of the rock will become slippery. So, you must focus intensely and also be aware of the mist and rain. Among the various routes, you can hike by the most preferred rail line south, which outside of the village.

See the views from Nine Arched Bridge: Between Ella and the Demodara station, the splendid Nine Arch Bridge is situated. This spectacular bridge is nearly 100 years old and it was built with blocks of stone along with cement without any support of iron or concrete. Now, a train journey along this Nine Arched Bridge would represent you views of Ella and it is one of the exciting travel attractions as well.

Take a Tea Plantation tour: Ella is the hub of tea production in Sri Lanka. The place is beset with a lot of factories and tea states. Ella and these tea states along with the factories offer an extraordinary opportunity to observe the entire process of making a cup of tea of Ceylon Tea. Almost all the factories give guided tours, which covers a step-by-step manufacturing process of tea. Besides, the top tea factories of Ella are – The Halpewatte Tea Factory, the Newburgh Estate, and the Kinellan Tea Factory.

Enjoy a Spa Day at Ayurvedic Health Centers: Ella is known to be a famous hilly vacation spot, but it is also home to some excellent Ayurvedic treatment facilities and spas as well. Tourists will be amazed to receive some exciting therapy packages that range from beauty treatments to the solution to several problems regarding the body and mind. All these Ayurvedic treatment centers utilize herbs and the most effective Ayurvedic principles in the day-to-day therapy sessions. The most health centers in Ella are – Suwamadura and the Suwa Pradeepa Spa, Suwadivi Ayurveda Health Care, and Hela OSU Suwapiyasa.

How is the weather of Ella?

The weather in Ella is perfect for a calming vacation with warm days and cool nights. The higher you go in this hilly small town, the cooler the weather gets. Typically, Ella has an average temperature of 20-28 degrees Celsius, which is very suitable for travelers to avoid hot and humid conditions. Usually, the days will be hotter and the night will be cool. Additionally, April is the warmest month in Ella whereas August happens to be the coolest month. Besides, the driest month in Ella is March and the wettest is October.

How to reach Ella?

You can reach Ella by the following transport option –

By rail: Ella is close to Badulla and at the end of the railway line that goes through this small hilly town. Usually, trains that go to Kandy and Colombo begin from here. The journey will cost you less sum of money and you will get splendid views from the train. When you go to Colombo or Kandy, you can easily get a seat. However, when you are coming to Ella from those cities, you have to wait for two or three hours.

By Bus: You can also reach Ella by bus. Generally, the buses go to the southern part of Ella by Ella Gap to Wellawaya. Following are the different routes by which you can reach Ella –

• Colombo – Gampola – Nuwara Eliya – Bandarawela – Ella (A1)
• Colombo – Ratnapura – Balangoda – Haputale – Bandarawela – Ella (A4)
• Matara – Hambanthota – Wellawaya – Ella

Finally, We would suggest everyone to visit Ella (A wonderful hilly small town). The reason of my fondness for is because this place is magnificently decorated with natural surroundings and hilly mountains. It also provides a soothing and cheering atmosphere that can get rid of the exhaustion of many tourists. All in all, Ella is just the perfect location for a nature-loving vacation if you explore it with our Ella travel guide.

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Check this Sri Lanka 4 week itinerary where Ella had been included.

Dambulla is a large city that is located in the Matale District, Central Province of Sri Lanka. The city resides 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. Dambulla belongs to the Cultural Triangle, which was declared by UNESCO and it happens to be on the main from Sigiriya to Kandy. Also, it is 19 km away from Sigiriya. Dambulla is surrounded by more than 80 caves and some of these caves are frequently used by the monks as a meditation place.

Furthermore, the main attraction of this city is the five caves that comprises of statues and several paintings. These caves were founded by King Valagamba by the 1st century B.C. However, over the years, many changes and renovations have been made to these caves. Besides, Dambulla is situated at a key intersection point and consequently, that is the centre of vegetable distribution in the entire country. Above all, Dambulla is a unique city with lots of historical interests.

Things to See in Dambulla

Dambulla Rock Temple: Dambulla is blessed with more than 80 caves and the central attraction of this city is the Dambulla Rock Temple. This temple includes five cave temples and they have roots to the first century B.C… Additionally, this temple is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and it is the biggest and best-preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka as well. The towers in the cave are 160 m long and are over the encircling plains. Here, you will see paintings and statues of Lord Buddha and his life. There are 153 Buddha statues in total along with three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of god and goddess. All of these statues and paintings are just amazing and wonderful. Every year, tourists from around the world visit the Dambulla Rock Temple just to experience these astonishing creations.

Rose Quartz Mountain: The Rose Quartz Mountain is approximately 500 million years old and it is a mountain range. This is one of the top attractions of Dambulla. You will a lot of white rose alongside violet color quartz in the Rose Quartz Mountain. If you start a trek to reach this highest Mountain range in the entire South Asia, you will be feeling a sense of satisfaction. The reason for this is that it will present you a stunning view of the adjoining countryside for miles. Though the mountain is made of rose quartz, you can’t recognize easily.

Iron Wood Forest: The Iron Wood Forest was considered to be a human sanctuary and many believe that it was made by King Dappula, the 10th Century AD ruler. This is forest is recognized as Jathika Namal Uyana and it will offer you a captivating trek through the deep jungle. This jungle is covered by the Sri Lankan national tree, the Naa. Plus, this forest has significant value to ecologists since it carries an ecological importance the country.

Things to do in Dambulla

Visit the Golden Temple Buddhist Museum: The Golden Temple Buddhist Museum is standing at the foot of the golden Buddha statue. At the entrance point of the museum, you will see a massive lion-like beast. The museum is quite big. However, it has a few numbers of exhibits except some tedious pieces of the cave temple paintings. But you will definitely enjoy while visiting this museum as it marks the historical evidence of Buddha for the visitors.

Bird and Monkey Watching: While staying in Dambulla, you can get fun while watching birds and monkeys. Generally, the city is famous for its bird watching tours. Also, there are lots of monkeys, which are quite funny given that they tend to show hilarious acts. Other than this, the top bird watching tours in Dambulla are hosted in the Rose Quartz Mountain area as well as in Iron Wood Forest.

Shop in Dambulla: Dambulla boasts comprehensive and modernized markets and they make the city more appealing to the tourists. The city has become the commercial hub of Sri Lanka’s North Province. When you stroll on the streets, you will get to see several shops displaying a puzzling array of agricultural equipment, bicycles by the dozen, household utensils, etc. These markets best represent the local culture of Dambulla.

How is the weather of Dambulla?

Dambulla has classic tropical weather with less rainfall in the summer season. The average temperature of Dambulla is 26.8 ° and the average rainfall is 1557 mm in each year. Generally, the months of January, February, March, April, and May feature a pleasant average temperature. Usually, the heavy rainfall is seen in the months June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. On an average scale, the warmest month of Dambulla is April and the coolest month is August. On the other hand, the driest month of Dambulla is March and the wettest month is October.

How to reach Dambulla?

You can reach Dambulla by the following options –

By Air: There are flights available up to Bandaranaike International Airport and Katunayaka airport where you can easily reach Dambulla through a bus or hired car.

By Water: Sri Lanka has three deep-water ports and they are situated at Galle, Colombo and Trincomalee. After reaching these ports, you can hire a bus or taxi to reach Dambulla.

By Train: Dambulla is 45 km away from Gal Oya junction on the eastern railway line. It is also away from Matale on the Main Line with a same distance. After reaching any of these railway lines, you can easily reach Dambulla by car or bus.

To finish off, Dambulla is an attractive proposition for several tourists because it is unique and is the commercial hub of the country. With ancient cave temples, the city becomes more alluring as they will take the tourists to the era of Buddha. When you are traveling to Dambulla, you should remember that this place is sacred as well. So, don’t miss a bit of this one-of-a-kind city and enjoy your trip to the fullest with our Dambulla travel guide.

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Check our 6 day Sri Lanka tour package to include Dambulla.

Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka and it is the most popular city as well. The name of the city (Colombo) was first given by the Portuguese in 1505. The name was derived from the standard Sinhalese name ‘Kolon thota’ or ‘Kola-amba-thota,’ which means port on the river Kelani or harbor with leafy mango trees respectively. The city is located on the west coast of the island and it is close to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, which happens to be the legislative capital of Sri Lanka.

Colombo is a busy city with a cosmopolitan culture. It is the rendezvous point for beaches in the southern region of Sri Lanka. The city boasts a long line of history as a port city that serve the east-west trade routes and at that time the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British Empire ruled the entire area. In addition to this, the city of Colombo is regarded as the financial center of the island and every year, millions of tourists come to this city for spending a vacation. All in all, Colombo is a vibrant city that offers a blend of cultural heritage (colonial buildings with ancient bits and pieces) with modern life surroundings.

Things to see in Colombo

National Museum of Colombo: A few decades back, Sri Lanka has been modernized, but the entire civilization of this country has lasted here for millennia. Among these ancient civilizations, the most prominent is the National Museum of Colombo. This museum illustrates a diversified collection ancient civilization as you will observe the ancient ruins of Sri Lankan history, artworks, and the remnants from the Anuradhapura Kingdom (dating back to the fourth century B.C.).

Independence Memorial Hall: In 1948, Sri Lanka got its independence from Britain and this is the place where this historic moment took place. Moreover, the huge stone-made building is enclosed by a serene garden. In front of the hall, there is a statue of Sri Lanka’s first ever president (The Father of the Nation). Additionally, this iconic hall is used for various religious events alongside yearly national day celebration. The hall is peaceful and crowd-less bring a sense of calmness to the visitors.

Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple: Sri Lanka has a long and illustrious history, which includes several transitions. But the only constant thing during these transitions is the practice of Buddhism. Now, the city of Colombo represents the Buddhism in the best possible manner with the iconic Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. This temple is home to the holy Bodhi tree with loads of Buddha images of different sizes. This is why this temple is a must see attractions for the tourists.

Beira Lake: The Beira Lake is one of the classic tourist attractions in the city of Colombo. It is colossal and when you exited from the Gangaramaya Temple, you will be tempted to take a rest alongside the shores of this wonder lake. Around the lake, various modernizations and storefronts have taken place, but it still manages to remain peaceful. This is why tourists love to take a respite from the busy and hectic schedule in the Beira Lake.

Things to do in Colombo

Spot the magnificent whales: Sri Lanka is renowned for many beautiful spectacles and whales are one such spectacle that compels the tourists to say – Wow! When you are on a boat in the Sri Lankan waters, you can easily spot the magnificent sperm and blue whales. These whales will glide past your boat gracefully and watching these whales is a thing of beauty and unravel to any attraction. You can spot them in Dondra Point, which is close to Galle, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa.

Go for a fascinating train voyage: A charming train ride with the Sri Lanka’s timeless colonial trains would take you to the Golden Age of Travel. This railway line was created to transfer spices and tea from the hazy mountains to Colombo’s port. Besides, this is a historic railway line that goes through rugs of progressing tea plantations, hidden waterfalls, spice gardens, and ever smiling rail-side merchants. The locals would embrace you gracefully making your trip more pleasant.

Get lost while soaking in the beaches: Colombo is home to various beaches, which can rival the exotic beaches of Europe and the Caribbean’s. All of these beaches are encircled by coconut palm fringed shorelines with turquoise waters and white dusty sands. Getting lost in these beaches would offer a fitting end to your trip in Colombo.

If your looking forward to try some awesome delicious foods in the town, check this out top 6 restaurant in Colombo

How is the weather of Colombo?

The climate of Colombo is a tropical monsoon one and ironically, it has fallen short of a tropical rainforest climate. Throughout the year, the climate of this city is fairly temperate. Additionally, the city experiences a reasonable change during the monsoon season (from May to August and October to January). In this time, there are significant rainfalls and the average rainfall in the city is around 2,400 millimeters a year. Furthermore, the warmest month in Colombo is January and the coolest month is September. Moreover, the wettest month is May and the driest month is January.

How to reach Colombo?

You can reach Colombo by the following options –

By Bus: Generally, buses are a good option to travel around Colombo. Buses are also the cheapest option to get around the city of Colombo. However, you will sometimes find a lot of crowds while traveling by bus. Usually, there are two types of buses by which you can reach Colombo. Additionally, there is government owned public buses as well as there are privately owned buses. Following is a list of the routes by which you can reach Colombo from different cities.

• A1 highway connects Colombo with Kandy
• A2 highway connects Colombo with Galle
• A3 highway connects Colombo with Negombo
• A4 highway connects Colombo with Ratnapura

By Train: Train is an important transportation option in Sri Lanka and traveling by train is comfortable for many reasons. Usually, a train has different classes in with which you can travel. These classes include –

• 1st class sleeper
• 1st class observation car
• 1st class air-conditioned seats car
• 2nd class seats
• 3rd class seats

You must book your seat in advance (probably within 10 days of departure) to avoid any kind of hassles. You can easily buy tickets from the station or you can contact to the railway authority for booking your reservation.

Finally, it can be said that Colombo is a special city that is diversified enough to afford elegant eateries, museums, temples, galleries, serene atmosphere and, wildlife in one basket. When you will be exploring this city, every time, you will be surprised by the uniqueness and authenticity of Colombo. All in all, Colombo is the perfect city to start or finish point of Sri Lankan adventures and explore it with our Colombo travel guide.

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Check our 6 days in Sri Lanka tour package where Colombo has been included.

The town of Beruwala is located at the Kalutara District in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. This town is governed by an Urban Council and the name – Beruwala is taken from the Sinhalese word for the place in which the sail is lowered. Around 8th century AD, the Muslim traders came into this place and marked the first Muslim settlement in this island. Also, a lot of Sri Lankan Moors (A number of them are gem merchants) still resides in this place, especially in the ‘China Fort’. In addition to this, the Muslim traders built the iconic Masjid-ul-Abrar, which is the ancient mosque of Sri Lanka on a rock-strewn peninsula neglecting the town.

Beruwala has everything from the tropical weather with perfect holiday spots to seaside resorts and attractive beaches. Apart from these attractions, Beruwala is famous for Ayurvedic treatments as almost all the hotels provide special herbal messages and stream baths. So, let’s take a tour to Beruwala and discover its beauties.

Things to See in Beruwala

Beruwala Lighthouse: The Beruwala lighthouse is a well organized international lighthouse. It is situated off the beach of Beruwala and it resides at the charming and lush green Berberyn Island. You can reach the island by a ten minute’s boat ride. The lighthouse is standing on a cliff that is 20 feet above the sea level. If you climb up the lighthouse, you will experience the stunning Ariel views of Beruwala beach with its marvelous surroundings.

China Fort: China Fort happens to be the gem trading fair of Beruwala. It is dominated by the Sri Lankan Muslims, who is responsible for 7% of the entire population of Sri Lanka. Also, these Sri Lankan Muslims are the successor of Moors. In addition to this China Fort has been conducting gem trading for several generations and the merchants of China Fort supply almost all the precious gemstones to the entire world. The Muslims of Sri Lanka has roots that date back to the era of North Africa’s Barbary States-Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya. The people of these countries had dominated the sea from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean.

Kachimalai Mosque: The ancient mosque of Sri Lanka is the Kachimalai Mosque. This mosque has a significant history because it memorializes the place where the Moors had arrived in the 11th century.

Galapata Temple: Galapata Buddhist Temple was created in the 12th century. It showcases some of the most beautiful wall frescos and they are a must visit sights for the tourists.

Things to do in Beruwala

Beruwala Harbor: A stroll around the Beruwala fishing port in the morning can provide a sight of fisherman’s talking out the fishes from vibrantly tinted canoes and fishing boats. The boats were returned from night fishing in the deep sea and they are now lined up. The fish market looks very lively and trades fresh seafood from one end to the other. Among the fishes that they catch are prawns and lobsters. Beruwala is a conventional fish market. It’s bloody and smelly. Along the jetty are piles of dry fish.

Beruwala shopping: The unrelenting beach sales force will try to sell you everything that they have from doormats to leather goods. The locals are resolute; however they are not uncouth or violent as a lot of them support their families by selling these products. Following the tsunami and extensive destruction many people have lost their day-to-day jobs. Currently, they sell items to the tourists for livelihood.

Beruwala Beach: Beruwala town is renowned for its attractive beaches. Of the most beautiful beaches, the ‘Golden Mile’ is an immaculate and broad beach with gold sand. The beach is surrounded by palm groves that stretch to the coastal area. In addition to this, this wide and long beach laze around in the glowing sun while staying in line with the ocean with lush green landside back it up wonderfully. Furthermore, this unique town has extraordinary water sports facilities like – water scooter ride, parasailing, water skiing, windsurfing, etc. You can swim in the bay as it is always safe during the year. On top of that, you can hop over for deep-sea fishing and coral reef driving.

How is the weather of Beruwala?

The climate of Beruwala is tropical. In this town, a significant amount of rainfall is seen during the whole year. The standard yearly temperature is 26.8 c in and the precipitation rate here averages around 3068mn. The temperature is always high on average. In the month of March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December a lot of rainfall is seen. In Beruwala, the warmest month is January. The coldest is September, wettest is May and driest is January.

How to reach Beruwala?

In order to reach Beruwala from the capital city of Colombo, you have to opt for a bus, but you can also get to Beruwala by train also. However, travelling by train would not be a good option since there are a few trains which stop here. Additionally, you will have to reach Aluthgama to get to Beruwala as the train stop in that place. Now, a regular train starts from Kandy to Aluthgama at 05:00 without change and the train arrives at 09:58 at Aluthgama.

Furthermore, you can also reach Beruwala by bus. First take the bus from the northeastern end of Arrivals pavement to Katunayake bus stand. You can reach this place by free shuttle bus. From this bus stand, take no – 187 bus to Colombo Fort. Next, choose among different buses with different routes (to e.g. Aluthgama, Ambalangoda, Galle, Matara, Kataragama), but keep in mind that all of them will pass along Beruwala. You will need to journey around four hours on the road because you have to change vehicles three times with two transfers.

To finish off, Beruwala is a classic city town with graceful sightseeing attractions. It is a place with innumerable histories and inimitable natural surroundings. When you visit to Beruwala, always make sure that you have visited these attractions and do the aforementioned things. Remember that a travel trip becomes successful when you enjoy the entire atmosphere fully and Beruwala will just offer you the kind of atmosphere to thrive in your travel trip with our Beruwala travel guide.

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Check our 6 days in Sri Lanka itinerary to include Beruwala.

Bentota is a famous city, which is admired for its long golden beaches. It is located in the southern coastal region of Sri Lanka. This city is also close to the capital city Colombo (a 90-minute drive from Colombo). On top of that it is governed by an urban council and it is situated It is approximately 65 kilometers south of Colombo and 56 kilometers north of Galle. The name of this city was derived from a mythological story that asserts a demon named ‘Bem’ ruled the tota or the river bank. Let’s move forward and discover the city of Bentota.

Things to see in Bentota

The Temple Kande Viharaya: The temple of Kande Viharaya is an extraordinary and inspiring Buddhist temple that is situated in the district of Allogamy on top of a hill. This temple represents the tallest Buddhist statue in the world (standing at about 48m / 160ft in height). In spite of everything, the temple is visited less frequently by tourists. Besides, this temple is an ancient one as the building of the Kande Viharaya was built way back in 1734 by the Ven. Furthermore, the holy Bodhi tree also grows in this temple and there are numerous stupas as well. In addition to this, the architecture of the temple is unique with inspiring surroundings. Every day, thousands of people come over to this temple to show their devotion to Buddha. They also seek mental and spiritual relief from all the troubles and worries of day-to-day life.

The Brief Gardens: At first, the Brief Gardens was a rubber state and later, it was transformed into the marvelous gardens by the famous landscape artists Bevis Bawa. The most famous attractions of this garden are – nooks, bowers, alcoves, and garden sculptures. All of these attractions are spread throughout this big garden. In addition to this, the garden has an entry gate with a bell. You have to ring the bell to get the permission for entering into the gardens. The entire gardens are separated and subdivided with various themes, which include – a Japanese water garden. Lastly, you will see some exciting things such as – wall hangings, sculptures, Dutch furniture, splendid paintings, etc.

Sunshine Water Sports Center: Sunshine water sports center is one of the most popular and decorated water sports centers in Bentota. The water sports center will offer you everything such as – windsurfing, waterskiing, body boarding, jet-skiing, snorkeling, diving deep sea, river fishing, and river cruises. This center boasts an assortment of experienced and certified instructors in its ranks. In addition to this, water skiing and water surfing would be instructed by Sri Lanka’s champion water skier and windsurfer. Moreover, the best time for snorkeling water skiing, deep sea fishing, and windsurfing is November to April because, in this time, the sea remains the calmest of all time.

Things to do in Bentota

A Safari Trip on the River Bentota: A river safari in the River Bentota is an attractive entertainment option in the entire Sri Lanka. While on the river safari, you will move along the river with a boat and you will also see the wildlife of Sri Lanka with natural surroundings. When you land on the shores or islands, you will observe the breathtaking creatures like – monkeys, crocodiles, etc. With that being said, many species of exotic birds and fishes will catch your attention. Not to mention that the safari trip would take a pause in different local stopovers. So, you will definitely have the chance to experience the local culture as well.

Visit the Turtle Hatchery: If you head over to the North coast and the Southern part of Bentota, you will reach the turtle hatchery of Bentota. This hatchery is part of the sea turtle project in Bentota. This hatchery was created to save and give shelter to the declining turtle eggs. There are five rare species of turtles have been hatched and nursed on this calm and quiet hatchery. These turtles are given the freedom to thrive and hatch eggs in a completely protected area. When these turtles are big enough to look after themselves, they are set free. So, the nature lovers would get mad and excited to visit this unique turtle hatchery.

Other entertaining activities in Bentota: The tourists and vacation lover would love to dolphin and whales in Bentota. You have to take a morning cruise from Mirissa harbor to the deep sea. This river cruise would offer you the opportunity to watch the world’s biggest mammals. Apart from this, the fishing harbor at Beruwela is another attractive proposition. This is a commercial fishing harbor, which has a 10 to 15 minutes distance from Bentota.

How is the weather of Bentota?

Bentota’s weather is tropical in nature and it is influenced by monsoon winds. All most all the year, this place has a temperature around 30°C. Also, it is always hot and humid. At the time of two rainy seasons (from March to December), the rainfall would be quite heavy. Bentota is in the south coast region of Sri Lanka and it was completely destroyed by2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

How to reach Bentota?

You can reach Bentota by the following two transportation method –

Reach Bentota by Bus: Generally, buses from Colombo and Galle starts and will take you to Bentota. If you journey from Colombo, it will take you around one hour fifteen minutes to reach Bentota. On the other hand, if you take the Galle to Bentota route, it will take you around one hour fifteen minutes as well.

Reach Bentota by Train: Bentota doesn’t have a convenient railway system as there is only a small railway station. Additionally, a fewer number of trains stop at this station. Now, the major train station that is close to Bentota is Aluthgama. It has five to six express trains that start from Colombo.

To conclude, Bentota is a small yet beautiful place in Sri Lanka. It contains several top touristic attractions and places. So, don’t miss a bit of Bentota and make your travel trip a memorable one with our Bentota travel guide.

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Check our Sri Lanka 6 day tour package where Bentota has been included.

Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka is regarded as the oasis of peace and tranquility. This is a small land with a population of only 3500 people. It is located on the Indian Ocean, which is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s southeast coast. In addition to this, Arugam Bay is situated 320 km due east of Colombo. Local people call Arugam – “Ullai” and this place is renowned worldwide for surfing and touristic attractions.

In fact, this place is one of the top ten best places for surfing. However, this moon-shaped curling soft land is much more than surfing. You can go on a lagoon tour or just enjoy watching the elephants. Also, you can opt to visit the cultural sites and there are plenty of wildlife retrospectives as well. So, let’s take a tour to Arugam and unearth its wonders.

Things to see in Arugam Bay

Pottuvil Lagoon: If you go two kilometres from Arugam Bay, you will see the beautiful inland called Pottuvil Lagoon. A picturesque lagoon tour in the scenic Pottuvil will be something extraordinary. When you paddle out into the lagoon, you will be amazed to see the eye-catching mangrove swamps. These swamps are just lively with birds are chirping and it is filled with lizards, elephants, and crocodiles. All of them would provide you a taste of the Sri Lanka wildlife of Arugam Bay.

Panama: Panama is the last inhabited village in Arugam Bay, which is located 12 km south. It goes before the Yala East National Park and Panama intersects as an inland with the lagoons of Arugam Bay. Now, Panama is blessed with endless beaches, wonderful lagoons, rock stones, and sand dunes. All of these sightseeing elements make Panama a captivating landscape. Panama is combined with two gigantic rocky projections known as – Crocodile Rock and Elephant Rock. The Crocodile Rock is famous for surfing spots and the Elephant Rock is popular for wild elephants.

Okanda Sri Lanka: The village of Okanda is 20 km south of Arugam Bay and it is hugely popular for surfing spots. It is home to the admired shrine that is situated at the point in which God Skanda had landed on the island (the legend says). This shrine is the opening point of ’Paada Yaathra’ (Pilgrimage on Foot). Moreover, Okanda is the entry point of the Yala East National Park where the mangroves alongside the Kumana Reservoir and these places happen to be the breeding ground of aquatic birds.

Yala East National Park Sri Lanka: Yala East National Park in Sri Lanka is a twin sister of Yala West or Yala Ruhuna National Park. The main stumbling block between these national parks is the River Kumbukkan Oya and precisely, the river flows segregates both these sanctuaries. Now, Yala East is just as popular as the Yala West and it is home to precious leopards and mammals. Plus, there is a great amount of elephant population, but the herds are smaller than the Yala West.

Kumana Bird Sanctuary: Kumana Bird Sanctuary is nationally and internationally recognized as an important wetland habitat for both local and migratory wading birds. Kumana Bird Sanctuary is hosted by a channel from the River Kumbukkan Oya. It is about 20 km into the Yala East national Park; you will observe the Kumana Reservoir. This reservoir is packed mangrove trees and it hosts a wide range of aquatic birds. Among these aquatic birds, the most seen are herons, egrets, storks, little cormorants, and Indian darters. You can also see one of the rare breed birds – Black-necked stork in this bird sanctuary.

Things to do in Arugam Bay

Surfing and Diving: Arugam Bay is widely popular for surfing spots and this place is ranked among the top ten surfing hubs in the world. This place is renowned for some extraordinary waves that draw thousands of surfers from across the world. Usually, the mean height of these waves ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 meters. The perfect season for surfing in Arugam Bay is in between May and November. In this time, the wind will be largely offshore for the first half of the day. There are several right-hand point breaks in Arugam Bay and it is like this because of its geographic location alongside southerly swell direction.

Furthermore, the most famous three-point breaks are – ‘The Point’, ‘Pottuvil Point’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’ and they are the best point for surfing. Local people are just obsessed with surfing and are willing to guide you through to the unknown point breaks. Besides, Arugam Bay is much more than surfing because it is home to wide array of tropical fishes and this place is considered to be a gorgeous snorkeling paradise. So, if you love diving, you can hire boat and head towards to the Basses Reefs. This is the best scuba diving site in the entire Arugam Bay.

Experience the Wildlife: Arugam Bay is filled with wildlife spectacles and some of the rarest of creatures live in Arugam Bay. Now, if you want to have some glimpses of wildlife Arugam Bay such as – wild boar, deer, crocodiles, and colossal elephants, you should go out on tour in the dawn or sunset (this is the best time to catch the glimpses of wildlife). Also, if you head towards to the southern part of Arugam, you will found the famous Yala National Park, which one of the leading eco-tourism destinations in Sri Lanka. This national park covers an approximate area of 1,300 square kilometers and boasts the highest bulk of leopards in the entire Asia. These creatures live peacefully with wild elephant, sloth bear, striped necked brown and ruddy mongoose, marsh mugger crocodile, sambar, wild boar, several civet species, and chital.

Visit the Cultural Site – Magul Maha Viharaya: When you are heading towards Lahugala National Park, you will come across Magul Maha Viharaya. It is a hidden pearl that has roots from the 2nd century B.C. The history and background information is not clear, but people cited that it was created by King Dathusena (he ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 516AD to 526AD). This fact is proved right as all these events were claimed on the stone inscriptions (dates back to 14th century). Nevertheless, the legend says that this temple was made by King Kavantissain throughout the 2nd century B.C.

Additionally, this site covers an area over 10,000 acres and it is a symbol of culture and history. It is beautifully portrayed with unusual architectural establishments along with vast lily ponds. Plus, the remnants of an ancient palace would ‘Wow’ the tourists.

Also check our guide on best hotels in Arugam Bay.

How is the weather of Arugam Bay?

Since Arugam Bay is situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lankan South-East coast, Arugam Bay has its own weather. Compared to other islands in the country, this place experiences the least amount of rain. On top of that, surfers would enjoy surfing in the months of April and August as these are the best time for surfing with perfect waves. Generally, Arugam Bay has a warm and tropical weather. In the months of November, December and January, the mean temperature in this place is in between 28 – 30 degree Celsius. Additionally, the months of February March, September, and October experience an average temperature of 30 -32 degree Celsius and lastly, the months of April, May, June, July, and August will provide you with a temperature of 32 -36 degree Celsius.

How to reach Arugam Bay?

In order to reach Arugam Bay, you have to go through a significant amount of travelling. In addition to this fact, getting around Arugam Bay with a preferred choice of will be easy. The en route to Arugam Bay from the Katunayake International Airport or from the capital city of Colombo, the capital city contains several means of transportation. With that being said, you can opt to hire a car, van, taxi or any forms of vehicles. However, it will depend on your budget also. Besides, the public transportation facilities such as – train, air-conditioned buses are always available for taking you to Arugam Bay.

Finally, Arugam Bay is revered in Sri Lanka and in the world because there are only a few places similar to Arugam Bay. This tiny piece of land will set you free with unlimited freedom. You will find a plenty of pleasure in the landscapes and the attractions. All in all, it is a magical place that will make you feel heavenly and explore it with our Arugam Bay travel guide.

For inquires contact Olanka Travels. Check our Sri Lanka itinerary for 6 days to include Arugam Bay.

The city of Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been the center of Theravada Buddhism for several centuries. It is located 205 km north of Colombo (current capital city of Sri Lanka) in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. Standing on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya, this city is an ancient city in the world. It has been continuously colonized by different rulers. Plus, it is a famous city for its storied remnants of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.

Furthermore, these remnants of the city continuously draw millions of tourists and the sights of this city are considered to be most evocative sights in the entire South Asia. Besides, the city is rich in archaeological and architectural wonders with elevated brick towers, ancient pools, mammoth dagobas, and crumbling temples. All of these wonderful establishments were created during the ruling period of different dynasties.

Top Things to see in Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is a major part of the cultural triangle, which is significant to the Buddhist devotees in particular. With that being said, the city has several top-class tourist attractions and tourists can buy a $25 ticket for entering to almost all the attractions in the city of Anuradhapura. Also, if anyone wants to visit all the sites in the cultural triangle, a $50 ticket would be enough.

Following are the top attractions of Anuradhapura –

• Sri Maha Bodhia
• Ruwanweli Stup
• Lovamahapaya
• Abhayagiri Stupa
• Twin Ponds
• Elephant Pond
• Aukana Buddha Statue
• Thuparamaya
• Samadhi Buddha Statue
• Isurumuniya
• Mihintale
• Jetavanarama Stupa

Sri Maha Bodhiya: This is one of the greatest attractions of Anuradhapura. This tree was first planted in 249 B.C. and it was brought by the daughter of King Ashoka (Indian emperor). There is a legend regarding this tree. It was believed that while meditating Buddha experienced enlightenment under the Indian branch of the Jaya Sri Maha in Buddha Gaya in India. This world-famous tree is believed to be the most ancient surviving historical tree in the entire universe.

Ruwanwelisaya: The Ruwanwelisaya is an eye-catching attraction that has immense architectural value. This is a sacred stupa, which was built by King Dutugemunu. The king Dutugemunu was famous for his grand victory over the Chola King, Elara. Standing at 300 feet (91m), this monument is one of the tallest monuments in the world. Also, it has a circumference of 950 ft (290m). In addition to this, the Kaunghmudaw Pagoda in Sagaing, Myanmar has been molded similarly to this Ruwanwelisaya Stupa.

Thuparamaya: The word – Thuparamaya is a combination of Stupa and Arama and it means monastery. This is one of the ancient Stupas in Sri Lanka, which was built in the third century B.C. by King Devanampiya. When Mahinda (who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka) wanted to return to India to worship Buddha relics, the king intervened and said they can build a place where the relics should be worshipped. Afterwards, Thuparamaya was created and the rest is history.

Things to do in Anuradhapura

Tourists can do a lot of stuff’s in Anuradhapura city. You can gather valuable insights regarding Buddhism or you can enlighten yourself with the historical attractions of the city. In addition to this, the city is steeped in cultural and religious heritage, which ranges from the temples, carvings, and reservoirs to the sacred Dagabas. Moreover, you can visit the historical artifacts and archeological sites of the city to explore new things. On top of that, staying in the new town of Anuradhapura will be a good option since it has a lot to offer to the visiting people.

Furthermore, you can shop in Anuradhapura and collect local souvenirs like – replica artifacts, carved wooden figures, postcards, earrings, etc. to make your travel trip a lasting memory. Besides, you can taste the authentic Sri Lankan meal in the hotels and restaurants of Anuradhapura. The meals will be quite cheap and delicious. Plus, the street markets are crowded and you can pay a visit to them to figure out how locals interact with the visiting people.

With all these things, you shouldn’t miss the chance to discover the city in bicycle ride because it’s the best thing to do in Anuradhapura. If you take a bicycle, you can see all the remnants of Anuradhapura because all of them are spread in the city. Now, anyone can hire a bicycle from the rest houses. You just need to pay around Rs 250-300. Also, tourists prefer the tuk-tuks to travel within the city and these tuk-tuks rides will give you a taste of local living standard.

How is the weather in Anuradhapura?

The weather in Anuradhapura is mild and sometimes, it can be bit hot, especially in the month of May when the normal temperature is 29.0°C. However, the warmest month is March when the temperature rises to 33.2°C.

How to reach Anuradhapura?

Now, to reach Anuradhapura, you have three option and they are – by air, by rail, and by bus. These options are explained below –

By Air: The Colombo airport is the nearby airport to the city of Anuradhapura (183 km). Also, the tourists can take bus, cab or taxi, and train from the airport for travelling to Anuradhapura.

By Rail: Anuradhapura city has two train stations. The first one is closer to the old bus town in the city and it is known as Main Anuradhapura station. The other train station is smaller than the previous one and it is located at the South region of the city. It is known as Anuradhapura New town station.

By Bus: The city has two bus stations – ‘Old Bus Station’ and ‘New Bus Station’. If you want to go to the southern part, you have to reach the Old Bus Station. In addition to this, if you wish to head towards to north and east, you have to take a bus from the New Bus Station.

Distance from Major Travel Places

• Arugam Bay to Anuradhapura – 308 km
• Adam’s Peak to Anuradhapura – 247 km
• Batticaloa to Anuradhapura – 200 km
• Bentota to Anuradhapura – 264 km
• Beruwala to Anuradhapura – 252 km
• Bundala National Park to Anuradhapura – 344 km
• Colombo to Anuradhapura – 209 km
• Dambulla to Anuradhapura – 72 km
• Ella to Anuradhapura – 243 km
• Galle to Anuradhapura – 306 km
• Hambantota to Anuradhapura – 370 km
• Hikkaduwa to Anuradhapura – 295 km
• Horton Plains to Anuradhapura – 288 km
• Jaffna to Anuradhapura – 194 km
• Kalkudah to Anuradhapura – 175 km
• Kalpitiya to Anuradhapura – 119 km
• Kandy to Anuradhapura – 152 km
• Katunayake to Anuradhapura – 170 km
• Kitulgala to Anuradhapura – 198 km
• Knuckles Range to Anuradhapura – 173 km
• Mannar to Anuradhapura – 107 km
• Matara to Anuradhapura – 335 km
• Minneriya to Anuradhapura – 87 km
• Negombo to Anuradhapura – 168 km
• Nilaveli to Anuradhapura – 112 km
• Nuwara Eliya to Anuradhapura – 255 km
• Pasikudah to Anuradhapura – 177 km
• Pinnawela to Anuradhapura – 135 km
• Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura – 108 km
• Puttalam to Anuradhapura – 74 km
• Ratnapura to Anuradhapura – 220 km
• Sigiriya to Anuradhapura – 78 km
• Sinharaja to Anuradhapura – 350 km
• Trincomalee to Anuradhapura – 105 km
• Unawatuna to Anuradhapura – 305 km
• Weligama to Anuradhapura – 325 km
• Wilpattu National Park to Anuradhapura – 55 km
• Yala National Park to Anuradhapura – 340 km

Finally, Anuradhapura is a picturesque city with lots of ancient ruins. You have to be on your toes to explore this wonderful city. After visiting this city, you will be excited and happy because there is nothing like the city of Anuradhapura. So, don’t miss a bit of Anuradhapura and uncover all the attractions of this marvelous city with our Anuradhapura travel guide.

For Inquires Contact Olanka Travels.

Planning a wildlife tours in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka, an island surrounded by the beautiful blue waters is situated in the Indian Ocean, giving easy access from any country across the world. This tropical country is blessed with a wonderful climate ranging from the warm suburbs to the cold hill country, a gorgeous coast and a beach line surrounding the country, a treasured wildlife and endangered animals, a history that can be traced back to hundreds of years and many more. Thus it is one of the most celebrated tourist destinations amongst the travelers all around the world.

Truly the Wonder of Asia, don’t you think?

Among so many other wonders of this country, one of the main reasons why the tourists visit this beauty of an island is its wildlife. The wildlife of Sri Lanka includes, wild animals in their natural habitat, flora and fauna that is endangered. So if you are planning on to experience an excitement filled Sri Lankan Wildlife Tour you have come to the best place. Our staff will assist and advice you to choose a package to meet your needs and most importantly your budget from a range of excitement filled Sri Lanka Wildlife Tour Packages.

Once you enter the country you will have a wide variety of Sri Lanka Wildlife holiday schemes to choose from, ranging from thrilling safari rides to leisure camping near waterfalls; so here is some food for thought.

The national parks of Ceylon are the best places to visit if you want to experience the wild animals in their natural inhabitants, to name a few,

Sri Lanka Wildlife Tours Locations

• Yaala
• Udawalawe
• Wilpattu
• Kumana
• Wasgamuwa
• Minneriya
• Bundala
• Horton Plains
• Gal oya
• Lunugamvehera
• Kaudulla
• Sinharaja
• Knuckles
• Kithulgala
• Kanneliya

Yaala National Park

This is must in your wildlife holidays in Sri Lanka. Yaala National Park consists of six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries and is situated in the city of Hambantota, which is only 260 km to the South East of Colombo.

Yaala, is renowned as the most visited national park of the country given its geographical location, the climate and above all the dense leopard population.

You can hop on a jeep and have a safari ride in and about the forest, this will give you an unforgettable experience and a look through the natural lifestyle of the wild animals such as the majestic Elephant, the elusive Sri Lankan Leopard, the always chattering monkeys, and bear, and also hundreds of different species of birds, reptiles, butterflies and many more.

Udawalawe

The Udawalawe National Park is situated in the Uva Province in the city of Monaragala which is only a five hour drive from Colombo.

The majestic Elephant plays a major role in the wildlife of Sri Lanka. They can be easily sighted unlike the other wild animals given the high population. Thus if you are an elephant enthusiast and is looking for a place to have a wildlife experience udawalawe National park is the ideal.

Apart from the heard of wild elephants you can also witness wild boars, buffalos, deer, and many other endangered and unique species of wild animals such as black napped hare, endemic Toque Macaque and Gray langurs.
Moreover the Sri Lanka Wildlife Holidays offer you the opportunity to enjoy wildlife camping schemes to meet your budget and the time that you can spend on your vacation.

Wilpattu

This is situated about four hours away from Colombo in the City of Putlam about 30 km west to Anuradhapura, and is considered as the most beautiful national park of the country. So don’t forget to visit this beautiful park while you are in your Wildlife Tour in Sri Lanka.

The best time to visit wilpattu would be in October, and while you are on your safari ride you will be able to witness the famous Sri Lankan wildlife’s such as the Elephant, the Leopard, the sloth bear and the deer. Moreover will also be able to witness endangered species of birds, plants and flowers.

Kumana

This is situated in the Eastern part of the Wilpattu National Park, and is mostly famous for being the home for a large number of endangered bird species and also migrant birds, especially the waterfowl and the wading birds. These birds nest during the month of May in the bushes of mangroves and in the month of June the new birds are born.

The park is bounded on the South by the Kumbukkan oya where the main camping site for bird watching is situated. There are Wildlife tour packages so as to provide you with vintage and yet luxurious stay while camping.

Contact Olanka Travels to arrange Sri Lanka wildlife tour packages.

The Complete Guide On Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour

The Ramayana is a landmark story in the History of both Sri Lanka and our neighbor India, and this story has been interpreted by the writers of both the countries to embrace their own hero. However this article will give you an outline as to the Ramayana related places of visit that holds a tourist value; the Sri Lankan Ramayana Tour.

Sri Lanka is a country of not just beautiful places of visit, but also a country of a valued history and a treasured heritage, the Ramayana trail is one of the best examples for that.

The story of Ramayana is cherished especially among the Hindu devotes, thus this tour of Ramayana will give a spiritual travel experience to the Hindus. Moreover this tour experience would give the Non Hindu travelers an immense knowledge as to the rich Sri Lankan heritage.

This article will speak about a few Sri Lanka Ramayana Sites you could visit while on your vacation. These exciting places have been said to have touched with the Sri Lanka Ramayana trail, so don’t forget to read the Ramayana story before you embark upon the excursion. Thus ones you have read the story you will be more curious as to find about the trails, and you will be able to witness the places, the scenarios of this story actually took place while you are on your Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour Itinerary.

Witnessing these sites and hearing the stories entangled with the Ramayana Legacy will prove that these things has had actually happened in the past and is not merely restricted to the history books.

There are about forty major and minor sites that will leave you believe in faith if you are a Hindu devotee, while it will leave any other traveler quite mesmerized by the breathtaking views. Moreover for the ones who are researching on the history this tours will be of an educational value.

So here is a list of Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka.

Munnesswaran Temple

This temple situated in Chilaw is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sri Lanka and one of must see Ramayana places in Sri Lanka that claims to have connections with the heritage of Ramayana. The Legend says that this was the place where Lord Rama prayed for God Shiva after he has defeated King Ravana who was a Brahmin. Killing a Brahmin or Brahmicide was considered as the greatest crime according to the Hindus, and when Lord Rama prayed for a remedy after killing Kingb Ravana he has preached that the only remedy would be to install five lingams (a symbol of divine generative energy as a symbol of Shiva).

Manavari Sivan Kovil

This Kovil or the Hindu temple is situated about 10 kilometers above Chilaw, in the Puttlam District North Western Province of Ceylon.

When Lord Rama killed the King Ravanam, God Shiva advised him to erect five lingams in Sri Lanka, so as to rectify the Brahmicide he committed by virtue of killing Ravana. This Manavari kovil holds the first Lingam installed by Lord Rama (Ramalingam). So this is one of most important Ramayana related places in Sri lanka.

Rumassala

During the battle King Ravana and his brother were both critically injured and, Hanuman was sent to the Himalaya in India to bring a lifesaving herb. Given the fact that hanuman has forgotten the name of the herb by the time he went to Himalaya, he has uprooted a part of the forest and bought it to Lanka.

Rumassala is considered as one of the five places where Hanuman has dropped fragments of this mountain as it slipped from his hands while bringing it to Ravana. The other places are; Dolu kanda in Kurunegala, Ritigala in Anuradhapura Road, Thalladi in Mannar and Kachchativu in the North.

Ram Sethu

This is also known as the Adam’s Bridge, which is situated at Thalaimannar the top most point of Sri Lanka which is also the closest point to India. The history tells that when Lord Rama got to know Princess Seetha was kept in captive in Ceylon, he with the help of hanuman and his army built this bridge using stones (corals) with his name on it and these corals can be seen if you visit the Panchamukhi Hanuman temple in Rameshwaram.

Ravana Cave and Temple

This is situated about 2 kilometers from Ella. If you observe the rocks and the caves patiently you will see that these are not natural caves but man made ones, thus showing the architectural intelligence of King Ravana. The cave has openings to several larger caves which ends after about 10 feet to the inside and one smaller cave which seems to have no end at all and it said to believe that this cave leads to various parts of the country. The reason behind making the caves would have been to travel within the country without drawing much attention.

Amongst the aforesaid Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka here is a list of other sites of Sri Lankan Ramayana trail that you could visit while on your vacation.

1. Thiruketheeswaram temple – Mannar
2. Koneswaram Kovil – Trincomalee
3. Sigiriya – Dambulla
4. Bhakta Hanuman Temple – Ramboda (on the route to Nuwaraeliya)
5. Ashoka Vatika – Nuwaraeliya
6. Seeta Amman Temple – Badulla (opposite the Hakkgala Botanical Gardens)
7. Seeetha Kotuwa – Hasalaka
8. Pulasthi Statue – Polonnaruwa
9. Ramboda Falls – Nuwaraeliya
10. The Chariot Path – on the top of the Ramboda Hills (Kandy-Gampola-Nuwaraeliya Road)

So Contact Olanka Travels at arrange Ramayana tour in Sri lanka.