Planning an international vacation and that too in a very affordable budget? not to worry, your neighbouring country, the island nation Sri Lanka would be an ideal destination to embark on your journey.
After 2014, recent was the second time when I visited again this beautiful destination to explore newer places and activities. To give you more insight about the places and activities to be indulged on your next journey I would love to summaries my visit.
It was 4:30 in the morning and I was preparing to board my flight from IGI Airport New Delhi to Colombo. I had not to wait too long to reach Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo as the short flight of 3000 kms was covered in just three hours. The weather was awesome as it was raining all the way from the airport to the Hotel Shangri-La which happened to be my home for the next two days in Colombo.
Colombo
Colombo – the political as well as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, would be an ideal destination to start experiencing your days in the island nation. Comprised of the ancient and modern man made marvels including, historical places, museums, government buildings, business centers and tourist attractions, the city has a lot of potential to host all kinds of travellers be it business or leisure at least for a couple of nights.
While staying in Colombo you can’t afford to miss a visit to the Gangaramaya Temple, Galle Face Green, National Museum of Colombo, Independence Memorial Hall, Beira Lake, Dutch Period Museum, Old Parliament Building, World Trade Center, Clock, Lotus Tower, Paradise Road, Pettah Floating Market and many more places in and around the city.
After spending three days in Colombo, I headed towards my next destination Dambulla – a town in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and stayed at Alia Resorts- one of the finest in Sri Lanka, as I had to explore two most popular attractions the Sigiriya Lion Rock (Dambulla) and Kaudulla National Park (Habrana) from here.
Sigiriya Lion Rock
I was so excited to visit one of the most fascinating and most valuable world heritage sites of the world ‘The Sigiriya Lion Rock’. Undoubtedly, this is among the most amazing World Heritage Sites I have visited ever. Before coming here, whenever, I saw this picture, the level of my excitement increased many folds, and finally reaching here was like a dream come true.
Sigiriya Lion Rock is the most magnificent site located in the northern Matale district near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Its a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite rock. This is approximately 200 meters high and visitors can climb around 1,200 steps divided in three levels to reach on to the top.
The citadel on top of Sigiriya Lion Rock was built by King Kasyapa who ruled from 477 to 495 AD. He chosen this as his royal residence as he was worried of potential attacks from his brother Moggallana, the rightful heir to the throne.
On a plateau halfway up the rock, Kasyapa built a gateway in the form of a huge lion with a staircase emerging from the lion’s mouth, hence its name meaning Sigiriya Lions Rock. Considered one of the best examples of ancient urban planning, the site of Sigiriya Lions Rock became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
So while creating this marvelous structure, King Kasyapa created a ‘mirror wall’ so highly polished that he could see his reflection as he walked by. There is also evidence of a wall, 140 metres long and 40 metres high, covered with paintings of ladies.
These paintings are still partly visible today. Visitors inscribed their thoughts of the painted women along the ‘mirror wall’. This graffiti is of great interest to historians, showing the development of the Sinhala language and script. The Sigiriya Lions Rock includes water gardens, a moat, terraced gardens and archaeological features.
Prior to King Kasyapa using Sigiriya Lion Rock as his residence, it’s thought the rock was a Buddhist monastery. It was once again used as a monastery after Kasyapa’s death till it was abandoned in the 14th century. The advanced and impressive hydraulic system consisting of canals, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains and underground water pumps still provides water to the Sigiriya Rock gardens today.
Kaudulla National Park, Habrana
After Sigiriya Lion Rock my next destination was Kaudulla Natuional Park, one of the most eminent parks for jungle safari in Sri Lanka. It is spread over a massive 6656 hectares and is home to 24 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish and 160 species of birds. However, the park is best known and attracts a large number of tourists from across the world for the ‘Elephant Gathering’ which includes 100-150 elephants at a time.
Apart from that, the trees of Kaudulla have fauna of all variants – endemic, endangered animals and birds too. Flora consists of tropical dry mixed evergreen forests, chena lands, grasslands and wetlands with many species of small shrubs.
Though its a year-round destination, but July to December is considered as the best time to visit the park as around this time large gatherings of elephants can be seen most frequently. However, the gathering around the water reservoir takes place in the dry season from July to October.
Kaudulla is also a bird paradise as it is home to nearly 160 species of birds including large water birds such as Spot-billed Pelican and Lesser Adjutant visit the Kaudulla tank.
Asian Spoonbill, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Openbill Stork, Peacock, Eagle, Giant Eagle are common sights at the park. Kaudulla National Park is also home to numerous reptiles including Freshwater turtles, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle, and Indian Black Turtle.
The park is located at a distance of 20km from Habarana and 38km from Sigiriya. Kaudulla National Park is situated near the town of Galoya in Polonnaruwa district of North Central Province in Sri Lanka. It is one of the best national parks on the island which can be visited as part of Sri Lanka Packages.
Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee
Trincomalee also known as Gokanna and Gokarna, is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee District and major resort port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka Trincomalee is sacred to Sri Lankan Tamils and Hindus around the world.
The city has many Hindu sites of historical importance. These sites are sacred to the Hindus and some Buddhists also worship at these Hindu sites. Prominent sites include the Koneswaram Temple, Bhadrakali Temple on Konesar Road, and the Salli Muthumariamman Kovil of Uppuveli beach in the Trincomalee suburb of Sambalativu.
Koneswaram Temple of Trincomalee or Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple – The Temple of the Thousand Pillars and Dakshina-Then Kailasam is a classical-medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee, a Hindu religious pilgrimage centre in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.
Koneswaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery, the temple is believed to be one of the Panch Ishwarams (five abodes of Shiva) of Sri Lanka along with Ketheeshwaram, Munneshwaram, Naguleshwaram and the now destroyed Tenavaram.
The site is a religious pilgrimage for the Hindus and is also known as the Kailasa of the South as it lies on exactly the same longitude as Mount Kailash. Koneswaram gets its name from the chief deity of the temple that is God Shiva.
Alia Resort
Boasting a central location in the Cultural Triangle, Aliya Resort & Spa presents you with a delightful variety of experiences to explore during your stay. Lion’s Rock, also famously known as Sigiriya, is just around the corner, and located close by is Pidurangala Rock Temple, beckoning for a cycling tour. What’s more, our infinity pool with the majestic view of Lion’s Rock and the backdrop of sprawling paddy fields is the perfect spot to relax and unwind.
Negombo
The last leg of my journey was Negombo the bustling city of Sri Lanka close to the Bandaranaike International Airport; and second largest city in the Western province, after Colombo. Located at the lagoon-mouth, Negombo is a major tourist destination with an old, large and thriving fishing industry.
The beach here is quiet and peaceful, and the sight of the fisher folk out at sea on their oruwas (outrigger canoes) is a particularly charming sight. It is not always safe to swim here, but diving enthusiasts can explore the wreck of a World War II British cargo plane in nearby Marawila.
A boat trip winding through the lush mangroves down the Dutch Canal or Muthurajawela Marsh will reward you with sightings of monitor lizards and flocks of migrant birds.
