Sri Lanka
Introduction
Head
for the rolling hills to escape the heat of the plains in the cool of tea plantations.
The entire island is teeming with bird life, and exotics like elephants and
leopards are not uncommon. To top it all off, the people are friendly, the food
is delicious and costs are low.
For a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames: Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop
of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient. This colourful
collection reveals its richness and beauty, and the intensity of the affection
it evokes in its visitors.
Marco Polo considered Sri Lanka the finest island of its size in all the world,
and you'll likely agree after exploring the country's fabled delights. What
takes your fancy? Beaches? The coastal stretch south of Colombo offers palm-lined
sandy expanses as far as the eye can see. Culture? Try the Kandyan dances, a
procession of elephants or the masked devil dances. Ruins? You'll find enough
ancient and inspiring architecture in the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa
to satisfy that inner archaeologist.
Places of Interest
Colombo
Colombo, the island's largest city, is noisy, frenetic - and just a little crazy.
Thankfully, the breakdowns, snarled traffic and power cuts are received with
a shrug and a smile. While the city holds less obvious interest than many other
parts of the island, it's still colourful and worth a look.
To the north of the centre is the Fort district, the country's business centre.
South is Galle Face Green, a seafront expanse of occasional green graced by
cricket games and trysting lovers. Cinammon Gardens, further south, is the most
fashionable neighbourhood, with mansions and tree-lined streets.
Galle
The port of Galle, thought by some to be the Biblical city of Tarshish, splendidly
illustrates the solidity of the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka. The 36ha (89ac)
Dutch Fort, built in 1663, has withstood the ravages of time. Its massive ramparts
surround the promontory that forms the older part of Galle, and shelters within
its walls sturdy Dutch houses, museums and churches. The New Oriental Hotel,
built for Dutch governors in 1684, is a colonial gem with a wonderfully atmospheric
bar. Nearby is a tiny sliver of a beach suitable for a dip, though most travellers
prefer to head along the coast to the fine beaches at Unuwatuna, Weligama and
Tangalla.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is Sri Lanka's first capital, a potent symbol of Sinhalese power,
and the most extensive and important of Sri Lanka's ancient cities. It became
a capital in 380 BC and for over 1000 years Sinhalese kings ruled from this
great city.
The Sacred Bo-Tree is the city's holiest site, and was grown from the tree under
which Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest of the
many temples in Anuradhapura, is believed to contain the right collar-bone of
Buddha.
Sigiriya
The
spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya is an impregnable fortress, a monastic
retreat, and a rock art gallery. Built in the 5th century AD to fend off a feared
invasion, it is situated atop a 200m (656ft) high rock, and at the height of
its glory must have been akin to a European chateau plonked on top of Uluru.
There are water gardens, 5th century rock paintings of well endowed damsels,
a 1000-year-old graffiti wall recording visitors impressions of the pin-ups,
a couple of enormous stone lion paws and tremendous views.
To get to Sigiriya from Colomba, hop on a bus that stops at Dambulla, and from
there catch any of the hourly buses going to the rock fortress, a total of 191km
(118mi) away.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa has been severely affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 December
2004. The area has suffered extensive damage and loss of life. Infrastructure
is slowly being rebuilt and services restored but check with the relevant authorities
before travelling to the area in the immediate future.
Hikkaduwa is the island's most developed beach resort. It has a range of accommodation,
good restaurants and pleasant cafe-lined beaches. There's good snorkelling at
an attractive and easily accessible coral sanctuary, scuba diving at a number
of wrecks in the bay, tours by glass-bottomed boats and pretty good surfing.
It's a relaxed place, similar to many Asian beach resorts popular with Western
travellers. There are also plenty of handicraft shops catering to tourist whims,
a Buddhist temple, a nearby lake with abundant birdlife and some pretty dangerous
traffic hurtling down the main road.
Kandy
The laidback 'capital' of the hill country, and the historical bastion of Buddhist
power, is built around a peaceful lake and set in a picturesque bowl of hills.
It has a distinctive architectural character and the town centre is a delightful
compendium of old shops, buses, markets and hotels.
Its standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa, a temple which houses
Sri Lanka's most important religious relic - the sacred tooth of Buddha. There
are daily ceremonies of homage to the Tooth Relic, each attracting white-clad
pilgrims carrying lotus blossoms and frangipani.
Sri Lanka, Introduction Reservation Form
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