By Nirav Shah
Want to enjoy verdant beaches, lush evergreen forests, rich cultural heritage and abundant wildlife, all packed into a small island? Are you into adventure sports like scuba diving, snorkelling or rafting, or would you prefer to just relax? If ‘yes’ is your answer to any or all of these, then Sri Lanka is most definitely where you should head!
I went to Sri Lanka for four February days and had a really good time. From relaxing and enjoying sunsets at the beaches to trying snorkelling and scuba diving for the first time ever, I did it all. Let me tell you a little bit about the places I visited along the South-western coast of Sri Lanka. While the standard touristy places are covered, I have tried to introduce you to some refreshing alternatives as well which may be difficult to cover in one place in India.
Sri Lanka Experience
12 days | From Colombo to Mirissa
Galle
A historical port city, Galle is an ideal base for anyone wishing to explore the southern part of Sri Lanka. Famous for its fort section which is dotted by small cafes and bazaars. A walk down this beautiful section of this town is an extremely relaxing experience. There are numerous guest houses and homestays as well, where you can find nice rooms overlooking the sea. Frequented by Western tourists, the city has developed its own unique identity and is famous for its lighthouse and seafood.
Hikkaduwa
A 30-minute drive from Galle, Hikkaduwa is famous for its beaches. One can spend a relaxed evening there, with shacks playing music and serving a variety of cuisines. Be sure to snorkel at this beach, I was amazed by the beauty of the marine life so close to the shore. I saw shoals of colourful fish swimming around your feet. If you are lucky, you might even spot a turtle or two like my friends did.
Unwatuna
This beachside town is an excellent locale for any adventure activity you might want to indulge in, or simply relax by the beach. A novice swimmer who has never dived before, I was really enthusiastic yet nervous about scuba diving. The Unawatuna Diving Center is an excellent training centre with state-of-the-art equipment and trainers. Diving up to 8-10 meters was truly a marvellous experience, and opened my eyes to a whole new world in front of me. Do try it if you are up for it!
Kosgoda
On the highway between Colombo and Galle, Kosgoda is famous for its turtle hatcheries and conservation centres. The conservationists here buy turtle eggs lying unprotected on the beach from fishermen and help them hatch in a protected environment. Once the turtle babies are mature enough to survive, they are released at sunset back into the sea. Do try and be at this place around sunset to capture this marvellous experience. The types of turtles you may see here are the Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle and Leatherback Turtle.
Whale Watching at Mirissa
This will be the highlight of the Sri Lankan trip for any wildlife enthusiast or just someone who enjoys a nice sail in the ocean. An hour’s drive from Galle, Mirissa is at the southern tip of Sri Lanka. Every morning at ~7 AM, tourist boats leave this port and head into the Indian Ocean to try and spot dolphins and the elusive blue whale. I was lucky enough to spot a pod (group) of spinner dolphins twice, and also a blue whale with her baby. Scouring the ocean for minutes on end, until you locate a whale when it spouts water from its blowhole can definitely be a fascinating experience! (Make sure to carry sea sickness pills and sun tan as the boat ride can be rocky)
So, this is all that I managed to cover during my 4 days in Sri Lanka. It was all about the beaches and the ocean for me and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. If I could re-plan my trip, I would definitely like to spend more days out there in Sri Lanka.
Here are the few places I believe you must truly visit if you do decide to go to our southern neighbour:
Yala National Park
In the southeastern section of Sri Lanka, this park boasts the highest density of leopards in the world. A must-visit for any wildlife enthusiast wildlife lovers should miss out on a safari experience here. Yala is also a top attraction for its beautiful coastline and other wildlife like the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear and 215 bird species.
Sinharaja Rain Forest
A 2-hour drive from Galle, you can definitely think of spending a night at the resorts in this rainforest. It is a bird watcher’s paradise too!
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
The name says it all; this is a place that houses abandoned or injured pachyderms. Established in 1975 near the Maha Oya River, Pinnawala gives a natural habitat to the elephants where they are fed, bathed, and well cared for. The orphanage also has a captive breeding program, which is among the most successful programs worldwide for Asian elephants. Watch baby elephants being fed with bottles and the magnificent creatures playing around in the water.
Sacred Temple of the Tooth
Amidst the hilly regions full of tea plantations in Central Sri Lanka, Kandy is a venerable Buddhist pilgrimage centre. Also called Sri Dalada Maligawa, this is among the most important Buddhist relics in Sri Lanka. The 17th-century temple is located in Kandy and is an impressive structure with a golden roof. The temple is believed to house an upper tooth of Lord Buddha, although the actual relic is kept in a gold casket sitting on a lotus flower made of solid gold. Devout pilgrims, as well as tourists, descend here each day to pay their respects.
Besides these, do check out Anuradhapura, Adam’s Peak and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress as well.
History lovers can spend time exploring several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Foodies will love experimenting with spicy curries. Honeymooners will have no lack of romantic places to visit. The leisure-oriented traveller will love lazing around on the white beaches with coconut water.
Yet somehow, there is always something more to see and do in this alluring island nation on the Indian Ocean. There is the mythological aspect too since Sri Lanka is an important place in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Among the most popular attractions in Sri Lanka, this cave temple has more than 150 stunning statues of Buddha. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla and is a rock temple built on a 600-foot-high rock. Visitors are often amazed at how well-preserved the cave temple is, considering it has been an important pilgrimage site for around 22 centuries. Take your time to marvel at the famed Buddhist mural paintings at this temple.
Have you been to Sri Lanka yet? If not, you must visit this beautiful island nation once in your lifetime. Do not go by its size, Sri Lanka has many a delight in store for every visitor who reaches its sun-kissed shores.
