Most Beautiful Beaches of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is just like a paradise for beach lovers who want enjoy waves and have fun in sun. These beaches not only provide you beautiful natural scenes but also facilitate you to enjoy different beach sports and water activities including scuba diving, parasailing and surfing. If you also want to enjoy your holidays at some of the most beautiful beaches of world, consider visiting following beaches of Sri Lanka.

Bentota Beach

This famous beach is situated at the junction of Bentota River and sea. Beach lovers and sports freaks from all over the world come here as it is a popular water sports destination where you can enjoy windsurfing, catamaran rides and water-skiing. If you are going there for swimming, then the best time to visit this beach is between months of October and April. Sea is safest for swimming at this time of year. Bentota Beach is also capable of capturing hearts of visitors by its beautiful scenes. On one side of Bentota beach, there are warm blue waters of Indian Ocean while on the other side, there is a slow moving river having sapphires waters. To have a memorable stay here at Bentota Beach, a large number of hotels are also located here making you feel cared.

Negombo Beach

Negombo Beach is a popular tourist attraction and is world famous for its fine dining options and lively night life. Restaurants in Negombo Beach provide you with a unique dining experience with seafood and Swiss dishes. Names of some popular restaurants are:

• Seafood
• Alt Saarbrucken
• Blue Moon
• Silva’s Beach Restaurant and Bar

Bars and clubs are also located here for enjoying night life to its fullest. Some names include:

• Rudis Bar
• Golden Beach Hotel
• Club Tropicana
• Don’s Beach

Negombo Beach is also a shoppers’ heaven because it has many stalls. You can find anything in these stalls ranging from hand painted shirts to handiwork items and basket ware.

Unawatuna Beach

This popular beach is ranked among twelve best beaches in world. This is the best place in the world for listening melodious sound of waves and diving deep into blue waters. Facilities of swimming and diving are provided here. Within the reach of the beach, there is a coral reef which serves as a base for snorkeling. Underneath the shades of palm trees, there is Unawatuna Beach Resort which is a standard sized hotel providing all facilities. The most beautiful feature of this beach is golden sands and calm turquoise sea making it even more stunning.

Beruwela Beach

Bereuwela Beach is an ideal location for spending holidays as here you will find long stretch of golden beach having beautiful palm trees and offshore islands. Coral gardens of this beach attract divers and snorkelers who can enjoy other water sports as well including fishing, diving and sailing. Other attractions at beach include a fascinating fishing harbor, the Kechimatal Mosque along with a lighthouse that is located on its offshore island. Some other attractions nearby this beach are turtle hatchery and elephant sanctuary. In this sanctuary, you can also get pleasure from elephant rides. Guesthouses and hotels are also located here for the convenience of travelers. Names of some popular hotels are:

• Tropical Villa
• Club Palm Garden Hotel
• Neptune Beach Hotel

Hikkaduwa Beach

This famous beach is located 98 KM away from Colombo and is known as a paradise of coral reefs. It is the best beach to de-stress yourself if you are stressed due to busy routine of life. On the coast of Hikkaduwa, you can find a coral sanctuary which is a large but shallow body of water enclosed by a reef. Multicolored corals are used to decorate this reef and it provides home to a number of colored and beautiful fishes. Different species of fishes and large turtles are also found on this beach. Hikkaduwa Beach is also a special place for shoppers as shops at this beach sell jewelry, antiques, masks, gems and other items.

Ambalangoda Beach

You can not afford forgetting Ambalangoda Beach while planning a trip to Sri Lanka. Situated 85 KMs from Colombo, this beach is the best place for celebrating and organizing family picnic. Various beach sports can also be played here including cricket and volleyball. I will also suggest you to try your luck in fishing.

Five Best Attractions in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island nation located in South Asia. It is surrounded by Indian Ocean and has India and Maldives in its vicinity. The name of Sri Lanka has never been so popular among the top tourists destinations of the world but a visit to Sri Lanka may reveal that it has a large number of attractions which a tourist likes to see. There are a large number of tourists’ attractions in Sri Lanka but here I am going to give description of only five top attractions in Sri Lanka which are worth-seeing and should be a part of tour to this country.

Wild Life Safaris

Wild life safaris are very popular among the tourists who go to Sri Lanka. The most famous wild life park is Yala National Park that is popularly known for its leopard spotting. There are some other animals which you will find in almost any park. These animals include:

• Buffaloes
• Eagles
• Peacocks
• Deer
• Wild Boars
• Crocodiles
• Elephants

The leopards and bears are those animals which are hard to find in these parks. It is an amazing and enjoyable experience to visit these safari parks. Here for the safety of the visitors, a wild life guard is provided with every safari so it is completely safe to visit these safari parks and get a detailed look of your favorite animals which you only see in movies and documentaries. These life guards also guide the visitors to the places where there is an abundance of wild life.

Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls

Sri Lanka is a country that is blessed with both hot and cold weather. You can find hot and sunny weather near beaches and you can enjoy a cool weather near mountains as well. There are beautiful gardens and waterfalls in these mountains that attract a large number of tourists from all over the world.  There are some of the most popular waterfalls of Asia that are present in Sri Lanka that provide beautiful scenes especially during the rainy weather. Special tours are arranged to these waterfalls and the tourists who go there become mesmerized by their beauty. The most beautiful and famous falls in Sri Lanka include:

• Bopath falls
• Bakers fall
• Devon falls
• St. Claire’s falls
• Dunhinda falls
• Diyaluma falls

A famous tourist attraction in the mountains also includes Worlds End in Horton plains which is a high mountain crest from where you can see the coastline. The other famous attractions are the botanical gardens having a large variety of trees and flowers. These gardens are not only visited by tourists but also by the scientists.

Historical Places

In Sri Lanka, there are ruins of some ancient cities that have become tourists destinations and people love to watch them. The most visited and ancient city of Sri Lanka is Sigiriya rock fortress and it is well-known and popular for its gardens and irrigation system that is still a source of amazement for the experts in the field. Other popular cities include:

• Anuradhapura
• Kandy
• Polonnaruwa

Most of these cities are world heritage sites because some temples in these cities are preserved till now and they are capable of making the visitors spell-bound.

Elephant Back Safaris

Most of the tourists of European countries and US love to have a ride on the back of elephants. Perhaps the reason for this may be that elephants are not found in those countries. Whatever the reason may be, elephant’s rides are very popular among all the tourists. And the best place to see the elephants is Pinnawela elephant orphanage. This place provides you a chance to see this giant animal closely. Here you can also have an experience to feed the elephant babies which is a unique and wonderful experience. If you are not interested in riding on elephant and just want to watch them the best places for this purpose are Udawalawe and Wasgamuwa. Here you can watch the elephants in their natural conditions.” Ath athura sevana” is another place where you can get closer to the elephants to watch them.

Sunbathing

Sri Lanka is blessed by nature with an amazing and spectacular coastline. The most famous and beautiful beach is Nilaveli that provides a chances of enjoying the experience of surfing. Moreover sunbathing and sea bathing are some activities that are most liked by the tourists of European countries as these countries don’t have warm weather and beautiful beaches. But here in Sri Lanka, there are a large number of beaches near the capital city Colombo. Most of the tourists really enjoy a stay at beach resorts to have a memorable experience.

These were top five attractions of Sri Lanka. Plan a trip to Sri Lanka and enjoy yourself.

Main Tourist’s Attractions in Kandy

Kandy, which is a city of Sri Lanka, is a city of scenic mountains, sparkling lakes and beautiful valleys. There a lot of things to see in Kandy which prove to be a perfect retreat from bustling city life. Some most prominent attractions in Kandy which you must visit are:

The Royal Botanical Garden

 It is one of the most frequently visited attractions in Kandy and attracts a large number of tourists from all over the globe. It is located at a distance of about 4 miles from Colombo and covers an area of 147 acres. If you are fond of watching different varieties of flora and fauna, you will like to visit this garden. Set beside a serene lake, this garden houses more than 4000 species. In this tranquil lake, you will find a number of swans and beautiful ducks swimming in its blue waters. There is also an island in the middle of this lake. But the most amazing thing to see in this garden is the bamboo collection which is on right side of lake. Some kinds of bamboo found in Royal Botanical Garden are Dwarf Chinese bamboo and Prickly bamboo.

The Temple of the Tooth

The Temple of the Tooth is the most popular tourist attraction in Kandy. This temple is not only visited by pilgrims but also by leisure tourists. This temple was built in 17^th century and it is so named because it is believed that this temple contains upper left canine tooth of Lord Buddha. The tooth relic of temple is brought outside of temple. Decoration of this temple has been done in a different way because its exteriors are simple but interiors are beautifully decorated. Carved wood, ivory and lacquer are used to decorate this temple.

The Tea Museum, Hantane

The tea museum is actually the old Tea Factory of Hantane which has now changed into a museum. This museum is really interesting to visit as it has many collections like old age machinery. This museum has been decorated beautifully. Its interiors are made of wood. Several interesting pictures are also displayed in this museum.

Gadaladeniya Temple

Gadaladeniya Temple is a renowned temple of Kandy and it was built in 1344. This temple has been designed in South Indian style and its major shrine room houses four standing images of Buddha. A shrine which is sanctified to Lord Vishnu is also placed adjacent to shrine room. Beside this Vishnu Devale, there is a Stupa which is made on a rock.  A roof is also constructed over this Stupa which stands on four pillars.

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

This orphanage was built in 1975 and since then it has been the most popular attraction in Kandy. The purpose of making this orphanage was to preserve and protect decreasing number of elephants in this region. At this orphanage, you can not only see elephants bathing in river but also touch them. Visitors can also see them feeding on bottles. These elephants are cared by 110 people who take elephants to river for bath twice a day. Baby elephants are fed by bottles here in orphanage. This orphanage also serves as a breeding place for animals and since 1984 more than 23 elephants have been born here.

Famous Waterfalls in Sri Lanka

Waterfalls in Sri Lanka are quite enthralling and attract a large number of international travelers who visit Sri Lanka to spend their vacations. Sri Lanka is that country of the world which boasts of having highest number of waterfalls. If you love to see waterfalls, you must visit Sri Lanka to see the following magnificent waterfalls.

Bopath Ella Waterfall

Bopath Ella is one of the main tourist’s attractions in Sri Lanka which mesmerizes tourists with its spectacular scenes. The garrulous sound of water takes travelers to a different world. This beautiful waterfall seems as a leaf of “Bo” that’s why it is called Bopathella waterfall. “Bo” is the name of a sacred tree in Sri Lanka.

Ravana Waterfalls

Another popular sightseeing spot in Sri Lanka is the Ravana Waterfalls. This beautiful waterfall has been named after the daemon Ravana. Known as the widest falls of Sri Lanka, this waterfall is famous for its location as it is located against stunningly beautiful background of valleys and mountains. This fall is also very important source of water for villagers because this 131 feet tall waterfall provides sufficient water for cultivation of vegetables.

Baker’s Waterfalls

Having a height of 22 meters, Baker’s waterfall is one of the most striking and beautiful waterfalls. The beauty of this waterfall lies in its magnificent scenery. Baker’s waterfall gets its water from Belihul Oya and creates a beautiful scene to view when its icy water shines in sunlight.  You can also find rare black monkeys here if you are lucky enough. There are also some restrictions on the visit of this waterfall. Bathing in this waterfall is prohibited because many precious lives had lost while bathing in its waters.

Devon Waterfalls

Devon waterfall is named after an English coffee planter named Devon. You can see his plantations nearby Devon waterfalls. This 97 meter high waterfall is formed by Kothmale Oya and is located close to Thalawakale Town on A7 highway. From A7 highway, you can easily view this waterfall. Devon waterfall also provides facilities to tourists like that of resident places and tea center. There is also a restaurant.

Dunhinda Waterfalls

Located about 5 km off Badulla town, this waterfall is the most spoken-about waterfall in Sri Lanka. This 64 meters high waterfall gets its name from smoky dew drops squirt which encircles the area at foot of this fall. If you want to access this waterfall, you will have to walk 1 km distance along a footpath. You will also see many vendors along this footpath selling drinks to keep yourself fresh. To see the waterfall, a secure and safe stage is constructed at the end of that walking path.

St. Clair’s Waterfall

This is an 80 meter high waterfall which gets its name from a tea estate in close proximity. This waterfall falls down in form of two cascades named Maha Ella and Kuda Ella. It is known as a great spot for bathing.

Ramboda Waterfalls

It is the 11^th highest fall in Sri Lanka and is located on A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. This gigantic waterfall has three parts being the first part above the road in jungle while the other two parts are close to the road and below the road respectively.

Some other waterfalls in Sri Lanka are:

• Aberdeen Waterfalls
• Bambarakanda Ella
• Diyaluma Waterfalls
• Mapanana Ella
• Wadakada Waterfall
• Laxapana Waterfalls

Five Major Attractions in Colombo

Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka and is full of numerous interesting attractions. This beautiful city manages to attract a huge number of visitors to Sri Lanka contributing a lot to its tourism industry. Five of its major and most appealing attractions are as follows:

Colombo Zoo

If you want to see the best zoological gardens in whole South Asia, you must visit this zoo. Also known as Dehiwala Zoo, this zoo was established in 19^th century. It displays more than 350 species of animals with objectives of conserving and breeding animals. It is mostly visited by families because people bring their kids to educate their young minds as the zoo also houses an education center. The most attractive feature of Colombo Zoo is Elephant enclosure which has six Asian and one African elephant. Reptile House is also a popular attraction of this zoo where you can see python and cobras along with tortoises and crocodiles. Colombo Zoo is the favorite place for those who like to see marine life. The zoo houses Mini Medura featuring 500 species of fishes. You must also visit Nocturnal House in this zoo which displays species like bats, owls and lemurs. An elephant circus show is also held every week for kids’ amusement.

Ruhuna National Park

Ruhuna National Park is the best place to see flora and fauna. This national park has been divided into two parts named Yala West and Yala East. Yala West is most popular for being best location to see leopards as this particular location houses 35 leopards. Other animals which you will see here are elephants, bears, crocodiles, wild boars, buffaloes and peacocks. You can also view different varieties of birds in this park. The best time to visit this park is from January to May because during these months, park fills with greenery which attracts migratory birds.

The Colombo National Museum

The Colombo National Museum is one of the most noted landmarks of Colombo which is commonly known as Sri Lanka National Museum. This museum is the most famous and largest in whole country and provides a detailed insight into rich culture and heritage of this country. Built in 1887, Colombo National Museum has an impressive white building displaying its unique architectural work. At the entrance of museum, you will find a limestone statue of Buddha and you will also find two historical carvings near the museum’s staircase.

Wolvendaal Church

One of the ancient churches in city, Wolvendaal Church is a religious place that is located in peaceful surroundings. This church is set at hill top site in Wolvendaal and its interesting features include its Doric architecture. The structure is also featured with a high roof that looks like a dome. Walls of church are quite strong and made of lime plaster and coral. Interior of church is also very fascinating as inside this church you can see ornate flower tables and the place of Governor’s family seating.

The Dutch Period Museum

The Dutch Period Museum is former residence of Dutch governor and now it is converted into a military museum. Beautiful Dutch style architecture has been blended with Lankan décor to build and decorate this museum. This museum displays different aspects of Dutch lifestyle and thus collection in the museum includes those maps, household items, furniture and charts which show period of Dutch colonialism. Coins, artifacts and arms showing contemporary life of colonizers are also displayed in museum.