As a destination, Sri Lanka has come a long way in the last few years with peace returning to the island nation and opening up of new areas for tourists. The focus has also shifted from the traditional European tourists to the emerging Asian markets of India and China. Indians too are discovering the varied attractions of one of its closest neighbours as never before – from honeymooners to the elderly and school children on education trips. While for some the sun and the surf are the greatest attractions, for a majority of visitors it is the profound experiences of visiting the many Buddhist sites that remains the highpoint of a trip to Sri Lanka. The cities of Kandy, Polnnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Sigriya, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites, top the list.
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Royal remnants
Sigriya, which means the lion’s rock in Sinhalese, is among the most fascinating tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Sigriya is located near Dambulla, in Matale district. King Kashyapa (477 to 495 AD) had shifted his capital from Anuradhapura to Sigriya. The area around the rock continues to indicate the grand palace complex that once occupied the location, the moats and terraced gardens. After the defeat of King Kashyapa once the capital shifted back to Anuradhapura, Sigriya became a Buddhist monastery and remained so for several centuries. The remnants of the rock fortress continue to lure the visitors long after the palace has fallen to ruins. For any visitor on first glance the climb to the top of the rock might look like a daunting task, but the beauty of the view as one keeps climbing higher keeps driving you to take the next flight up. The highlights at Sigriya are the mirror walls and beautiful frescoes of women. The paws of a lion dominates the terrace before you can take some more steps up to reach the top of the rock that once housed the palace. The view is breathtakingly beautiful and you can look out into the horizon to Anuradhapura and beyond.
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Dambulla in fact is a great location for exploring the nearby city of Anuradhapura, which is in fact the first and the second capital city. Visitors staying in Dambulla can make day trips to all the major Buddhist highlights, even Kandy which is just 72 km away. Dambulla is itself famous for its cave temple complex. Kandy is the second largest city in the country after Colombo and is considered as the last capital of the ancient kings. Kandy is home to relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The royal family was considered the protector of this important relic. The last king was Sri Vikrama Rajasinha who was deposed by the British. The capital was shifted to Colombo which is a port city and was thus considered important by the British. The main tourist attraction in Kandy is not surprisingly the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which is housed within the Royal Palace complex. The palace is located on the north of the temple. Lankatilaka Temple and Gadaladeniya Temple are the other important places of religious interest in the city. The Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya is another important tourist attraction. Covering a total area of 147 acres, the gardens are as famous for the collection of orchids as the giant king coconuts growing on parallel rows of trees.
Kandy is a picturesque town with a lake at the centre of the city. The hills, the lake and the interesting amalgam of the ancient and modern make Kandy a unique destination. The upper lake drive gives a bird’s eyeview of the city’s scenic vista. If you are lucky enough to stay in one of the hotels atop the hills, then you can also see one of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises of your life.
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Colonial charm
Approximately four hours drive from Kandy in the central highlands of Sri Lanka is the town of Nuwara Eliya. It is the home of tea production in the country and tourists are always welcome in its many estates for tea tasting. Nuwara Eliya is also known as Little England as during their regime the British wanted to develop it as a quintessential English village. The colonial influence is apparent in the architecture and most of the high-end hotels in the town reflect the same. Nuwara Eliya is also a preferred destination for golf tourism. Boating, fishing and horse racing are a few popular activities. For Indian tourists one of the greatest attractions is the Sita Eliya temple on the outskirts of Nuwara Eliya. It is believed that Sita was held captive here by Ravana. According to mythology, it is one of the eight places in Sri Lanka where she was taken. Locals will show you the giant holes on the boulders behind the temple where Hanuman had stood.
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Most European tourists stay in Nuwara Eliya and make day trips to the Horton Plains National Park and its favourite attraction – The World’s End. Arugam Bay on the east coast of Sri Lanka has emerged as another favourite destination for European tourists, particularly after the end of the war. From April to September surfers come to this fishing village which is fast becoming a surfing hotspot. Nearby the shallow waters of Pottuvil is a perfect location for swimming. The other interesting new locations are Pigeon Island National Park, which is one of the two marine national parks in the country and famous for its coral formations. Balapitiya near Colombo is yet another destination that would be of interest to the new age Indian traveller. The river Maadu that flows in the area has 64 small islands. Activities here include boat trips in the river to few of the islands, visit to centuries old temple, fish hatchery and trip to cinnamon estate.
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For Indian travellers there is a lot that awaits in Sri Lanka that they have hitherto not explored before. With adventure activities and eco tourism getting popular among a section of the new age traveller who seeks off-the beaten track experiences, there are many places in Sri Lanka that are perfect getaway locations.
