Sri Lanka Travel GuideSri Lanka is a very, very old isle with records found in the literature going as far back as the Pharaohs of Egypt to the West and the age-old empires of Asia to the East. It is a magical place of golden beaches, tropical rainforests, high mountain peaks, iridescent rice paddies, glittering flowers, roaring waterfalls, fleeting fireflies, flitting butterflies, languid elephants, shy leopards, rare birds of paradise. It is a veritable Garden of Eden with one of the richest concentrations of species of animals and plants on the planet. Its history of civilisation stretches back thousands of years. As far back as 500BC there were cities, palaces, reservoirs and temples. Throughout its long history Sri Lanka has gone by many names eliciting the magic of this isle – Serendib, Taprobane, Cellao and Ceylon to name a few. But beside its incredible natural beauty and age-old history, it is the Sri Lankans themselves that give this island a special place in the hearts of all who are fortunate enough to travel to Serendib. After leaving the hustle and bustle of the capital Colombo there is an air of relaxed calm and peacefulness among the people who are welcoming, hospitable and refreshingly friendly. Predominantly Buddhist, the island is multi-ethnic and multi-religious and all live together in exemplary peaceful community. Travelling around the island can be slow going because of the narrow roads, but each way you turn en route is a feast for the senses. Come visit.
Colombo is the commercial capital and the site of Sri Lanka's only international airport. This is where you will arrive. Weather |
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Cultural heritage UNESCO linksCultural triangleIn the SouthOld Town of Galle and its Fortifications Galle is just 20 minutes from The Beach House. Sri Lanka Heritage Sites ...Lanka Library links
History The Lanka Library has a comprehensive list of websites offering info about Sri Lanka’s pre-history, ancient history, colonial history and post-colonial history. Archaeology
Natural heritageSinharaja Forest Biosphere Reserve is easily accessible as a day trip from The Beach House. However, to give it full credit it would be worthwhile to overnight there. The reserve – of hilly virgin rainforest and one of the few places remaining in Sri Lanka with virgin rainforest – is only 21 km from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic flora and fauna. There are a number of hiking trails and several waterfalls. Speak to The Beach House manager Mahinda to arrange accommodation at the forest.
The National Parks The following links give info about each park and map location. Randenigala Wild Life Santuary Waterfalls of Sri LankaSri Lanka has an incredible 382 documented waterfalls. There are many within reach as a day trip from The Beach House. These are in the Galle and Matara Districts which stretch from the Southwest and South coast inland the to the Sinharaja Rainforest Bioreserve – which alone has 19 waterfalls. Check here for Waterfalls in the Sinharaja Rainforest A few good ones in the Galle and Matara districts include: The Olu Falls – 127m.
SurfCheck here for details of surf spots around In the monsoon season (May to September) there is good surf around Arugam Bay on the East Coast Cultured Traveller Sri Lanka Traditions and Rituals The Esala Perahera in Kandy – July/August The dates for the Esala Perahera change each year and are set a few months ahead of the event each year -- check: Sri Dalada Maligawa - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Great Train Journeys of the World - Sri Lanka The train trip from Colombo to Badulla on the Udarata Menike Express is considered one of the Great Train Journeys of the World. Gyan C. A. Fernando writes: The railway line from Colombo to Badulla is a spectacular railway line which, over a distance of 180 miles, ascends from sea level to 6500 feet and then descends in to the Uva valley (or Uva Basin as it is usually called) to terminate at Badulla at 2000 feet. The railway was built by the British in the latter part of the 19th century primarily for freight.(Guage: 5ft6in, 1676mm) Since then very little has been changed. The gradients are steep and the tight curves prevent the use of modern rolling stock. Because of the rugged terrain earthslips are common. There are 46 tunnels on this line and one complete spiral (at Demodera). There are only two trains in any one direction each day which run the whole distance. One is the Night Mail Train the other is the "Udarata Menike" (Hill Country Lass). The Udarata Menike takes at least 9 hours to do the journey (on a good day!) and the Night Mail takes near 12 hours! More here… |
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Some other Information which may be of interest:The Mahavamsa - the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka Devanampiyatissa (c. 247 BC - 207 BC) - the king under whose reign Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka. Buddhism in Sri Lanka More info Sri Lanka’s official tourism site is an excellent resource of information. So is the Lanka Library. |
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