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Make a sunny Indian-Ocean Island called Sri Lanka, your destination this year!

Sri Lanka, is a tiny teardrop shaped island found south by India, known formerly as Ceylon and
more recently named by National Geographic 2012 as one of the ten Best Trips of 2012 !
Culture, nature, jungles, waterfalls, beaches, ancient monasteries and miles of breezy
tropical palm trees are some of the things that made Marco Polo call this island a “the finest
island of its size in all the world”. The famous science fiction guru Sir Arthur C. Clark fondly
called it “the best place from which to view the universe.” Sri Lankans are a friendly people
and long before there was any such thing as a hospitality industry they knew how to make
travellers feel most welcome. Among the many wonders of ancient Ceylon are the worlds
first wildlife reserve/botanical gardens ever, the ancient ayurveda hospitals and travelers’
rests as well as the most intricate and effective irrigation the ancient world has known…

Bathe elephants, watch whales, buy brilliant gems, listen to a gypsy snake charmer predict
your future, and then dine on exotic seafood curry by the beach. Or you may want to
visit centuries old ancient ruins lost deep in tropical jungles, climb to the top of a Sacred
Mountain, scuba dive among forgotten wrecks or wake to the worlds best tea in misty
highlands…the choice is yours. There’s also wonderful wildlife safaris, hiking adventures
in rain forest reserves, yoga retreats, exciting festivals and cuisine of a number of diverse
cultures. In fact, if you are wondering what to do in Sri Lanka the only real question, is what
cant you do, apart from ice sports possibly…!

The little miracle island beckons you to a paradise of your choice be it through a search for self ,
a unique adventure, or a healing retreat, this is a land of many discoveries…..As Lonely Planet
recently reported – “the word is getting out… this country’s exquisite beauty means it won’t be
overlooked much longer”


Sunshiney Beach Holidays

From fabled Unawatuna, down in the South, to the pristine beaches of the newly accesible
North and legendary Trincomalee and Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka boasts of more than 1700
miles of the best beaches in the world, the kind dream vacations are made of.

Not just the crystalline golden sands and amazing clear blue-green waters, but the balmy
tropical sunlight, charming local hospitality and delectable sea food cuisine will combine to
make the average Sri Lankan beach vacations one of your most treasured memories.

If it is ever possible that you should want a change from lazing on the beach in hammocks under glittering palm trees, sipping refreshing coconut water- there are museums, hidden away ruins, crumbling forts and divers wrecks to investigate, and the most delightful local artifacts to buy straight from the craftsmen. And don’t forget the cuteness that are turtles Five species are found visit the island to lay eggs in the western and southern beaches after traveling thousands of kilometers to return to their birth place for nesting. A number of breeding centres in the South are open to visitors.

In the south, approx one hour from Colombo via the recently opened Southern highway,
you can go snorkeling in Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna, watch whales off the coast of
Weligama, marvel at the talents of the stilt –fishers , and relax in a hidden private villa in
Tangalle. In Bentota the beach is actually between lagoons and the deep blue sea!… For
book lovers there is the annual Galle Literary Festival which brings together beach and
books in an ultimate celebration of relaxation and fantasy escape…

In the East a little further from Colombo, Nilaveli is a shallow beach, which extends almost
half a mile into the ocean, and Kalkudah beach both well protected from the sea by
extensive reefs, is another popular destination along with the famous Passekudah bay
nearby.

Do mermaid tales fascinate you? well, Batticola boasts of the curious “singing fish” at a
beautiful lagoon filled with mangrove swamps, where you can listen for eerie faintly musical
sounds on moonlit nights in the tropics !! This has been rarer of late but who knows, maybe
you will be lucky enough to experience a little miracle like that!

In any case, out of the hundreds of miles of beautiful beach wherever you chose for your vacation,
you are sure to be entranced by the overall romance of this “Pendant” shaped island in the Indian
Ocean and most probably you will plan to return for more!

Romantic Hill Country Getaways

Serene and panoramic, Sri Lanka’s romantic hill country highlands offer salubrious
climates, in contrast to balmy Colombo, whilst still for the most part retaining the gorgeous
tropical sunshine the Indian Ocean island is known for. Colour contrasts tend to be vibrant
and quite striking from the deep blue skies, against the rich emerald of tea plantations
to the enchantingly characteristic shades of paddy fields and earthy browns of historical
monuments. In the countryside a number of refurbished tea planters bungalows and private
cottages turned boutique hotels dot the landscape offering the cozy colonial comforts
of a bygone era. Life is incredibly rustic and unspoiled here and the very air incredibly
refreshing, the perfect interlude away from it all.

In the highlands, activities include hiking, biking, rock climbing, bird watching and nature treks. In Horton Plains National Park for example you find wide variety of flora and
fauna such as elk, deer, sloth bear, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine and leopard. For bird
watchers, there 87 species (14 of which are endemic), including a number of migratory
birds. There are also botanical gardens of great charm, said to be of even mythological
origin, captivating waterfalls of crystal clear water and acres and acres of unspoilt
uncovered terrain to explore.

The “Hill capital” Kandy is well known for its fascinating cultural pageant of the Grand Esala
Perahara, in July/August each year, but this is by no means the only reason for visiting
this World Heritage City . The charming historical city of Kandy has its own special magic
that will take you a long while to fully discover. From the ancient Temple of the Tooth relic
which houses the most sacred Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka, to the delights of Peradeniyas
botanical gardens, trekking in the misty Knuckles range, Fire-Walking shows , a museum
which was once the home of Royal concubines, the romance of the Kandy lake and a
number of beautiful historical cemeteries …to a chance to bathe elephants in the worlds
largest elephant orphanage… a trip to Kandy is just another one of the multicolored facets
of the wonder that is Sri lanka.

Nature and Wildlife Adventures

From the ancient civilization which gave the world its very first wildlife sanctuary ever
in Mihintale in the 3rd century BC, Sri Lanka now gives you the chance to experience
a thrilling selection of its wildlife ranging from deer, sloth bear, wild boar, wild buffalo,
estuarine and muggar crocodiles, elephant and leopard and incredible varieties of birds and
snakes against their natural backdrops and undisturbed by man. And do not forget the
dragonflies, butterflies and turtles…
In dedication to its heritage of conservation, 12 percent of the island is reserved as wild
life sanctuary, providing rare treasure of bio-diversty in the region. Marshes, mountains,
waterfalls, rain forests, and lagoons, are included in a terrain that will intrigue the most
adventurous or explorers and keep you wondering what is round the next corner. Don’t
forget, this is practically an all year opportunity so you can book your nature tour anytime
of the year that suits you, choosing accommodation at any of the rustic eco lodges and
resthouses close to the adventure of your choice.

A number of wildlife reserves, nature parks and sanctuaries dot the island sheltering
a rich variety of animal and plant life, some in thick tropical rain forest. Yala, Wilpattu,
Udawalawe, Kaudulla, Wasgamuwa are a number of the largest, out of almost 50 such
reserves, with Yala being world famous for sheltering the highest concentration of leopards.
Wilpattu is known for its many small water bodies called Villus set in grassy plains, Uda Walawe most resembles an African safari, replete with many elephant and wild buffalo,
and Wasgamuwa has a series of crumbling ancient monuments within the reserve which
will take you into your own Indiana Jones style adventure, monkeys, snakes and all. What
is common to all these bush adventures is the sheer number and variety of fauna, flora,
bird insect and amphibians you will be able to spot. There is also an overall emphasis on
responsible, sustainable tourism, so that you know that in all cases, you will not be harming
or disturbing the environment and it will be preserved for the future too.

Ancient History, Culture and Architecture

If your heart skips a beat at the thought of historical romance, Sri lanka has it all…
elaborate ancient palaces, Royal fortresses, Buddhist shrines, lost medieval cities and
atmospheric sacred caves from more than 2500 years ago. You can almost hear the
ancient voices that resounded in these, places as you can climb among the ruins of long
forgotten pleasure gardens and marvel at the most complex system of irrigation unrivalled
in the ancient world, which is still functioning supplying scenic reservoirs the drier plains of
the country…wonder at the largest earth structures the world has ever known and… listen
to thrilling legends from bygone eras.
The most famous lost cities are set in the so called “Cultural Triangle” in the centre of the
island; this is a virtual triangle linking the Ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa
and Kandy, and this has the cities of Dambulla and Sigiriya in the centre. These ruins are
protected as UNESCO World Heritage sites and contain glimpses into a splendid ancient
civilization dating back to the 4th Centuy BC . Another aspect of the beauty of the cultural
triangle is that it is surrounded by national reserves so you can combine your cultural tour
with an action packed safari among elephants and leopards or simply thrill at the splendid
landscapes on offer, in a very short space of time.
To name just a few sites, there are, Yapahuwa, an incredible 13th century rock fortress,
Panduwasnuwara where a beautiful pricess Chitra was imprisoned by her own parents due
to a prophecy, the cave temples at Dambulla where you can see well preserved murals and
Mihintale with its interesting ancient architecture… as well as the archeological museum at
Anuradhapura which is one of the oldest in the area.
A number of equally well crafted designer lodges in the area ensures that visitors can relax
in luxury while blending in with this ancient environment.

Aurveda/ Yoga/ Meditation retreats

The first hospital in the ancient world was in Sri Lanka in Mihintale and ruins of other such royally
apointed hospitals are still in existence in Mihintale, Anuradhapura, and Medirigiriya
Aurveda is an alternative (herbal) medicine system that has been practiced in India and Sri Lanka since ancient times, which deals with curing the individual as a whole and not merely
symptomatically. In particular these have been very effective in the cure of chronic conditions such
as asthma, eczema, arthritis, insomnia, and other similar ailments. Avurvedha is recommended for
inner balance and fulfillment out of life, which perhaps a western lifestyle sometimes overlooks.
With this Sri Lankan heritage and knowledge in alternative medicine it is understandable that many
visit the island to access its special healing, and relaxation retreats and in fact a number of such
revitalizing programmes are being offered by specialist resorts across the island, from the sunny
southern coast of Barberyn , and Galle to the more secluded forest retreats in the Central highlands
Yoga trains the mind, body and soul together to find equilibrium in unity,and the result is inner
peace. Meditation centres teaching and holding sessions are to be found mainly in Kandy and you
can participate, free of charge or for a small donation of your choice.