| SRI LANKA |
Sri Lanka - A tiny island nation off the coast of southern tip of India, just 50 km from the coast of Tamil Nadu, is a Jewel in the Indian Ocean. Known by many names, it is a perfect setting for an ideal holiday for beach lovers, mountain lovers and wild life and nature enthusiasts . A nation so tiny that the topography changes within a few hours drive. You could be on the beach in the morning, in a small town in the afternoon and spend the night in a hill station.
The island is just 350km long and only 180km wide at its widest, and is about the same size as Ireland, West Virginia or Tasmania.
The southern half of the island is dominated by beautiful and rugged hill country. The entire northern half comprises a large plain extending from the edge of the hill country to the Jaffna peninsula. The highest mountain is the 2524m Mt Pidurutalagala near Nuwara Eliya and the longest river is the Mahaweli which courses from the centre and empties into the Indian Ocean at Trincomalee. The best beaches are on the south-western, southern and south-eastern coasts. |
 |
| Ebony, teak, silkwood and spectacular orchids are found in the dense south-western tropical rainforests. Hardy grasslands, rhododendrons and stunted forests predominate in the cool, damp highlands, and shrubs and grasslands survive in arid zones in the north. Animal life is profuse and includes the ubiquitous elephant, as well as leopards, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, wild boar, cobras, crocodiles, dugong and turtles. The island is an important seasonal home to migrating birds, including flamingoes, who flock to the lagoons, wetlands and bird sanctuaries for respite from the northern winter. The best time to see birds is between January and April. |
Popular and Tourist Friendly Beach Resorts in Sri Lanka
Negombo
A characteristic fishing town 37km. north of Colombo, it is a mere 6 km. from the International Airport. Set amid lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet's paradise with sea food in plenty. Old world fishing craft like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran bring seer, skipjack, herring and mullet, pomfret and amber - jack while lobster and prawns are caught in the lagoon.
Mount Lavinia
Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is an immediate city suburb and the beach is one of the better known even in colonial times. It lies alongside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sand is the softest and the waves calm and clear. The Governor's House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland, now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Beruwela
56 km. south of Colombo, Beruwela marks the beginning of a 130 km. stretch of beach where resort development has taken immense strides in the past few years. Good bathing may be had in the bay all year round.
Bentota
62 km. south of Colombo, the Bentota Resort Complex is a romantic rendezvous of river and sea with several hotels, railway station, post office, shopping arcade, cafeteria and an open air theatre showing folk and mask dancing with clusters of palms overlooking everything.
Ambalangoda
A half hour's drive from Bentota is Ambalangoda, home of devil dancing and mask making.
Hikkaduwa
98 km. south of Colombo, Hikkaduwa is the place for underwater delight. Site of the famed coral gardens; hire a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and explore the fantasies under your feet. Don't purchase or encourage sale of corals.
Galle
116 km. south of Colombo, is the most important southern town with an old-world charm. Believed to be the 'Tarshish' of the Bible, its natural harbour was a famous fort in days gone by. Famous for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing.
Weligama
27 km. from Galle with its picturesque bay, and an off shore islet where a French Count built his dream house, Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt fishermen. |
| Wild Life in Sri Lanka |
The animals to be seen in Sri Lanka's national parks include elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, deer and monkeys, wild buffalo, wild boar (pig), porcupine, ant-eater, civet cat, jackal, mongoose, loris (unique to sri Lanka) several varieties of lizards, squirrels, reptiles and amphibians. Each park however has its own specialities.
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park
Situated 309 km. south of Colombo, Yala is approximately 1,259 sq.km. in extent and is located in the south eastern corner of the island. Its northern boundaries border on the Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary and it has the added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage. The terrain is varied flat plains alternating with rocky outcrops. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. Water holes, small lakes, lagoons and streams provide water for the animals and birds. The speciality here is the large numbers of elephants. |
| Uda Walawe National Park
Situated 170 km. South East of Colombo the Uda Walawe National Park is approximately 30,821 hectares in extent. This Park comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees are found within it. Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as spotted Deer, Sambhur, Barking deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this Park and a variety of avifauna is seen.
Wasgamuwa National Park
Situated approximately 200 km. away from Colombo, the Wasgamuwa National Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts and have the Mahaweli river and Amban river as its eastern and western boundaries. Tropical intermediate dry mixed evergreen forest predominates its environment. |
| Horton Plains National Park
The Horton Plains National Park is the only National Park situated in the Hill Country and falls within the Nuwara Eliya district and is 200 km. away from Colombo. Panoramic scenic beauty of the Hill Country could be witnessed within the Park. The famous `Worlds End' is a major attraction within the Park. Endemic slender loris and endemic purple monkey are among the important animal species that could be seen in addition to sambhur, a member of the cat family etc. There are some endemic avifauna also found within this Park.
Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala elephant orphanage, just 90 km from Colombo, has largest captive herd in the world. It is also the most successful elephant breeding centre, according to reports. The elephant orphanage was established in 1995 with seven orphans today has a population of sixty two. The elephant orphanage now boasts of its sixteenth birth and the second generation of births in captivity. It has become a major tourist attraction because of its uniqueness. This is an ideal site for photography, research and education on elephants as the visitor is able to observe a large herd comprising of week old babies to sixty year olds. |
Warning
The northern third of Sri Lanka and the eastern coast are off-limits and highly dangerous. The south and south-western portion of the island and the hill country have generally been calm, but since government troops flushed Tamil Tigers from the Jaffna peninsula in November 1995, several terrorist attacks have occurred in Colombo, including a suicide bomb attack in January 1996 on Sri Lanka's Central Bank which killed more than 80 people and injured over 1000, and a train carriage bombing in July 1996 which killed over 70 people and injured about 600.
Random acts of terrorism are expected to continue as the Tigers seek to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with. Most Western governments are warning visitors to defer non-essential travel. Foreign nationals have so far not specifically been targets of terrorist attacks, but the Tigers announced in February 1996 that they consider tourism an economic target. The little known Tamil group responsible for an attempted car bomb attack on Colombo airport in June 1995 has also threatened to target foreigners and called for tourists to boycott the airport.
Sri Lanka - A holiday like no other, a country like no other |
|
| Suggested Tours |
 |
Program 1
DAY 1 AIRPORT - NEGOMBO (08 KMS). Arrive at Bandaranayake International Airport. Welcome and assistance, transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
|
DAY 2 NEGOMBO – SIGIRIYA or DAMBULLA - ( KMS). AM After breakfast, leave for Sigiriya. Arrive at hotel and check-in. PM Climb the Rock Fortress and view the Frescoes painted in the pocket of the Rock. Return to hotel for Overnight stay.
DAY 3 SIGIRIYA - MATALE - KANDY (80 KMS). AM After breakfast leave for Kandy, en-route visit the Dambulla Rock Caved Temple and proceed to Kandy. Visit a batik factory and a Spice Garden at Matale and arrive at hotel. PM Visit the City of Kandy, Temple of Tooth Relic. Evening view a performance of Cultural Dance. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 4 KANDY – AIRPORT (101KM) Early morning leave for airport with a picnic breakfast. Departure to onward destination |
Program 2
DAY 1 AIRPORT - NEGOMBO (08 KMS). Arrive at Bandaranayake International Airport. Welcome and assistance, transfer to hotel for overnight.
Day 2 NEGOMBO / PINNAWELA / KANDY – (117KM). AM After breakfast leave for Kandy, en-route visit Elephants Orphanage at Pinnawela. Arrive at hotel and Check-in to hotel. PM Visit the City of Kandy and the |
 |
Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. View the daily traditional rituals of the Temple. Evening view a performance of Cultural Dance. Overnight stay.
Day 3 KANDY / TEA PLANTATION / COLOMBO – (186KM) AM After breakfast, excursions to Tea Plantation and visit Tea Factory. Return to Peradeniya and visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. PM Leave for Colombo and en-route visit the Temple at Kelaniya. Drive around the city of Colombo. Overnight stay.
Day 4 COLOMBO / AIRPORT – 40 KM AM After early breakfast leave for airport. |
 |
Program 3
DAY 01 AIRPORT/ COLOMBO (40KMS). Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport. Welcome and assistance, transfer to Mount Lavinia for lunch. PM Visit the City of Colombo the Commercial Capital of Sri Lanka and return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
|
DAY 02 COLOMBO – DAMBULLA – POLONNARUWA – DAMBULLA -(192 KMS). AM Breakfast, leave for Dambulla and chek-in to hotel for Lunch. PM Visit the Polonnaruwa, Visit ruined monuments, remain of old Royal palace, the swimming pool, un-restored ruins and dagob, The “Parakkarma Samudra” the largest man built reservoir and Gal Vihara complex- the most impressive sculptures are the colossal Buddha images carved on the surface of granite rock. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
| DAY 03 DAMBULLA - SIGIRIYA –MATALE – KANDY (102 KMS). AM Breakfast climb tour to Sigiriya Rock Fortress built under orders of the paranoid KingKasyappa (5th century AD) the rock fortress at Sigiriya rises 183 meters above the surrounding jungles. Just declared a world heritage site, Sigiriya is a magnificent edifice that is complemented by Asia’s oldest Landscaped gardens and ponds, Proceed to Matale and visit a Spice garden and batik factory. Lunch at Spice garden.PM Proceed to Kandy and visit the Temple of the tooth relic and Kandy City. Check-in to hotel for diner and view a performance of Cultural Dance. Overnight stay. |
 |
DAY 04 KANDY / NUWARA-LIYA –(77KM). AM After breakfast visit the Royal Botanical Garden at Peradeniya and leave for Nuwara-Eliya. En-route visit a Tea Factory and arrive at hotel and Check-in to hotel for Lunch. PM Afternoon, walk around the city and the golf course. Overnight stay at the hotel.
 |
DAY 05 NUWARA-ELIYA / KITUGALA / COLOMBO. AM After breakfast, leave for Kitulgala and visit the famous filming location of “The Bridge on the River Kwai” Also optional White Water Rafting could be arranged at an extra cost.Proceed to Colombo for Lunch. PM Visit the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and the interesting venues of Colombo city. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel |
DAY 06 COLOMBO / AIRPORT – (40 KM) AM After breakfast departure transfer to Airport. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
