
Bundala is an important and beautiful Wetland Sanctuary combining 20km of beach, lagoons and scrub which host more than 150 bird species. These wetlands are home to winter migratory birds and large flocks of flamingoes. The lagoons prove popular with crocodiles whilst on dry land herds of up to 60 elephants can be seen, as well as civets and giant squirrels. From October to January the area, near Tissamaharama on the south coast, also receives visits from the endangered marine turtles that lay their eggs on the shore. A visit to Bundala will reward all those who’ve sought out this lesser-known National Park.
One of Sri Lanka’s most significant religious sites, Mihintale lies 13kms east of Anuradhapura and is where Buddhism originated on the island. In 247 BC King Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura, was deer hunting on the plains beneath Mihintale, and met Mahinda, son of the Indian Buddhist emperor, and chose the path of Buddhism for the […]
Matara is a busy, booming and sprawling commercial town that owes almost nothing to tourism – which makes it a fascinating window on modern Sri Lankan life. Matara’s main attractions are its ramparts, a well-preserved Dutch fort and, most of all, its street life.
Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka at its most escapist. The relatively isolated beaches and a simple, laid-back lifestyle, away from the main tourist haunts, have many devotees. The local community is a particularly chilled-out and welcoming one where travellers and locals mingle contentedly. Arugam Bay offers high-class surfing (the best on the island) and deserted […]
Sitting in well-irrigated valleys between Adam’s Peak and Sinharaja Forest Reserve, busy Ratnapura (‘City of Gems’ in Sanskrit) is a famous trading centre for the area’s ancient wealth of gem stones. The region’s wet and humid climate encourages the formation of riverbeds, which are the perfect environment for gem stones to develop.
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