Yala – Sri Lanka’s most visited National Park

This is my favourite wild life park in Sri Lanka. I have visited the park over 10 times. Whenever, my friends visit Sri Lanka and I recommend them to visit this beautiful park situated in the South East cost of the island.

Yala National Park is the most visited national park in Sri Lanka. It consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public. The park covers 979 square kilometres and is located about 300 kilometres from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals.

The western part of Yala (block one) is named as the area with the highest leopard concentration in the world. With only 35 leopards in the entire park the chances of actually seeing a single leopard are still relatively slim.

 

Yala National Park is one of the best places for sightings of wild Elephants. The park is home to many animals including Buffaloes, Leopards, Monkeys, Circles, Crocodiles, Wild boars and Bears. Feb-Jun/Jul is the optimum time to visit when water tables are low. Leopard, elephant and many smaller animals are competing for the same drinking source. You are likely also to see sloth bears, deer, wild boar, buffaloes, crocodiles and monkeys. Birds are abundant – up to 130 species.

To get to the National Park you can take a tour and most of them leave around 5:00 am or 14:30 pm, but it depends on if you are going for half/full day or overnight. The entrance to the park is 3,700 rupees. The tours should cost about 4,000 to 6,000 on top of the admission ticket.

Kandy – Hill Capital and the home of the Temple of the Tooth

 

Kandy is the hill capital of Sri Lanka and the island’s second largest city. Kandy is 465 meters above sea level, Kandy is located 129 Km North-East of Colombo. Nestling midst low hills, and looped by the Mahaweli river; Kandy is the country’s religious and cultural centre and a World Heritage City.

For Buddhists, Kandy is the sacred city. The focal point is the Dalada Maligawa also known as the temple of the tooth, where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined.

Dalada Maligawa is one of the most blessed sites of worship for Buddhists from all over the world. The temple that was built during the 16th century is the abode for the Tooth Relic of the Buddha (left canine tooth to be precise). Rituals are enacted daily in the temple to venerate the relic, accompanied by flute playing and drumming. The ‘Dalada Maligawa’ is in the UNESCO list of World Monuments.

 

The highlight of the year is the Kandy Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by costumed drummers, dancers and about 80 – 100 caparisoned elephants during ten glittering nights in August.

The beautiful city, surrounded by hills and valleys, rivers, lakes and cascading waterfalls, boasts of the Royal Botanical gardens at Peradeniya .

 

Kandy is an exciting place for shopping with souvenirs of wood, copper, silver, brass and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery, rush and reed-ware too could be purchased.

 

There are thee options to travel to Kandy – Bus, Train or car!

Bus: From Colombo public buses start from the CBT or private ones from the bus terminal opposite the CBT (3 h, about LKR130). From Negombo bus terminal by direct public buses over CBT for LKR153 (November 2014).

Train: (from Colombo or Badula) – Intercity express train are hassle free and scenic. Reservation are needed for these trains, it can be done just before the departure depending on the period but is best done in advance especially if you are traveling on a weekend or holiday. There is a decent observation saloon (1st class) in this particular train. Normal trains are slower and 3rd/2nd class unreserved tends to be crowded. The trip from Colombo to Kandy costs LKR220 in second class, reservation however will set you back another LKR600, but apparently the first class is just LKR750 wherever you get off (Kandy, Badula, Ella, etc.).

 

 

Negombo – my childhood playground!

I spent most of my childhood in Negombo and went to Marist Stella College Catholic boys school. We lived in Sea Street in Negombo where I have many wonderful child memories of visiting the beach, swimming in sea, fishing, eating delicious sea food (fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns) and playing cricket.

Negombo is a major city in Sri Lanka close to the International airport. It is situated on the west coast of the island and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon. It is approximately 35 km north of Colombo City. Negombo is known for its fishing industry with busy fish markets and sandy beaches. It also know as “little Rome” for the large number of churches and more than 60% of people living in here are Catholics.

Negombo has been a trading port for Portugese and Dutch and is a ideal place for those who want quick access to and from the airport. Attractions in the city are the old Dutch fort gate built in 1672 now a part of the prison, the Dutch Canal, old churches and fishing villages.

Negombo Beach

Sandy beaches of Negombo has been mostly unexplored but less crowded as most tourists use the town for the first or the last night of their stay in Sri Lanka. One of the advantages of Negombo beach is that you are likely to have the beach mostly to your self.  The beach stretches are well maintained by the hotels while some are always busy with fisherman and their equipment.

 

Colombo – The new capital of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Capital Colombo, a port city, with a rich colonial heritage, on the Western coast is a potpourri of races, religions and cultures.  Colombo is a contrast itself, with mansions, lush gardens, fine dining options, shopping malls packed with expensive designer brands standing next to urban slums; diesel fumed congested roads and street markets.

 

Despite its small size Colombo offers a varying selection of experience ranging from taking a tuktuk ride, a visit to Pettah market and eating Kottu Roti to playing a round of golf and having high tea at one of the colonial style hotels overlooking the Indian Ocean.

 

With many boutiques filled with international brands and local art and fabrics Colombo is the best place to do the last minute shopping and then it’s best to retire to Galle face, Colombo’s playground for some Kottu or Wade.

 PETTAH

 

Brave the streets of Pettah to pick up everything from fabrics and fruit to watches and wedding invitations. “It’s utter chaos,” the locals cheerfully admit. “You can get a suit made in two hours, though it may last only three.” The streets are crammed with saris, electronics and ayurvedic medicines, while the fruit and vegetable market heaves with sacks of outrageously fierce-looking chillies.

GALLE FACE GREEN

It’s easy to forget Colombo is a seaside city when you’re stuck in a 1pm traffic snarl on the Galle Road. The best way to reconnect with the Indian Ocean is by making like a local and promenading on the Galle Face Green. Sundays are a big day for local families, kite flyers and food trucks serving deep-fried snacks.

 CLOTHES SHOPPING

Odel is Colombo’s fashion house of choice (5, Alexandra Pl, Col 7) and KT Brown its designer, with ethnically inspired designs (7 Coniston Place, Col 7, ktbrownstudio.com). For leaner budgets, Cotton Collection (143 Dharmapala Mw, Col 7) has fabulous finds and nearby Kelly Felder (117 Dharmapala Mw) employs only local designers with new stock every Tuesday. For cool beachwear, check out the super-colourful Arugam Bay label, in Odel, Barefoot and their showroom (32 Ward Place, Col 6), which is also home to contemporary Buddhi Batiks. Grab a tuk-tuk and skip between them.

 BAREFOOT

It’s a cafe, an art gallery, a performance space and shop. Established 40 years ago by Sri Lankan artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Barbara Sansoni, its signature style is hand-woven, hand-dyed yarns made into brightly coloured children’s toys, free-flowing clothing and fabrics manufactured ethically by women across the country. Also one of the best places for books on Sri Lanka (704 Galle Road, Colombo 3 and Old Dutch Hospital, barefootceylon.com).

PARADISE ROAD

It is one of the well known places for tourists and they have several branches. It’s again not only shop but also mixture of café and art gallery. If you want to buy good quality stuff, this shop is probably one of the best in Sri Lanka. However, be reminded that good quality comes at a price. Their products ranging from home decoration, tablewears, textiles, books, spices, spa products and many more.

AYURVEDIC SPAS

The subcontinent’s traditional ayurvedic medicine morphs into a sublime spa experience at the Siddhalepa Ayurveda Spa (33 Wijerama Ma, Col 7, siddhalepa.com) or Spa Ceylon, with its scents of white tuberose, red sandalwood and jasmine (Dutch Hospital, Park Street Mews, spaceylon.com). A warning: be prepared for days of oily hair or plenty of hair washing if you’re signing in for Shirodhara, where warm oil is continually dripped onto your third eye (forehead).

GEM & JEWELLERY SHOPPING

Sri Lanka is most famous for its blue sapphires, as worn by the British royals. Slip in to premier gem dealer Colombo Jewellery Stores for a quick education and check out the well-priced men’s watches while you’re there (1 Alfred House Gardens, Col 3, also Old Dutch Hospital, Galle Face Hotel, cjs.lk). Ridhi is a good stop for affordable silver jewellery (74 Lauries Road, Col 4, ridhi.lk).

CRICKET

Go to a cricket match. “There’s no sledging here, it’s just a big party,” swear the locals. Catch the internationals at the R. Premadasa Stadium. For more slap of leather on willow, pop in for lunch and current matches or old classics on the many big screens at the Aussie-owned Cricket Club Cafe, (34 Queens Road, Col 3, thecricketclubcafeceylon.com).

 

The ancient kingdom built on a rock – Sigiriya

Sigiriya is one of the most valuable historical monuments of Sri Lanka. It is probably the most visited tourist destination of Sri Lanka.

Sigiriya rock stands 200 meters higher than the surrounding jungles. Its view astonishes the visitors with the unique harmony between the nature and human imagination. The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys and fountains.

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Since 3th century BC the rocky plateau of Sigiriya served as a monastery. In the second half of the 5th century King Kasyapa decided to construct a royal residence here. After his death Sigiriya again became a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century, when it was abandoned.

 

Sigiriya Lion’s Claws

The main entrance is located in the northern side of the rock. It was designed in the form of a huge stone lion, whose feet have survived up to today but the upper parts of the body were destroyed.

   

Sigiriya Frescoes

The western wall of Sigiriya was almost entirely covered by frescoes, created during the reign of Kasyapa. Eighteen frescoes have survived to this day. The frescoes are depicting nude females and are considered to be either the portraits of Kasyapa’s wives and concubines or priestess performing religious rituals.

 

Sigiriya Mirros Wall

One of the most striking features of Sigiriya is its Mirror wall. In the old days it was polished so thoroughly that the king could see his reflection in it. The Mirror wall is painted with inscriptions and poems written by the visitors of Sigiriya. The most ancient inscriptions are dated from the 8th century.

 

Sigiria Ancient Water Garden

The buildings and gardens of Sigiriya show that the creators of this amazing architectural monument used unique and creative technical skills and technologies. The gardens of Sigiriya are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Sigiriya has water gardens, cave and boulder gardens, and also terraced gardens. They are located in the western part of the rock and are with a complex hydraulic system, which consists of canals, locks, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains, as well as surface and underground water pumps.

 

Getting there

Sigiriya is located 175 kilometers north-east of Colombo – the capital of the island, and 10 kilometers from the highway Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Trincomale, located between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane. To get there by car you must take the track A1 or A6. The best way to get there by public transportation is to take a bus from Dambulla. There is a bus every 30 minutes starting from 7AM. The trip will take approximately 40 minutes.

A staircase of 1250 steps is leading to the highest point of Sigiriya. The way from the bottom to the top lasts approximately 2 hours. Because of the high temperatures during the day it is better to visit the place in the morning. Wear comfortable clothing, take water with you and don’t forget to bring a hat and sunscreen.

Foreigners will have to pay $30 USD. This will also grant access to the Sigiriya museum. The ancient site is open every day from 7:00AM to 5:30PM (last entrance at 5:00PM).