Essential Sri Lanka

About the destination: Colombo, located on the banks of the Kelani River and spread along the coast looking out onto the Indian Ocean, is the largest city and the financial and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is considered the country’s capital, but the administrative capital is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, a suburb east of Colombo. The streets of Galle Fort have a lot to show for the city’s colonial heritage, Portuguese, British and Dutch left their mark here. To learn more about the Dutch-era in Colombo, visit The Dutch Period Museum. The city offers a fascinating blend of cultures and religions, around the city you’ll find mosques, churches and temples. The Gangaramaya Temple is the best-known Buddhist place of worship in Colombo. It includes a museum that houses a huge collection of Buddhist relics from around the world. The Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam Kovil Hindu temple is a colorful and embellished temple worth a visit. The Wolvendaal Church, a church built by the Dutch settlers, is an impressive building and a must-see of Colombo. Colombo is often overlooked by tourists who come to the country to hit the beach, but the city is the most happening place in the country and offers high-end shopping, a lively nightlife, tasty restaurants and interesting historical sights.

About the destination: Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka, located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka.The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988

About the destination: Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an archaeological site located in Matale district, Central Province, Sri Lanka. It contains the ruins of an ancient palatial complex, built during the reign of King Kasyapa. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country

About the destination: Located in central Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa is a village that forms one of the angles of the island's so-called Cultural Triangle thanks to the presence of the ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. A fascinating set of ruins and Buddhist sites encompassed in an area of up to 8 kilometers to be explored on foot or especially by bike. Established by the Chola dynasty in the 10th century and considered the second oldest city in Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa treasures different sections that we could divide into five different groups, highlighting some obligated ones that can not be missed on any visit: gal Vihara Temple, with its laving Buddhas sculpted in granite among which stands out the statue of Buddha lying down; the former Imperial Palace Weijantha Prasada; or the amazing Kiri Vihara stupa. All this, wrapped in a speckled tropics of monkeys and lotus lakes next to which a pilgrim leans meditatively in the early hours of the morning.

About the destination: Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. Is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is known for its temperate, cool climate – the coolest area in Sri Lanka. The town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. The city is a base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. The plains have a well-visited tourist attraction at World's End — a sheer precipice with a 1050 m drop. 'Lovers Leap' is a spectacular waterfall set among tea plantation a short walk from the town of Nuwara Eliya. It falls a height of 30m in a long cascading sheet of water.

About the destination: Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as, Ruhuna National Park and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu 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. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.

About the destination: Mirissa is a small village on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara district of the Southern Province. It is approximately 150 kilometers south of Colombo and is located at a height of 4 meters above sea level.

About the destination: Galle is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the southwestern tip, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the administrative capital of Southern Province, Sri Lanka and is the district capital of Galle District. Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (although Ibn Batuta in the 14th century refers to it as Qali) before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, during the Dutch colonial period. Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by the Portuguese in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. The city was extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.