Sri Lanka Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Sigiriya Lion Rock Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Cūḷavaṃsa, this area was a large forest, then after storms and landslides it became a hill and was selected by King Kashyapa (AD 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure; Sīnhāgiri, the Lion Rock (an etymology similar to Sinhapura, the Sanskrit name of Singapore, the Lion City). The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.[3] Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning #tripblazers #campingglamping #sigiriya

Sigiriya Lion Rock🇱🇰

#sigiriya #srilanka

sigiriya the ancient rock fortress

The Amazing entrance is one of the best part in Rock Fortress. While climbing the rock, we can see many special ancient wall arts in Sigiriya. The garden is wonderful. We can see the ruins of the fortress on top of the rock. Go with your friends so you can enjoy the trip very well! It is better go their in Summer. #srilanka #travel #sigiriya #travel #love #nature #beauty #rock

sigiriya Rock Lion roxxx me

yeay!! im so close to this huge-mammoth-gigantic rock that i’ve been eyeing since i saw a video clip of Duran Duran. it’s just amazing to witness human imagination harmonizes with the nature (the rock was formed from magma of an extinct volcano & reaches 200m high. when King Kashyapa transfomed this rock into his palace, fortress, garden & ultimately his administrative capital during his reign (477 – 495 AD), it has becoming a magnificent legacy during his time i am still amazed when i picture themassive construction of the city on top of the rock. how do these people drag all the building materials to the top? it must be hard time and tiring. #sigiriya #lionrock #srilanka

A wonderful time in Kandy, Sri Lanka😍🥰

This is Kandy, Sri Lanka Had a lovely stay at a brand new hotel The Trees, walked all around the city and lake, visited the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth, and soaked up time at the rooftop pool. Ended the day making new friends from London at Hideout Lounge and riding in my first Tuk Tuk! Beautiful and well maintained park definitely justified the ticket price. Worth a visit account at least 2 hours, could easily bring in some food (or buy some at the park cafe) and spend a whole day. #kandy #srilanka

Journey to Sri Lanka ~ Nuwara Eliya

November 22, Kandy - Nuwara Eliya Our hotel is halfway up the mountain, about ten minutes walk down from the hotel you can reach Kandy Lake, it is said that Kandy Lake is a huge artificial lake dug from a paddy field, there are many beautiful legends about Kandy Lake, these legends add a lot of mystery to this beautiful lake. One of my favorite things to do during my trip is to stroll around in the early morning, so today's goal is to go around Kandy Lake counterclockwise, the scenery of Kandy Lake is beautiful, the lake is full of various tropical flowers and trees, crows, monkeys, lizards and other animals can be seen everywhere. The famous Temple of the Tooth is located next to Kandy Lake, Kandy Lake sets off the Temple of the Tooth, and the Temple of the Tooth embellishes Kandy Lake, the two complement each other, perfect harmony, forming the most beautiful landscape of Kandy ancient city. There are so many people on the shore of Kandy Lake in the morning, there are students with school bags, newlyweds taking wedding photos, hurried travelers and leisurely tourists like us. Today's itinerary: Kandy University, Mountain Tea Garden, Pink Post Office First stop: Kandy University Kandy University has no walls, it is completely open, even the railway passes through the middle of the campus. Walking in the campus, the ancient trees are towering, the buildings are elegant, the youthful students passing by, all give people a beautiful enjoyment. What attracts us most is a huge thousand-year-old banyan tree, with twisted roots and winding branches, it is spectacular, we took many photos around it, of course, no matter how we take photos, we can't capture its full view, we have been marveling at the magic of this tree all the way, wondering how many years it has been growing to be like this? How many meters does it root to be so strong, to support its huge trunk? Trees are really amazing. Continue to stroll around casually, like this campus like a botanical garden, sitting in an open-air theater similar to Roman style, enjoying the fun of being a student. Second stop: Nuwara Eliya Mountain Tea Garden The misty mountain tea garden DAMRO TEA, known as the first tea garden in Sri Lanka, is planted with tea on the rolling hills. The visit to the tea garden is free, the staff of the tea factory will take you to visit the tea making process and give a detailed explanation, our guide can actually speak Chinese, although the tone is a bit like singing, but the pronunciation is clear, we all understand. After visiting the factory and returning to the hall, we found a table near the window and started to slowly taste the authentic free Ceylon black tea. The perfect dessert cake to go with the black tea is chargeable, of course, the price is not expensive. Third stop: Pink Post Office The Pink Post Office, built in 1894, has a clock tower on the roof. Because the exterior wall of the building is made of red bricks, plus the white mud between the bricks, it looks pink from a distance, so it is called the Pink Post Office. Now the post office is newly painted, in addition to the function of the post office itself, it has become a popular tourist spot in Sri Lanka, a place where many tourists to Sri Lanka check in. Nuwara Eliya is a very flavorful British town, there are still many British buildings preserved here, unfortunately, it has been raining when we arrived, we did not have time to stroll around this town. Stay at Fir Hotel in the evening, a British-style hotel located near the mountain tea garden, the yard is very beautiful, like it.

Trip to Sri Lanka ~ Kandy

November 21, Sigiriya-Kandy Last night's heavy rain prevented us from going out, and we had our dinner in the hotel. We waited for about an hour before the food was served. I quite like this slow pace, it seems that we haven't slowed down to enjoy the present for a long time. Here, you can temporarily escape from the fast-paced life, slow down, see the scenery you have never seen before, and experience the local customs you have never experienced before. The next morning, after the rain, the air was particularly fresh. We strolled around the hotel and unexpectedly saw wild peacocks. Such unexpected encounters during the trip are also very happy...... Today's itinerary: The Buddha Temple, the most central landmark of Ceylon, the Tooth Relic Temple, and Kandy City First stop: The Buddha Temple, the most central landmark of Ceylon Naranda, 20 kilometers south of Dambulla, is a very interesting place because there is a Buddha temple that is known as the most central landmark of Ceylon. It was surprising that we knew this was the center point more than 1,000 years ago without aerial photography and accurate maps, even though the location is said to be slightly off. The special thing about this Buddha temple is that it is a Hindu-style building but used as a Buddhist temple. Because of its remote location, there are almost no tourists here, it is very quiet, it is equivalent to a private tour, it feels very good. The leader said that he also discovered this place by a very accidental chance. Second stop: Tooth Relic Temple The Tooth Relic Temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. It is located on the bank of Kandy Lake and was built in 1595. It is famous for enshrining the tooth relics of Sakyamuni, the national treasure of Sri Lanka. The main entrance is at the west gate, surrounded by a protective river. The temple is built on a platform about 6 meters high, divided into two floors, with complex structures, mainly including the Buddha Hall, Drum Hall, Long Hall, Chanting Hall, Treasure House, Inner Hall, etc. The most important building is the central hall, the ceiling of the hall is full of murals and gold ornaments. The Buddha's tooth is enshrined in the inner hall on the second floor, which is the core of the temple. The dark room on the left of the hall is the place to place the Buddha's tooth. There is a seven-story gold tower in the dark room, and there are seven small gold towers in the gold tower, one covering one. Of course, we only saw the pictures, the real Buddha's tooth is invisible. In fact, the temple itself is not very beautiful from the perspective of viewing, but for the locals, this is their pilgrimage site, and for tourists like me, it is one of the must-visit places. When going to the Tooth Relic Temple, you must dress decently, all those who enter the temple must take off their shoes, but you can wear socks to enter, be prepared for the hot weather, the floor tiles in the temple are very hot by the sun. Third stop: Kandy City Because it was still early, the leader asked us if we wanted to stroll around Kandy City, and we all agreed. Kandy City is not big, it is estimated that it can be finished in 1-2 hours. If you are tired, you can find a juice shop on the street, and then have a cup of super pure fresh juice, so satisfied...... Stay at Kandy hills in the evening, the hotel is located halfway up the mountain, the scenery is unique, about a ten-minute walk to Kandy Lake.

Kandy

#kandy #srilanka#Elephants here's a suggested travel itinerary for visiting Kandy, Sri Lanka: Day 1: Arrival in Kandy - Arrive in Kandy and check into your accommodation. - Explore the Kandy Lake, a picturesque man-made lake in the heart of the city. - Visit the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a UNESCO World Heritage site and a significant religious place for Buddhists. Day 2: Cultural and Historical Exploration - Head to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, located just outside Kandy, known for its diverse plant species and beautiful landscapes. - Visit the Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue, offering a panoramic view of the city. - Explore the Ceylon Tea Museum to learn about Sri Lanka's tea industry and its history. Day 3: Nature and Adventure - Visit the Udawattakele Forest Reserve, a nature reserve with various hiking trails and diverse flora and fauna. - Enjoy a scenic train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, passing through stunning landscapes. - Explore Nuwara Eliya, known for its colonial architecture and tea plantations. Day 4: Return to Kandy - Head back to Kandy from Nuwara Eliya and spend the day relaxing or revisiting any places you'd like to explore further. - In the evening, consider attending a cultural show to experience traditional dance and music performances. Day 5: Day Trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla - Take a day trip to Sigiriya, home to the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site with breathtaking views from the top. - Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, another UNESCO site, featuring stunning cave paintings and statues. Day 6: Departure - On your last day, you can do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs and local crafts. - Depart from Kandy to your next destination or back home. Please note that this is a general itinerary, and you can customize it based on your interests and the duration of your stay. Additionally, it's essential to check for any travel restrictions or changes in the local attractions' opening hours before planning your trip. Enjoy your time in Kandy and Sri Lanka!

The ancient city of Galle | The ancient world heritage of the Indian Ocean beaches Sri Lanka's world heritage is numerous, the charming and exotic city of Galle on the southwest coast is one of the typical representatives, but also the European colonists The largest existing fortress built in Asia. The rocky peninsula on the Indian Ocean coast is a natural harbour. In the 16th century, the Portuguese came here and built the Galle Fortress as a defensive fortress, which was later occupied by the Dutch army and further made it even stronger. The fortress was later colonized by the British. The majestic wreckage is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and the vicissitudes of the war dissipate in the wind. You and I are a tiny point in history. The is now a maritime museum, with dilapidated iron wall lamps, detailed city gate relief patterns, and solid circular-top wooden windows, all of which are characteristic of Dutch architecture. The old city is not big, leisurely and lazy to walk around, Galle Library, Anglican Church, Dutch Church, Court, Galle National Museum, Mira Mosque, Ude Le Bronze, lighthouses, etc., in different styles and colors, blending European architectural art with South Asian cultural traditions, strolling through, such as the old European city. Holland Hospital is one of the oldest buildings in Galle Fort. It has a 17th-century Dutch colonial style and is now the largest double store in Galle, with restaurants and handicraft shops. Gallery, spice shop, etc. I am relying on the Indian Ocean, listening to the sound of the waves in the coffee shop to the sea, very comfortable and comfortable.

I like Galle very much, not only because this small town has fewer tourists, quiet, clean, but also because it is different from other places. Many holiday islands in the Southeast Asia Pacific and even the Indian Ocean are thousands of people. It is nothing more than coconut trees, beaches, and transparent sea water. It is like a red face when you look at it. Its beautiful when you come out of a mold, but you will see it in a blink of an eye. I can't think of what it looks like. But Galle is obviously not the same. Climbing up the walls of the Dutch castle, the green waters of the emeralds are now in front of you. In the distance, there are huge reefs, and the cirrus clouds are coming up and falling back. In the bay near the lighthouse, there is a calm beach suitable for swimming.

In the morning light, I stepped into this artistic coffee bar, the white wall and the blue Mediterranean everywhere, so that everything has a different flavor. Order a Western breakfast and local specialties for a cup of Ceylon black tea to taste the authentic old castle life. This quaint little car is full of green plants, echoing the classic European architecture, so that people who pass by can not help but stop to watch. White unknown flower clusters on this white window, in this unknown alley, leaving your own leisure time. As a tourist attraction, it also concentrates on all the things that attract tourists. The black tea shop, the gem shop and the oil shop are the most famous products in Sri Lanka.

Since ancient times, the Gulf of Galle has been put into use. According to records, in 545, Galle Bay once protected the extension of the oldest commercial port in Levante. There are also commercial buildings and storage near the port. The Dutch-built houses and their polished stone walls and gates have beautified the quiet and peaceful streets of Galle, and it remains the same today. Next to the city wall is a few miles of lawns and trees. There are many locals here, and we have seen a group of energetic cricket boys. Cricket is a sport that people in Sri Lanka like very much, so it is not surprising to see it here. Then we walked inside the old city and saw a lot of art works transformed by the tug, which was very interesting. Indeed, the feeling here is the perfect combination of European and South Asian styles, one step at a time, unintentionally a glimpse of the surprise. There are many shops selling crafts and gems in the ancient city. It is not recommended to buy them. The quality of the things here is not very good, and the price is very expensive. Especially the gems, it is very unreliable. If the refrigerator is attached to such a small object, you can buy it.

A Gem in Sri Lanka - Lake Kandyan

The Kandy Lake is in the heart of the city and is considered a sacred relic of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Highlight - The lake is surrounded by lush greenery and a picturesque mountain stands tall right behind this beauty. When I visited there years back, I spent half of the day just walking and gazing at the enchanting body of water, absorbing the daily life around it. At the side of the Lake lies the Sacred Tooth Relic - it is always a busy place with foreign tourists, school children and hundreds of devotees clad in white who throng to venerate the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Make sure to visit there when passing through. #tigeryear2022 #urbanexplorer #awesomepic

🇱🇰 Serene Landscape Kandy Lake

Getting There - Getting to Kandy Lake is very easy and is of no trouble. It is located in the heart of Kandy and is walkable from anywhere in the city center! Food & Restaurants - Exploring Kandy Lake offers the opportunity to indulge in a variety of SRI LANKAN delights. There are MANY dining options to suit different tastes and budgets. I went to the Lake Viewpoint Cafe, which is close to the Arthurs Rock next to Kandy Lake! It serves nice curry, string hoppers and got myself a smoothie treat under the heat! Shopping - Since it is a touristy area, there are tourist markets and souvenir shops nearby. I got some fridge magnets and some Sri Lankan spices such as cinnamon! #kandy #srilanka

Journey to Sri Lanka ~ Nuwara Eliya

November 22, Kandy - Nuwara Eliya Our hotel is halfway up the mountain, about ten minutes walk down from the hotel you can reach Kandy Lake, it is said that Kandy Lake is a huge artificial lake dug from a paddy field, there are many beautiful legends about Kandy Lake, these legends add a lot of mystery to this beautiful lake. One of my favorite things to do during my trip is to stroll around in the early morning, so today's goal is to go around Kandy Lake counterclockwise, the scenery of Kandy Lake is beautiful, the lake is full of various tropical flowers and trees, crows, monkeys, lizards and other animals can be seen everywhere. The famous Temple of the Tooth is located next to Kandy Lake, Kandy Lake sets off the Temple of the Tooth, and the Temple of the Tooth embellishes Kandy Lake, the two complement each other, perfect harmony, forming the most beautiful landscape of Kandy ancient city. There are so many people on the shore of Kandy Lake in the morning, there are students with school bags, newlyweds taking wedding photos, hurried travelers and leisurely tourists like us. Today's itinerary: Kandy University, Mountain Tea Garden, Pink Post Office First stop: Kandy University Kandy University has no walls, it is completely open, even the railway passes through the middle of the campus. Walking in the campus, the ancient trees are towering, the buildings are elegant, the youthful students passing by, all give people a beautiful enjoyment. What attracts us most is a huge thousand-year-old banyan tree, with twisted roots and winding branches, it is spectacular, we took many photos around it, of course, no matter how we take photos, we can't capture its full view, we have been marveling at the magic of this tree all the way, wondering how many years it has been growing to be like this? How many meters does it root to be so strong, to support its huge trunk? Trees are really amazing. Continue to stroll around casually, like this campus like a botanical garden, sitting in an open-air theater similar to Roman style, enjoying the fun of being a student. Second stop: Nuwara Eliya Mountain Tea Garden The misty mountain tea garden DAMRO TEA, known as the first tea garden in Sri Lanka, is planted with tea on the rolling hills. The visit to the tea garden is free, the staff of the tea factory will take you to visit the tea making process and give a detailed explanation, our guide can actually speak Chinese, although the tone is a bit like singing, but the pronunciation is clear, we all understand. After visiting the factory and returning to the hall, we found a table near the window and started to slowly taste the authentic free Ceylon black tea. The perfect dessert cake to go with the black tea is chargeable, of course, the price is not expensive. Third stop: Pink Post Office The Pink Post Office, built in 1894, has a clock tower on the roof. Because the exterior wall of the building is made of red bricks, plus the white mud between the bricks, it looks pink from a distance, so it is called the Pink Post Office. Now the post office is newly painted, in addition to the function of the post office itself, it has become a popular tourist spot in Sri Lanka, a place where many tourists to Sri Lanka check in. Nuwara Eliya is a very flavorful British town, there are still many British buildings preserved here, unfortunately, it has been raining when we arrived, we did not have time to stroll around this town. Stay at Fir Hotel in the evening, a British-style hotel located near the mountain tea garden, the yard is very beautiful, like it.

Parade of the tooth relic

The Kandy Esala Perahera (the Sri Dalada Perahara procession of Kandy) also known as The Festival of the Tooth is a festival held in July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, the palace of the last kingdom of Sri Lanka. The tooth relic is given the highest status above the King himself. In ancient times, the one who held the Tooth relic held the power to reign the country. Following the traditions, the three royal tuskers escort the relic through the roads of Kandy and then back to the chambers in the palace. #kandyperahera #toothrelic #srilanka ​

Old Nice Bridge

Nine Arch Bridge was built by the British in 1912, with its nine stunning arches. It is located between Ella & Demodara station. Trains pass the bridge about 6 times a day. The exact times change all the time in Sri Lanka but there should be one every hour. unfortunately when we arrived here, it was quite late in the evening and it was starting to rain heavily that we didnt get to wait for the train.

Nine Arches Bridge

With around 15 minute walk through the forest located just a 5-10 minute from the Main Street of Ella, Nine Arch Bridge is a must visit! Simply beautiful architecture, Nine Arch Bridge was built by the British with its nine stunning arches. It is located between Ella & Demodara station. Trains pass the bridge about 6 times a day. The exact times change all the time in Sri Lanka but there should be one every hour. unfortunately when we arrived here, it was quite late in the evening and it was starting to rain heavily that we didnt get to wait for the train. we took the tuk tuk on the way back because we will get all soaked with the heavy rain. #scenictrain #ninearches

nine arches bridge Ella#welcome to visit Sri Lanka#most senic train 🚆 ride#travelinspiration #travelsnacks #travelcompanion#travelblockbuster#travelstories#holidayhotel#holidayvacation#trip#naturalwonders#photo #photographyguide#photooftheday #

The 9 Arch bridge deep in the tropical jungles of Sri Lanka. I waited for aboiut an hour for this blue train to come over the bridge! Definitely worth the wait.