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THINGS
TO
DO
I
WHAT
TO
SEE
I
WHERE
TO
GO |
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Anuradhapura
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Urban
Culture
Distance
from
Colombo
206km
Sri
Lanka's
first
capital
is
situated
in
the
dry
zone.
It
is
one
of
Sri
Lanka's
premier
ancient
cities.
Attractions:
The
sacred
Bo
Tree,
temples,
Brazen
Place,
Samadhi
Buddha,
Kuttam
Pokuna,
an
Mihintale
(12
kilometers
from
Anuradhapura)
- a
rock
dotted
with
shrines
and
dwellings
- a
grand
stairway
of
1,840
steps
made
of
granite
slabs
that
leads
to a
summit
with
a
splendid
view
of
the
countryside. |
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Batticaloa
Distance
from
Colombo
303km
Batticaloa
is
surrounded
by a
large
lagoon,
home
of
the
famous
‘singing
fish’.
Certainly
in
the
months
of
April
and
September
on
moonlit
nights,
you
can
hear
a
musical
vibration
emanating
from
the
waters.
Batti
is a
quiet
little
place,
with
a
small
but
well-preserved
Dutch
fort. |
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Colombo
Distance
from
Colombo
International
Airport
31km
Colombo
is a
fascinating
city,
not
only
for
its
comfortable
blend
of
East
and
West,
but
also
for
its
cosy
mixture
of
past
and
present.
It
is
the
commercial
capital
of
the
country.
Attractions:
Buddhist
temples,
Hindu
temples,
churches
the
old
parliament
building,
the
zoo,
museums,
and
art
galleries.
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Dambulla
Distance
from
Colombo
148km
Like
Sigiriya,
Dambulla
is a
vast
isolated
rock
mass,
which
houses
a
rock
temple
(formerly
caves).
Some
of
its
frescoes
are
over
2,000
years
old
–
and
there
is a
colossal
figure
of
the
recumbent
Buddha
carved
out
of
the
rock,
measuring
14
metres
in
length.
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Galle
Distance
from
Colombo
116km
In
this
coastal
town,
the
Dutch
presence
is
still
visible.
Galle
was
an
ancient
port
(said
to
be
the
legendary
Tarshish
of
the
Bible),
and
our
first
international
commerce
and
trade
centre.
Today,
Galle
is
the
bustling
provincial
capital
and
administrative
centre
of
the
south.
It
is
famous
for
its
lovely
Unawatuna
Bay,
where
the
sea
is
protected
by
the
reef,
therefore
safe
for
swimming.
The
old
Dutch
‘Star’
fort
(a
World
Heritages
Site)
covering
36
hectares,
the
well-preserved
Groote
Kerk
(Dutch
Church),
Dutch
Government
House,
the
New
Oriental
Hotel
(built
in
1684)
old
bell
tower
and
a
tide-based
Sewage-System,
also
introduced
by
the
Dutch.
In
Gale
they
still
make
the
Dutch
‘pillo-lace’
and
do
fine
ebony-carving
and
gem-polishing. |
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Hambantota
Distance
from
Colombo
237km
Hambantota,
in
Sri
Lanka'
dry
zone,
is
best-known
for
its
beautiful
Crescent-shaped
bay
and
its
slat
pans,a
very
ancient
industry,
that
is
still
thriving.
The
slat
pans
line
the
main
road
for
over
16km.
Wikipedia...
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Hikkaduwa
Distance
from
Colombo
99km
The
first
area
to
be
developed
for
tourism,
this
is
still
one
of
the
most
popular
of
our
beach
resorts.
Hikkaduwa
is
famous
for
its
coral
and
sub
tropical
fish.
The
reef,
which
runs
parallel
to
the
shore
and
is
only
a
few
metres
below
the
water,
can
be
explored
with
snorkel
and
fippers,
or
in a
glass-bottomed
boat.
There
are
several
wrecks
in
the
area
which
offer
interesting
dives.
Scuba
equipment
and
the
services
of
licensed
instructions
are
on
hire
from
PADI
centers.
A
little
further
down
the
coast,
there’s
good
surf,
for
board
or
body-surfing.
There
is a
general
community
of
international
surfers
in
and
around
Hikkaduwa. |
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Jaffna
Distance
from
Colombo
396km
The
peninsula
is
practically
an
island,
connected
to
the
rest
of
Sri
Lanka
by a
narrow
spit
of
land
which
houses
the
Chundikkulam
bird
sanctuary
and
a
causeway
known
as
Elephant
Pass
because
elephants
would
once
cross
the
shallow
lagoon
at
this
point.
Topographically
quaint
unlike
the
rest
of
lush
Sri
Lanka,
only
hard
work
and
aggressive
irrigation
will
coax
a
living
out
of
this
inhospitable
northern
soil.
Jaffna
is
justly
famous
for
the
deliciousness
of
its
mangoes
and
toddy
from
the
palmyrah
palm.
There
are
plenty
of
beaches
but
no
resorts.
The
Dutch
‘star’
fort
in
Jaffna
is
said
to
be
Asia’s
best
example
of
Dutch
fortification.
Inside
it
are
the
King’s
House
and
the
Dutch
Church.
Since
Jaffna’s
population
is
predominantly
Tamil,
there
are
also
many
Hindu
Kovils. |
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Kalutara
Distance
from
Colombo
42km
More
or
less
synonymous
with
rush
and
reed
ware,
(try
to
visit
the
permanent
exhibition
in
the
town’s
Basket
Hall),
Kalutara
was
also
a
famous
spice-centre
in
the
16th
to
18th
centuries.
There
are
fine
beaches
safe
for
swimming
.
Immediately
south
of
the
Kalu
Ganga
Bridge
on
the
main
road
is
the
Gangatil
Vihara,
which
has
a
hollow
dagoba
(Buddhist
shrine)
with
an
interesting
painted
interior.
By
the
roadside
there’s
a
small
shrine
and
the
bodhi
tree
where
drivers
often
stop
to
make
offerings
to
ensure
a
safe
journey
to
Wadduwa
,8km
north
of
Kalutara. |
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Kandy
Distance
from
Colombo
116km
Sri
Lanka’s
hill
capital
is,
perhaps,
its
most
beautiful
town.
It
is
488
metres
above
sea
level,
and
next
to
Colombo,Kandy
is
Sri
Lanka’s
most
visited
place.
The
focal
point
of
the
town
is
the
golden-roofed
Dalada
Maligawa,
where
the
sacred
tooth
relic
of
the
Buddha
is
enshrined.
The
highlight
of
the
year
is
the
Esala
Perahera,
when
a
replica
of
the
relic
casket
is
taken
in
procession,
accompanied
by
exotically
costumed
dancers,
drummers
and
some
100
elephants
,on
ten
glittering
nights
in
July/August.
There
are
numerous
shrines
and
temples
in
and
around
Kandy,
where
you
will
see
rare
paintings,
frescoes,
and
stone
carvings.
Don’t
miss
the
Paradeniya
Gardens,
with
an
amazing
variety
of
trees,
plants
and
flowers.
Kandy
is
an
exciting
place
for
shopping,
with
souvenirs
in
wood,
copper,
silver,
brass,
ebony,
and
bronze.
Ceramics,
lacquer
work,
handlooms,
batiks,
jewellery
and
rush
and
reed-ware
can
also
be
purchased. |
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Kotte
Distance
from
Colombo
Kotte,
renamed
as
Sri
Jayawardenapura
–
Kotte
is
located
11km
from
Fort.
Here,
SriLanka’s
new
parliamentary
complex
and
administrative
capital
was
developed.
It
is
surrounded
by a
Lake
'
Diyawanna
Oya'.
Kotte
was
a
grandiose
kingdom
during
the
arrival
of
the
Portuguese. |
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Kurunegala
Distance
from
Colombo
93km
Now
a
thriving
regional
centre
and
the
National
Capital
for
a
brief
period
centuries
ago.
Kurunegala
also
lies
within
the
best
coconut
growing
area
a.k.a
the
Coconut
Triangle.
It
is
famous
for
the
range
of
mountains
(rocks)
–
Ethugala
or
the
Elephant
Rock,
Ibbagala
or
Tortise
rock
jumbled
with
ruins
of
carved
stairs
and
doorjambs
,
Andagala
or
Eel
rock
,
Kuruminigala
or
Beatle
rock
,
Wanduragala
or
Monkey
rock
and
Elluwagala
or
Goat
rock. |
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Mannar
Distance
from
Colombo
312km
The
arid
district
of
Mannar,
dotted
with
an
umbrella
of
thorn
and
baobab
trees,
lies
in
the
northwest
of
the
country.
Mannar
Island
is
SriLanka’s
largest,
covering
130
sq
kms
and
has
one
of
the
oldest
ports
in
the
country.
The
island
is
connected
to
the
main
land
by a
3 km
long
causeway.
Mannar
has
a
well
preserved
fort
originally
built
by
the
Portuguese
in
1560
and
later
improved
by
the
Dutch.
An
important
religious
center
“Tirukketishvaram
Hindu
Temple“
lies
on
the
coast
of
the
mainland,
north
of
the
causeway
to
Mannar
Island.
Sight
seeing
includes
–
for
the
naturalists
the
baobab
trees,
introduced
from
Africa
centuries
ago
by
Arab
traders
are
especially
impressive.
The
Madhu
Sanctuary,
which
is
situated
40
km
west
of
the
town
of
Vavuniya
to
the
north
of
the
main
road
to
Mannar
,
plays
a
major
role
for
wild
life
lovers
/
naturalists.
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Matara
Distance
from
Colombo
160km
160
km
from
Colombo
and
is
the
end
of
southern
railway
line.There
is
long
stretch
of
beach
for
holiday
makers.
Matara
also
has
two
excellent
Dutch
forts,
the
larger
one
contains
much
of
old
Matara
including
the
excellent
rest
house
which
is
said
to
be
built
on
the
site
where
captured
elephants
were
corralled.
The
other
fort,
the
small
1763
Star
Fort,
is
now
used
as a
library
and
has
an
attractive
and
unusual
gateway.
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Negombo
Distance
from
Colombo
37km
A
characteristic
fishing
town
6 km
from
the
International
Airport,
Negambo
has
a
fascinating
and
picturesque
beachfront.
The
town
has
several
buildings
dating
back
to
the
Dutch
and
Portuguese
Colonial
days.
The
lagoon
is
famous
for
its
harvest
of
lobsters
,
crabs
and
prawns
and
fish
auctions
on
the
beach
that
are
worth
a
look. |
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Nuwara
Eliya
Distance
from
Colombo
180km
Set
in
the
heart
of
tea-country,
this
beautiful
town
is
where
the
British
succeeded
in
creating
an
English
countryside,
with
homes
in
styles
from
Georgian
to
Queen
Anne.
Well-kept
lawns
with
hedges,
an
Anglican
church,a
famous
golf
course
and
beautiful
parks
give
the
place
an
air
of
nostalgia.
Situated
1,890
meters
above
sea
level,
the
air
is
cool
and
fresh
– a
serene
retreat
from
the
hustle
and
bustle
of
Colombo.
Close
to
Nuwara
Eliya
is
Horton
Plains,
Sri
Lanka’s
highest
and
most
isolated
plateau.
Nature
lovers
will
revel
in
this
wide,
patna-grass
covered
plain,
the
haunt
of
many
wild,
yet
harmless,
animals
and
the
home
of
many
species
of
birds.
Bridle
paths
will
take
you
to
the
precipice
known
as
World’s
End
– a
sheer
drop
of
1,050
meters.
Acres
and
acres
of
tea
with
its
lush
green
foliage
extend
miles
across
the
hills,
and
no
visit
to
the
hill
country
is
complete
without
a
visit
to a
tea
estate,
and
the
chance
to
purchase
some
of
the
world’s
finest
flavoured
tea. |
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Polonnaruwa
Distance
from
Colombo
216km
The
island’s
medieval
capital
rose
to
fame
after
Anuradhapura’s
decline.
The
largest
of
its
many
reservoirs,
the
Parakrama
Samudra,
is
larger
than
the
Colombo
harbour.
Attractions:
Remains
of
the
King’s
council
chamber,
the
Royal
Citadel,
the
Kumara
Pokuna,
the
Royal
Pavilion,
the
Vatadage
Relic
House
(which
is
lavished
with
moonstones,
guard
stones,
and
a
sculptured
railing),
Kiri
Vehera,
and
Gal
Vihare. |
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Ratnapura
Distance
from
Colombo
101km
Sri
Lanka’s
City
of
Gems’
and
the
centre
of
its
gemming
industry.
Gems
include
sapphire,
ruby,
cat’s
eye,
alexandrite,
topaz,
amethyst,
aquamarine,
tourmaline,
garnet
and
zircon.
Visits
to
gem
mines
can
be
arranged
through
travel
agents.
Gem
collections
can
be
seen
at
the
National
Museum,
Ratnapura,
and
a
number
of
private
museums. |
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Sigiriya
Distance
from
Colombo
169km
This
rock
fortress
was
a
royal
citadel
for
more
than
18
years.
In a
sheltered
pocket,
approached
by a
spiral
stairway,
are
the
famous
frescoes.
The
summit
of
the
rock,
with
an
area
of
nearly
one
hectare,
was
the
site
of
the
old
palace
–
the
outer
wall
of
which
was
built
on
the
very
brink
of
the
precipice.
The
UNESCO-sponsored
Central
Cultural
Fund
has
restored
Sigiriya’s
5th
century
Water
Gardens
to
its
former
glory.
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Trincomalee
Distance
from
Colombo
206km
The
best
known
town
on
the
east
coast
of
Sri
Lanka
is
Trincomalee.
Sunny
weather
throughout
the
year;
mile
after
mile
of
broad,
white,
sandy
beaches,
sheltered
bays
and
a
warm
and
calm
sea
are
the
features
that
draw
sun
and
sea-lovers
to
Sri
Lanka’s
eastern
seaboard’s
main
city.
From
time
immemorial,
Trincomalee’s
main
attraction,
however,
is a
large,
safe
and
one
of
the
best
natural
harbours
of
the
world. |
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