The island nation of Sri Lanka, known for its breathtaking golden sandy beaches, green hill country, and amazing wildlife, has an enchanting beauty just waiting to be discovered. SriLanka has an incredible treasure of historic caves beyond its well-known wonders. You’ll be amazed by the mystery and majesty of these hidden caves as they are that much fascinating and exciting to see. They offer an image that inspires your inner explorer while revealing Sri Lanka’s extensive history and stunning natural beauty.
Dambulla Cave Temple
The Dambulla Cave Temple also known as the Golden Temples of Dambulla is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cave showcases the country’s rich historical achievements and it is a well-preserved cave complex in Sri Lanka. You’ll find an incredible collection of 153 Buddha statues, along with three statues of Sri Lankan kings and queens. This is undoubtedly a “must visit site in SriLanka.
Aluvihara Cave Temple
The Aluvihara Cave Temple is a relatively new and the statues and paintings are very well preserved. The books related to the Buddhist preaching have been copied to Ola leaf books here and now there is a library which is home for the collection of unique books written on palm leaves.
Pahiyangala Cave
Pahiyangala Cave is the largest natural rock cave in Sri Lanka and its history runs back to thousands of years. The cave is a fascinating attraction for many tourists and nature lovers. This cave has been home for the old stone aged people who lived during pre-historic times. For those who are interested in culture and archaeology, this cave provides an exciting insight into Sri Lanka’s ancient past.
Ravana Cave
The Ravana Cave is significant historically as the location where the legendary King Ravana hid Princess Sita after abducting her from her husband, Rama, in India. The cave currently serves as an amazing example of King Ravana’s construction ability because it is said that he connected it to a network of tunnels that connected to key locations throughout his vast kingdom. This location, which is just 2 kilometers from Ella, provides a fascinating look into the culture and history..
Waulpane Cave
Waulpane Cave is an interesting underground location where you can see ancient rock drawings painted by people who lived long ago. The cave is dark and mysterious, but it’s a great adventure for explorers and history lovers. The cave walls have vivid paintings that depict historical narratives.
“VISIT SRI LANKA TO EXPLORE NATURE’S HIDDEN TREASURES”
Sri Lanka is a diversified country as far as religions and ethnicities are concerned. Four major religions are practiced by the numerous distinct ethnic groups that make up the population of Sri Lanka.
The country has its unique architecture that enhances the nation’s rich culture. Take a spiritual journey to Sri Lanka to immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Sri Lanka and to visit the religious sites and the most important temples in the world. This blog will take you through some of the most breathtaking places that represent worship and Religious significance that you must visit while in Sri Lanka.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic, commonly known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is situated in the well-known city of Kandy. The temple houses a relic of the tooth of Buddha, which is home to the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Every year, thousands of worshippers from all over the world come to Sri Dalada Maligawa and pay their respects and receive blessings. The best time to visit the Temple is during the ceremony, where the temple comes alive with the drumming and its rituals.
Sri Dalada Maligawa is one of the most fascinating tourist sites in Sri Lanka. The mesmerizing Esala Perahara is a charming traditional procession that goes on for ten days exhibiting the ancient glory of the Country. This procession falls between July and August every year.
Gangaramaya Temple – Colombo
Gangaramaya Temple is situated in the heart of Colombo and incorporates Sri Lankan, Indian, Thai, and Chinese architectural influences. Seema Malaka known as the meditation hall is part of the Gangaramaya temple, located in Beira Lake. This temple is a great place to visit, if you do not have the time to visit the cultural triangle, as you can get the feel of our ancient temples. A significant collection of antiques from various temples can also be seen.
Adam’s Peak
Adam’s Peak is also known as Sri Pada, in the central province of Sri Lanka. Most Buddhists make an attempt to visit this temple every year as they believe a spectacular indentation at the top resembles the footprint of Lord Buddha. This majestic mountain is at its best during Sunrise and the climb through the night to see the Sunrise along the lit-up stairs is an amazing experience. The Pilgrim season falls between the full moon days of December and May.
Anuradhapura
This is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka that was flourishing between the 5th Century BC and the 10th Century AD. The oldest tree in the World with a recorded history[ Srimaha Bodhi], The massive Reilc Temples standing up to over 500 feet[ Sthupa], The twin pods, The Samadhi Buddha, the preserved Moonstone are some of the highlights of this ancient Capital. If you are in to Archeology, you can easily spend a couple of days here.
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa was the medieval Capital of Sri Lanka from the 10th to the 12th Century AD which was the golden era of ours. The ruins here are well preserved and are in good shape as these are a lot younger than the first Capital Anurathepura. Polonnaruwa is the most visited ancient city as it is easier to visit the monuments in a short time because they are located closer to each other. Some of the stone work here is mind blowing and the fine details on the statues are beyond imagination. The best temple here is the Rock temple called Gal Viharaya where there are four statues of Buddha chiseled out of a single piece of rock.
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is one of the most famous and significant Kovils in Sri Lanka, located around 3 kilometers from Jaffna town which the Capital of the Northern Province. . The grand arches and vivid colors are the most captivating architecture of this Kovil. Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god of war, love, and beauty. The Kovil gives both religious and social perspectives to its’ Hindu devotees who come to pray and get the blessings.
Thirukoneswaram Kovil
The Thirukoneswaram Kovil is a traditional and ancient Hindu Kovil complex situated in Trincomalee in the North- East. The Kovil is one of Sri Lanka’s most significant Hindu temples and it is devoted to Lord Shiva. The Kovil is located on top of Swami Rock and the stunning views of the Bay of Bengal from the Kovil may amaze you.
Many Hindu pilgrims come to Thirukoneswaram Kovil during the year to have their blessings while enjoying the breathtaking views and nature of this sacred location.
National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Ragama
The National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka is a very popular religious destination for Roman Catholics and is situated on the outskirts of Colombo. The church houses the statue of Our Lady of Lanka, making it one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for Sri Lankan Catholics. The church is built within a large and majestic structure with a lovely interior with the windows with stained glass and beautiful carvings. The statue of Our Lady of Lanka is placed in a unique shrine in the church, and many pilgrims looking for blessings and healing come to this church as there is a belief that the church owes miraculous powers.
The British first introduced Coffee to Srilanka and turned the nation into one of the world’s top producers of coffee. But due to a fungus disease, Coffee production in Sri Lanka started to dip and the British very quickly swathed on to Tea in 1865. The key figure in making this move was James Tailor who had extensive knowledge about flora in this part of the World. Even today Srilanka is one of the major Tea exporters in the World and Srilanka produces some of the best Tea in the World
Visits the Iconic Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka
When you get to the hills of Srilanka, you get to see thousands of acres of Tea that looks like a green carpet over the hills. There is a popular trail called Peako trails through the Tea plantations, which covers a distance of 300 KM in 22 stages which is the longest walking trail in Sri Lanka. If you are not into trekking, there are a lot of shorter walks to get the feel of the Tea plantations.
Nuwara Eliya or Little England is home to the best Srilankan tea that grows above 5000 feet from sea level. There are several Tea factories you could visit to see the journey from leaf to cup. You will not realize, how much hard work goes into your cup of tea until you see it. You can learn about the different types of tea such as BOPF[ Broken orange Peako finings], POB [Broken orange Peako] OP [ Orange Peako] FP [Flowery Peako], and white Tea. The Damro Tea factory is the most popular spot among visitors as they do a very clear demonstration and offer you different types of tea to try.
Ella- This is the border between the Hill Country and the mid-country. The tea grown around Ella is a bit on the stronger side and most of his Tea is exported to the Far- East.
The Halpewattha Tea Factory– is the best place to visit around Ella.
The low country tea – We grow tea in the low country as well, but this is not that known in your part of the World as you need to drink this tea with milk and sugar as it is very strong our main market is in the middle and Far East. The best area to explore low-country tea is around Deniyaya, closer to the Singharaja rain forest.
Indulge in Different Types of Ceylon Tea
Green Tea – Green tea is made from freshly processed tea leaves. They are not going through an oxidation process. Most of the time, the flavors of green tea can be changed from region to region and may frequently give distinct tastes.
Black Tea – Black tea is the most popular tea in the world going through a process of heating the leaves for several hours after being plucked. The outcome is a strong and delightful tea and the majority of tea lovers are more interested in black tea.
Purer Tea – This tea is slightly wet and stored underground to obtain a fantastic flavor with a strong taste. The amazing thing about Pu-erh tea is that it tastes similar to wine and gets even better as it gets older. In addition to these teas, you can also experiment with the exquisite flavors of White Tea and Oolong Tea, as well as a variety of other alluring types of tea.
“Come to Sri Lanka to Taste a Cup Full of Tea Bliss”
Sri Lanka is a country with many festivals. Most of them are Buddhist festivals where the Srilankan traditions are well exposed. Hindu, Muslim and Christian festivals too are celebrated in Srilanka, showcasing the ethnic unity and the harmony of the people. All the festivals are public Holidays in Sri Lanka and this allows the people to celebrate these festivals in style. Srilanka has over 30 public Holidays and most of them are to, celebrate the Festivals. Out of the many festivals we have, we have picked the top five and listed them below.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations
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This is by far the most popular festival celebrated in Sri Lanka. The traditional Srilankan New Year arrives on the 14th of April at the given auspicious time by the Astrologist which varies every year. All the traditional food and sweets made over the New Year is a key feature in the celebrations. Every one join in the traditional Srilankan games making it a fun event. This is the family time for Srilankans and most families get together leaving big cities like Colombo deserted. The instrumental factor of the celebrations is the pre-determined auspicious times for activities such as the first meal, first bath, first day to work or school etc of the New Year prolonging the celebrations for about a week.
Vesak Poya
This is called the festival of light or the festival of enlightenment. This falls on the full moon day of the month of May to commemorate the Birth, Enlightenment and passing away of Buddha. The whole Country will be illuminated with colourful pandalls and lanterns. People travel around for days sightseeing enjoying the so much varied art work. The temples get very busy with people dressed in white offering flowers and lighting oil lamps.
Vel Festival
This is a Hindu festival that is held in July /August. The event exhibits Hinduism’s rich cultural and religious legacy. The celebrations mainly take place in Colombo where pilgrims gather for the procession. You hear the sound of drums from a distance, smell the burning incense, chants, and colourful dances in their vibrant costumes parading the streets of Colombo. The celebrations honour the defeat of bad forces and evil . The Vel festival is dedicated to God Skandha, The God of victory.
Kandy Esala Perahera
This is by far the most popular event for Tourists. This procession is claimed to be the largest unpaid procession in Asia. There are colourful dances , over 50 Elephants , Drummers and temple officials walking in the procession that will fill the streets of Kandy in the central hills of Srilanka. There are self-mortification activities such as walking of fire, hanging on hooks etc. This festival is held to pay homage to the Tooth relic of Buddha that starts ten days before the full moon day of August and finishes on the full moon day.
Maha Shivarathri
This festival is been held to celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to Parvati and is an important for Hindus. . This festival takes place in March and there are many traditions that are followed by the devotees during the festival People come to temples in bright and vibrant dress for the event. This festival is mainly focused on the spiritual attributes. Above are a few of many festivals SriLankans celebrate. Within your holiday of two weeks, there is every chance that you could experience a festival as we have that many.
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Sri Lanka is well known for its cultural heritage. The most popular region among tourists is the cultural triangle. Within two days you can visit the most popular cultural sites in Sri Lanka. Having a long written history that dates back to the 3rd Century BC has been instrumental in developing the Tourism industry in SriLanka
Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World heritage sites. Having this many sites, in a small country is great. The most visited ancient city is Polonnaruwa, The Rock fortress of Sigiriya is claimed to be the 8th Wander of the World. Anuradhapura is the most impressive ancient city with massive relic Temples. Dambulla is the largest painted cave temple in the World. Kandy was the last indigenous Capital of the Country and it still remains the cultural hub.
The sacred city of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura the longest-lived Capital in the World from the 5th Century BC till the 10th Century AD is known for its impressive relic temples. The tallest temple at Anuradhapura was the third tallest monument in the World at that time.The sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest tree in the World with a recorded history that dates back to the 3rd Century BC.Ruwanweliseya is the best-preserved relic temple in the country with a white Cristal on the top of the pinnacle that reflects the sunlight onto the devotees. The Samadhi Buddha statue, The twin ponds, Brazen Palace & Isurumuniya are the other highlights in Anurathepura
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa
The medieval Capital of SriLanka was flourishing from the 10th to the 12th Century AD. The monuments here are in better shape and well preserved as they are younger than the ruins in Anuradhapura. Most of the monuments are close to each other which makes it easier to explore. The ancient city is close to the largest ancient man-made reservoir called Parakrama Samudraya. The highlight of Polonnaruwa is the Rock temple or Gal Viharaya. There are four statues of Buddha carved out of a single piece of granite rock.
The golden temple of Dambulla
The Golden Rock temple was built in the 1st Century BC by a King who was driven away by the South Indians from the ancient Capital. The King lived in these caves for nearly two decades. He converted all five caves into temples. The paintings on the walls and the sealing are amazing. Natural colors have been used to paint the caves
The ancient city of Sigiriya
The Rock fortress of Sigiriya was the Capital of Srilanka in the 5th Century BC for nearly two decades. The 600 feet rock was converted into a fortress with moats with Crocodiles & sinking mud, Stone catapults, and many other obstructers. The views from the top are breathtaking and you get to see the outer rim of the once active volcano. Sigiriya was the inner core of the volcano. This is easily the most visited ancient monument in Srilanka and is a highlight for most people.
The sacred city of Kandy
The most visited city by Tourists is the cultural center of Sri Lanka. The lake in the heart of the city makes Kandy unique. The highlight of Kandy is the Temple of the tooth where the Tooth Relic of Buddha is housed. This is a very active temple with hundreds of pilgrims visiting it daily. The best time to visit the temple is during the ceremony. Another highlight in Kandy is the Royal Botanical Garden which is in an area of 67 hectares.
The Dutch fort in Galle
The Dutch are one of the few living World heritage sites. The fort was first built by the Portuguese. But later on, the Dutch re-furbished and expanded it. You can walk all the way around the fort seeing the highlights such as the Dutch church, National Museum, Dutch Hospital complex, lighthouse, flag rock, and the clock tower
Pack your bags and come on board to the miracle of Asia for a memorable family holiday
Kandy was the last indigenous capital, the second-largest city and the most visited city by Tourists of the island. It is a three-hour drive from the Airport to Kandy. The ancient Hill Capital has so much to offer to the Tourists. It`s old Colonial Buildings that are well blended with the modern City showcases the ancient glory and the most noticeable is, the Queens The hotel is in the Heart of the City. Kandy is up in the Central hills with amazing views and is a couple of Degrees cooler than Colombo and the Low Country. The Highlight in Kandy is the Temple of the Tooth which houses a Tooth of Buddha. This active Temple is at its best during the ceremony which happens three times a day. The best time to visit the Temple is 9.30 am, as you get to see the colorful Ceremony with Monks and Drummers.
During the time of the Ceremony, you get to see the Casket of the Tooth, The Buddha Statue carved out of a Cristal, The Library with old Palm Books, etc
The Kandy Market is a place that`s not been missed by Tourists. The verity of Fruits is a highlight to the Tourists as they get to try some of the Fruits that they have never tasted before. The vegetable market is so colorful and vibrant with so many different types of Vegetables that have brought over from all four corners of the Country. Walking around the Kandy Lake, Visiting a Hindu Temple, Trek in Udawattha Kelee Nature reserve, Visiting the Garrison War Cemetery and Visiting the Botanical Garden are popular activities in Kandy.
The Botanical Garden is a place where you can easily spend a day with peace and Quiet. The Highlights are the Orchid House, Royal Palm avenue, and the Ficus Benjameena tree. The less-visited hidden Gem in Kandy is the Hantana Mountain range that offers amazing views of the area.
