Destinations – Page 2 – Astral Travel Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya

December 8, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

In the heart of tea country and has a quirky unique charm once colonized by the British Nuwara Eliya has maintained its colonial charm, and is better known as Sri Lanka’s ‘little England. Colourful flowers spring out of neatly trimmed flowerbeds and a wonderful range of fresh fruit and vegetables are on offer

Things to see and do:

Go for a round of golf at Sri Lankas most celebrated golf course The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.

Relive the colonial times at the Horse Races on the Nuwara Eliya race course

Explore Gregory’s lake for a boat ride or Jet skis

image_130697152_htl_gal21Golf Nuwaraeliya

Negombo

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Negombo

Close to the airport with a wide range of hotels for all budgets Negombo offers the perfect gateway beach resort to start or finish your trip in Sri Lanka. Along the coastline traditional catamaran boats make for an amazing sight and still traditional fishing methods can be seen in the Lagoon. There many Catholic churches to discover giving its famous nick name ‘Little Rome”

Things to see and do:

Visit the Negombo fish market the largest in the country

Take a look around the ruins of the old Dutch Fort built in 1678

Take some time to go bird watching in the Negombo Lagoon

Discover the Dutch Canal

Colombo

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Colombo

Sri Lanka’s bustling Commercial Capital is a city with many faces now with many new buildings changing the skyline combined with beautiful old colonial masterpieces

Things to see and do:

The Pettah bazaar is a lively hub of activity where almost anything can be bought

The Gangaramaya Temple Filled with a fascinating mix of antiques this is easily the best Buddhist temple in the city

The Galle Face hotel has been drawing in visitors for sun-down cocktails for over 100 years,

Colombo offers a wealth of shopping options and recently opened is the large shopping mall called One Galle Face with hundreds of shops and restaurants to discover under one roof

BAREFOOT store. 704 Galle Road, Colombo 3. Sri Lanka.

Kandy

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Kandy

The ancient city of Kandy is surrounded by lush green mountain ranges and tea plantations with an abundance of wildlife Kandy is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Sri Lanka and if beauty weren’t enough, the city has a long interesting history to discover. Kandy was the last ruling place of the Sinhalese Kings and as such Kandyan culture and arts have become integral to Sri Lankan society. There are endless activities on offer in Kandy and some excellent nature walks so it is well worth staying one or two days if you have the time

Things to see and do:

Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is close by with a herd of about 150 elephants roaming free in the extensive grounds and are brought to a river to bath twice daily which is a wonderful experience

Check out Millennium Elephant Foundation located close to Pinnewala which offers walking in the jungle with elephants and an opportunity to have a bath with these gentle giants- We support NO elephant riding in Sri Lanka so when you visit here please ask to walk alongside the elephants to help protect the elephants of Sri Lanka against cruelty. www millenniumelephantfoundation.com Elephants can be appreciated more when seen in the wild or the several safari parks available

Check out the Temple of the Tooth, a stunning pilgrimage site where the relic of Buddha’s tooth is said to reside

Visit the Kandy Shopping Center

Explore the romantic and peaceful Botanical Gardens for a quiet walk through and attractive scenery

Visit the National Museum to learn more about Kandyan history

Victoria golf club : offers stunning fairways set amidst the mountains and a colonial club house

1200px-Sri_Lanka_-_029_-_Kandy_Temple_of_the_Tooth

Mirissa

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Mirissa

Mirissa is a bustling seaside town and popular with the young traveler who come for the great surf. There is a large harbour with many different sea excursions on offer from fishing and the famous whale watching

Things to see and do:

Spot blue whales and dolphins on a whale watching trip for an unforgettable experience (best times October – April)

Grab a board and check out some of Mirissa surf spots

Tangalle

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Tangalle

Tangalle located in Sri Lanka s deep south and in a perfect stop-off point enroute to Yala National Park, the sandy shores of TangaIle are some of the most tranquil and secluded in the country

Things to see and do:

Take a short trip to Rekawa Beach, which has all five of Sri Lanka’s sea turtles regularly visiting to deposit their eggs. This is quite a rare and amazing site and make sure to find a reputable organization that protects the turtles at all limes

Nilwala Cove. an enchanting area with a reef that provides surf and safe swimming

Hoo Mania Blowhole spurts a spectacular 6Oft high fountain of sea water and is also close by

Bentota

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Bentota

Bentota is a lively and beautiful beach town on the south coast with a stunning ribbon of sand running around its shore with a large river providing some of the best water sports in the country. There are a huge range of activities on offer — perfect for keeping the family entertained

Things to see and do:

Water sports are an absolute must in Bentota with a huge range of water-based activities on offer from kite surfing to diving to deep-sea fishing. Take a relaxing river boat safari down the Bentota Ganga to spot tropical birds or visit one of the many turtle conservation projects taking place in the area

Galle

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Galle

Galle Steeped in history with a large range of shops markets, bustling bazaars, boutique art galleries, ultra-trendy cafes are all tucked down cobbled streets, nestled within Galle’s 17th century Dutch fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site which surrounds the beautiful city and harbor

Things to see and do:

Relax in Unawatuna’s horseshoe beach and enjoy a spot of lunch in the many small beach side trendy restaurants and bars

Discover Galle Fort

Visit Galle Fort’s museums, art galleries and craft shops

Anuradhapura

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura the first capital founded in 457BC has an extensive history with Sinahalese Kings ruling from this once-powerful city for over a thousand years Nowadays ancient ruins of palaces and irrigation tanks are all that remain of this ancient kingdom, however these archaeological treasures even with ageing are worth discovering

Things to see and do:

Visit the Sri Ma ha Bodhi a sacred Bodhi tree that has been kept alive for over 2000 years and has its roots (literally) in the history of Sri Lankan religion

See the Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest dagoba in Sri Lanka

Stand in awe of the Mahasena’s Palace decorated with carved moonstone

Take a stroll through what were once the Royal Pleasure Gardens

Visit the Isuruuminiya Vihara Rock Temple to see some excellent carvings from 5^thcentury AD

Polonnaruwa

December 7, 2021

by UserAstralAdmin Destinations

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is home to the remains of three opulent palaces built by three different kings only a thousand year old, Polonnaruwa is a far younger city than the others in Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle The area is surrounded by jungles and different reservoirs with many Buddha statues carved out of the rock

Things to see and do:

Parakrama Samudra a vast tank spread out over 2,430 hectares

Vejayanta Pasada the royal palace of King Parakramabahu

The painted columns in the Atadage the original tooth temple built in the 11^th century

Gal Vihara, a set of giant Buddha Figures carved out of one large slab of granite

Lotus Pond where the petals have been carved into tiers leading downwards like steps