Enjoy
a luxurious holiday in lovely Sri Lanka
The
beautiful and tropical island country of Sri Lanka offers much in the way
of great accommodation, beaches, wildlife safari adventures and history.
The county has seen many changes in its past. In its more recent history,
it has been occupied first by the Portuguese in the 16th century, then
by the Dutch in the 17th century, who then ceded to Britain in 1796. Ceylon
as it was known then became a crown colony in 1802. Back in 1948, the country
gained its independence and changed its name in 1972 to Sri Lanka.
While
the country has been a less popular Asian destination with most travelers,
these days a luxury
holiday in Sri Lanka is one of the best choices available. The following
outlines some of the attractive features of Sri Lanka and why the island
country is worth a visit.
Languages
spoken in Sri Lanka
There
are two main languages on the island, Sinhala and Tamil, but due to its
colonial past, English is commonly used in the major cities of Sri Lanka,
especially Kandy, Colombo and Galle. Residents of the beach resorts and
the more touristy areas also speak fluent English. However, bear in mind
that in the more rural areas, few people can speak more than a few simple
words.
Accommodation
in Sri Lanka
There
are many luxurious hotels available in Sri Lanka, including everything
from small boutique hotels to major beach resorts. For those who prefer
a more traditional feel, each town and city has a range of guest houses
and home stays where Sri Lankan hospitality can be experienced at its most
authentic.
Things
to do in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
has something available for every taste, including its lovely beaches,
historic buildings and national parks. The following are some recommended
activities on a Sri Lanka holiday.
1.
Sun, sea and sand on the beach in Sri Lanka
The island
of Sri Lanka has many lovely beaches, the following being just a brief
representation of what is on offer.
Located
in southern Sri Lanka is the small beach resort village of Unawatuna. A
pretty little town with an excellent beach, Unawatuna is located just 5
km south of Galle and offers several guest houses, home stays and hotels,
as well as restaurants, those ever-handy internet cafes and tuk tuk stands
for transport around the area. Unawatuna is worth a couple of days’ stay
or even just a day trip for some fun in the sun.
Trincomalee,
or just Trinco for short, is another beach resort up in north eastern Sri
Lanka. The area is famous for some excellent beaches in close by Uppuveli
and Nilaveli, just a few kilometres from the city itself and the lovely
Coral Cove pictured below. For those who enjoy water sports, scuba diving
and whale and dolphin watching are on offer in all beach resort areas.
2.
Wildlife safaris in a national park
| For
those who enjoy wildlife and heading off on safari, Yala National Park
comes highly recommended. It is the most visited, and second largest, national
park in Sri Lanka.
Located
in the south east of the country, Yala National Park is well known for
its conservation efforts with the endangered Sri Lankan elephants and aquatic
birds.
Of
interest to note, the western part of Yala has been said to have the highest
leopard concentration in the world, although regrettably this concentration
only consists of around 35 leopards, so the chance of spotting one is pretty
slim. We've included a photo of one below.
In
total the following major animals can be seen in the park - Sri Lankan
sloth bear, leopard, elephant, wild water buffalo, toque macaque, golden
palm civet, red slender loris and fishing cat, along with a multitude of
birds and there is also beautiful and varied flora on view. |
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3. Historic
Visits in Sri Lanka
One of
the best locations to learn more about the history of Sri Lanka is Anuradhapura,
a city in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Easily accessible from
both Kandy and Colombo, Anuradhapura was first settled around 900 B.C.
and offers many fascinating temples to visit and photograph, as well as
an interesting archaeology museum and folk museum.
In
conclusion, when planning a trip to Asia, consider
Sri Lanka. This lovely island country has so much to offer.
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