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Most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka

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Sam Jewel

The sheer expanse of natural beauty on this island rightly gives Sri Lanka the nickname of ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean.’ With landscapes so enchantingly different, all in a country so small, you could be visiting a beach and a jungle on the same day. The country’s vibrancy is felt among its people too, who seem to be celebrating life every day. If you’re planning a visit to India's teardrop, read on to discover some of its most beautiful places.

Beaches galore

It’s an island nation, of course it’s got beaches! But you’ll be surprised at how many varied experiences you can get from each of them. Surfers should visit Hikkaduwa, Midigama or Weligama during the dry season for some warm weather surfing on waves of different sizes. If deep-sea fishing interests you, try your luck at Bentota, Negombo or Trincomalee. That last one features among the best beaches of the country with the whitest of sands and bluest of waters. Negombo and Galle are lively beaches, with beach parties at Negombo that flow into the wee hours of the morning. 

Wildlife 

Before we head into the jungles of Sri Lanka – go whale watching at Mirissa and you’ll probably spot blue whales, sperm whales or dolphins from November to April. Wildlife in Sri Lanka can be experienced through a safari at the Yala National Park, the best place to spot leopards, among many other animals. The Udawalawe National Park is also fascinating with elephants and plenty of bird species. But you’ll feel much closer to the wild when you visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage where you have a chance to feed elephants or see them from close as they bathe in a frolicking manner.  

Mountains, hill stations and Tea

Adam’s Peak is probably the most famous mountain of Sri Lanka because of its ‘sacred’ Buddha footprint. The climb up to the top of the conical mountain is a challenging enough hike with ‘paved’ steps for most of the way getting steeper as you near the summit. Morning mist and fog make for a cool climb up, often marrying the views too. Pidurutalagala, the highest peak is often driven past on your way to the tea county of Nuwara Eliya. Savor some of the world’s best tea at this green hill station and don’t forget to pack some to take home. 

Monuments and culture

Although built to satisfy the whims of a 5th century king, UNESCO World Heritage site Sigiriya Rock Fortress certainly holds its place as one of the most beautiful places in the country. The former capital, Kandy sits in a valley and boasts of the sacred Tooth relic. The Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is an important symbol of religion and is home to many Buddha relics. Whiffs of colonialism and remnants of the long-drawn civil war can be seen in the various monuments across the cities of Colombo, Kandy and Galle. 

 

If you’re looking for a holiday destination to provide several exciting options to explore, Sri Lanka is your go-to country. Friendly people and an exotic cuisine makes this place rank high on most tourists’ bucket lists. 

 

Author Bio: Kalpesh is an avid traveler and has always inspired people to visit Sri Lanka. The island country has so many beautiful places and is on the top of his bucket list of places yet to visit. 

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Sam Jewel
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