Category: Cities-and-Township

Kitulgala is a small town in the wet zone rainforest areas of Sri Lanka. Although it is located in one of the wettest places in the country, it is famed for its stunning beauty, adventure sports and outdoor camping. The Academy Award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed on the Kelani River near Kitulgala, although nothing remains now except the concrete foundations for the bridge (and, supposedly, the submerged train cars that plunged into the river in the climactic scene).

The Kelani River is wide at Kitulgala, but it is shallow apart from a deep channel near the opposite bank, so in the drier months it provides a safe and attractive place to swim, wash and play. The river can be crossed by walking out across the shallows and crossing the deep channel in a dugout canoe, which is stabilised with an outrigger.

Sri Lanka’s most recently discovered bird, the Serendib scops owl was originally heard calling by Deepal

Warakagoda in these forests. The hills above the rubber plantations also have mountain hawk eagle, crested tree-swift and Layard’s parakeet. This area has most of the rainforest bird species that are found at the World Biosphere Reserve at Sinharaja, although in lower numbers. However, the secondary forest and cultivation at Kitulgala is more open than the pristine woodlands of Sinharaja, and elusive endemic species like Sri Lanka spurfowl, green-billed coucal and spot-winged thrush may be easier to see.

The agriculture around Kitulgala is typical of the hilly wet zone. The solitary fishtail palm, Caryota urens, which is called ‘‘Kitul’ in Sri Lanka, gives rise to the town’s name. Its sap is concentrated into a delicious syrup, not dissimilar to maple syrup, and crystallized as ‘Jaggery’. It is also fermented to make palm wine. Many birders stay at Kitulgala.

Sri Lanka’s surfing capital

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s southeast coast, and a historic settlement of the ancient Batticaloa Territory. The main settlement in the area, known locally as Ullae, is predominantly Muslim, however there is a significant Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala population to the south of the village, as well as a number of international migrants, largely from Europe and Australia. While traditionally fishing has dominated the local economy, tourism has grown rapidly in the area in recent years.

Arugam Bay is dominated by surf tourism, thanks to several quality breaks in the area, however tourists are also attracted by the local beaches, lagoons, historic temples and the nearby Kumana National Park. The Arugam Bay area is home to a number of quality surf breaks, the most popular of which being “Main Point”; located towards the south of the bay. This is a right hand point break, with a rock/reef bottom, and has a number of sections with occasional barrels. Other breaks in the area include Whiskey Point and Pottuvil Point to the north, and Elephant Rock, Peanut Farm and Okanda to the south. These breaks have attracted a steady stream of international tourists for several decades. Arugam Bay has a good local surf scene and is home to some of Sri Lanka’s most talented surfers and in recent years surfers from Arugam Bay have dominated national competitions.

The nearby Muslim village of Pottuvil is the center of commerce and transportation while tourist accommodations lie along the beach to the south of Pottuvil. Arugam Bay is also the gateway and the only road access to the Yala East National Park.

East coast quietness amidst charming people

Batticaloa is a major city in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, and its former capital. It is the Administrative capital of the Batticaloa District. Pasikudah is popular tourist destination northwest with beaches and flat year-round warm-water shallow-lagoons.

Batticaloa is in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on a flat coastal plain boarded by the Indian Ocean in the east occupies a central part of the eastern Sri Lanka. Its average elevation is around 5 meters. Batticaloa district has three lagoons such as Batticaloa Lagoon, Valaichchenai Lagoon, and Vakari (Panichchankerni) Lagoon. Among these lagoon, Batticaloa Lagoon is the largest. There are several islands within the Batticaloa Lagoon such as Puliayantheevu, Buffalo Island and Bone Island. Many bridges are built across the lagoon connecting the landmasses and the islands.Batticaloa has a tropical wet and dry climate. From March to May, the warmest time of the year, the maximum temperature averages around 32 degrees Celsius

In 1942, during World War II, the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and escorting destroyer HMAS Vampire were stationed at Trincomalee. Both these ships came under Japanese aerial attack off Batticaloa and were sunk. Some of the remnants of HMS Hermes still remain at around 9 nautical miles (17 km) off Batticaloa

A beach, water sports and excellent seafood

This is a coastal town in Sri Lanka, approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi) south of Colombo. Bentota is situated on the southern bank of the Bentota River mouth, at an elevation of 3 metres (9.8 ft) above the sea level. Bentota is a historical place described in ancient messenger poems. The Galapatha Viharaya is one of a cluster of five ancient temples in the region. In the 17th Century the Portuguese built a small fort at the mouth of the Bentota River (Bentara Ganga), which in Sinhala was called Parangi Kotuwa, meaning the fort of the Portuguese. The river marked the southern extremity of Portuguese held territory in Sri Lanka. The Dutch subsequently allowed the fort to fall into disrepair, converting one of the large buildings within the fort into a colonial rest house for Dutch Officers travelling between Colombo and Galle.

Bentota is a tourist attraction, with a local airport (Bentota River Airport) and a handful of world-class hotels and a larger number of small boutique hotels, luxury villas and bnbs. It is also a popular destination for watersports. Bentota also delivers an ancient art of healing called Ayurveda. Bentota is famous for its toddy production, an alcoholic beverage made out of coconut nectar. It also has a turtle hatchery, located on Induruwa beach.

When in Bentota, you could also visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery (set up by the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) in association with the Wildlife Department of Sri Lanka), The Brief Garden (The house and garden of renowned Sri Lankan landscape architect, Bevis Bawa, the older brother of architect Geoffrey Bawa), Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist temple, (contains stone inscriptions, stone carvings, pillars, ponds and troughs from the medieval period)

A capital in constant transformation

Colombo is both the largest city of Sri Lanka and its commercial capital. The city is also the island’s financial hub and holds numerous tourist destinations. Colombo city belongs to the western Province, one of nine such provinces and is flanked by the Gampaha District (where both Negombo and the International Airport are located) to the north and the Kalutara District to the south. The Indian Ocean runs the full length of its western border. Sri Jayewardenepura, the true capital of Sri Lanka is actually a suburb of the Colombo district. When referring to Colombo, one usually means the city of Colombo which is broken into 15 smaller areas and not the district in its entirety.

The nucleus of the city is considered to be Colombo 01, also commonly known as Colombo Fort. Most of the city’s key tourist attractions are huddled into Colombo 01 (Fort), Colombo 02 (Slave Island & Union Place), Colombo 03 (Colpetty/Kollupitiya), Colombo 07 (Cinnamon Gardens), Colombo 11 (Pettah) and Colombo 12 (Hultsdorf).

Early History of Colombo

Colombo came into prominence due to its natural harbour and was known to sailors for thousands of years. Initially the area was part of the pre-colonial kingdom of Kotte. Then with the arrival of the Portuguese (around 1505), who were more interested in commerce than territorial power, the city began its transformation to what it is today. The Portuguese were here till 1658 when the kingdom of Kandy sought the help of the Dutch to rid the island of their rule. Despite the Portuguese leaving the island over 350 years ago, their cultural and architectural influence continues to be seen till today. Things didn’t go as planned as the Dutch took control of most of the island and its lucrative spice trade. The Dutch were followed by the British with Colombo falling into British rule in 1796. The entire fell under British rule in 1815. Unlike the previous colonial powers, the British began doing much more than engage in trade by building houses and other infrastructure which gave semblance to what Colombo is today.

The end of Colonialism and a post-war Colombo

Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 and nowhere was its effects as stark as in Colombo. The city saw a merger of colonial values, culture, religion and cuisine with those of the local. Unfortunately, the inadequate constitutional arrangements of the time also meant the creation of dissent and disharmony in what is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country. These ultimately flared into violence and a bitter civil war that lasted 30 years. Its effects not only left most of the north and east riddled with bullet holes and misery but occasionally also brought Colombo to its knees in the face of a continuous war. For most of its post-colonial era, Colombo moved slowly. Today, however, in post-war Sri Lanka, Colombo is rising in a state of frenzy with multiple skyscrapers, a whole new island city being built with Chinese loans and large swathes of old Colombo such as its markets being relocated to the outer peripheries of the city.

Geography, climate and demographics of Colombo

Colombo is riddled with numerous canals and the Kelani river along with the Kelani river delta to the north. A large lake sits at the very heart of the city. The land in the commercial area is of flat terrain. The climate falls just short of a tropical rainforest climate with average temperatures reaching about 32°C in the month of April. Minimum temperatures fall to about 22°C in the months of December and January.

Colombo city has a population of around 750,000 as per the 2011 census. However, millions enter and exit the city on a daily basis as the attend work, school and other activities. So expect terrible traffic snarls in roads leading into the city during morning rush hour and on roads leading out of the city during evening rush hour. School traffic also causes spikes in traffic several times a day.

Sinhalese make up the majority race in Colombo with Tamils and Muslims coming second and third. Colombo is also multi-religious with a majority Buddhist population followed by Muslims, Hindus and Christians.

Key attractions in Colombo

Following is a comprehensive list of various points of interest in the district of Colombo

Tourist Attractions

• Galle Face Green – Seafront promenade with street food
• Independence Memorial Hall & Museum
• Viharamahadevi Park
• National Museum of Colombo
• Ape Gama – A recreation of a Sri Lankan Village
• Colombo Dutch Museum
• Nelum Pokuna Theatre complex
• Khan Clock Tower
• Pettah Floating Market
• Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
• Pita  Kotte Gal Ambalama
• Lionel Wendt Art Centre
• Sri Lanka Planetarium
• Colombo Port Maritime Museum
• Mount Lavinia Beach
• Dehiwela Beach
• Number 11 – Geoffrey Bawa Townhouse
• Old City Hall
• Traditional Puppet Art Museum
• University of Colombo
• Central Point / Chatham Street
• Colombo Lotus Tower
• Saskia Fernando Gallery
• New Parliament of Sri Lanka
• Old Parliament of Sri Lanka
• Saifee Villa
• Colombo Racecourse
• National  Art Gallery
• Colombo Club (Taj Samudra)

Religious places

• Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple & Seema-malakaya Meditation Centre on Beira Lake
• Kelaniya, Raja Maha Viharaya Buddhist temple
• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)
• Lucia’s Cathedral
• Isipathanaramaya Temple
• Sambodhi Chaithya
• Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade
• Wolvendaal Church
• Andrew’s Church
• New Kathiresan Kovil
• Old Kathiresan Kovil
• Sri Muthumariamman Kovil
• Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil
• Sri Muthu Vinayagar Swamy Kovil
• Dawata-gaha Mosque
• Grand Mosque
• Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church

Nature and Wildlife

• Seethawaka Botanical Gardens
• Weras Ganga Park
• Attidiya Bird sanctuary
• Beddagana Wetland Park
• Urban Wetland Park (Nugegoda)
• Diyatha Uyana
• Crow island beach park
• Muthurajawela Marsh
• Talangama Tank

Shopping

• Independence Arcade
• Diyatha Uyana (Sri Lankan cuisine, horticulture, traditional crafts)
• Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct
• Reid  Avenue
• Majestic City
• The Good Market
• Unity Plaza (for tech geeks)
• Liberty Plaza
• Crescat Boulevard
• Pettah Market
• ODEL department stores
• House of Fashions (bargain shopping)
• World Market (adjoining fort railway station)
• Retail Ready-made Clothes (No limit, Glitz, Cool Planet, Hameedias)
• Cotton Collection
• Dilly and Carlo
• Barefoot (Lifestyle store & Café)
• Paradise Road (Lifestyle Store and Café)
• Laksala  – Sri Lanka Handicrafts
• Lakpahana  – Sri Lanka Handicrafts
• Selyn handloom (Fairtrade)
• Raux Brothers
• Gerard Mendis Chocolatier

View from the top of the world

Ella is a small town in situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres (3,415 ft) above sea level. The area has a rich biodiversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.

Today it has become everyone’s favourite hill-country village. Best approached by train, the journey here is one half of the magic. The route from Kandy to Ella is considered one of the world’s most beautiful rail routes. The infinite rolling hills carpeted with lush tea plantations give way to more rugged landscapes with sweeping valleys and mist covered mountains as you near Ella. You alight at the quaint Ella Station, where our Tour Manager will pick you up and take you for the night’s stay.

Although the town has been disfigured by unregulated construction, spurred by the growing interest in the town the area will still give you some of your most memorable moments. The views in Ella might have inspired the phrase ‘breath-taking’ because no other combination of words could explain the feeling that rises in you as you gaze over the rolling hills that cascade down to the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

Ella also offers some of Sri Lanka’s best B&Bs. While there are very few large hotels with contemporary amenities and international standards, we always recommend the smaller places for pure authentic experiences.

Top attractions in Ella

•  Nine arches bridge
•  Little Adam’s Peak
•  Ella Rock
•  Ravana Falls & Cave
•  Ella Railway Station
•  Dhowa Rock Temple  Demodara Railway Loop
• Porawagala

The tamil heartland of Sri Lanka

Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Prior to the Sri Lankan civil war, it was Sri Lanka’s second most populated city after the commercial capital Colombo. The 1980s insurgent uprising led to extensive damage, expulsion of part of the population, and military occupation. Since the end of civil war in 2009, refugees and internally displaced people have started to return to their homes and government and private sector reconstruction has begun.

Historically, Jaffna has been a contested city. It was made into a colonial port town during the Portuguese occupation of the Jaffna peninsula in 1619 who lost it to the Dutch, only to lose it to the British in 1796. And during the post-Independence civil war the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) occupied Jaffna in 1986. The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) briefly occupied the city in 1987. The LTTE again occupied the city from 1989 until 1995, when the Sri Lankan military regained control.

The majority of the city’s population are Sri Lankan Tamils with a significant number of Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamils and other ethnic groups present in the city prior to the civil war. Most Sri Lankan Tamils are Hindus followed by Christians, Muslims and a small Buddhist minority.

History of Jaffna

During the medieval times, the Kingdom of Arya Chakravarti came into existence in the 13th Century as an ally to the Pandyan Empire in South India. Politically, it was an expanding power in the 13th and 14th century with all regional kingdoms paying tribute to it. The Portuguese established Jaffna city in 1621 as their colonial administrative center.From 1590, Portuguese merchants and Catholic missionaries were active within the Jaffna kingdom. In 1658, Portuguese lost Jaffna to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) after a three-month siege.During the Dutch occupation, the city grew in population and size. The Dutch were more tolerant towards native mercantile and religious activities than the Portuguese had been. Most of the Hindu temples that the Portuguese had destroyed were rebuilt. A community of mixed Eurasian Dutch Burghers grew up. The Dutch rebuilt the fort and expanded it considerably. They also built Presbyterian churches and government buildings, most of which survived until the 1980s, but suffered damage or destruction during the subsequent civil war. During the Dutch period, Jaffna also became prominent as a trading town in locally grown agricultural products with the native merchants and farmers profiting as much as the VOC merchants.

Great Britain took over the Dutch possessions in Sri Lanka from 1796.Britain maintained many of the Dutch mercantile, religious, and taxation policies. During the British colonial period, almost all the schools that eventually played role in the high literacy achievement of the Jaffna residents were built by missionaries belonging to American Ceylon Mission, Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Saivite reformer Arumuka Navalar and others.Under British rule, Jaffna enjoyed a period of rapid growth and prosperity,as the British built the major roads and railway line connecting the city with Colombo, Kandy and the rest of the country. The prosperity of the city’s citizens enabled them to underwrite the building of temples and schools, and the library and museum.

Post-colonial history

After Sri Lanka became independent in 1948 from Britain, the relationship between majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils worsened. Residents of Jaffna city along with the rest of Tamil population of Sri Lanka were in the forefront of the political mobilisation behind Tamil nationalist parties. After the Tamil conference incident in 1974, the then mayor of Jaffna Alfred Duraiappah was assassinated by the leader of rebel LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran in 1975. Following further deterioration of political discourse, the Jaffna library was burnt down in 1981 by Police and other miscreants. Failure of the political class to find an adequate compromise led to full-scale civil war starting in 1983 soon after the Black July pogrom.

Geography and climate

The city is surrounded by Jaffna Lagoon to its west and south, Kokuvil and Tirunelveli to the north, and Nallur to the east. The entire land mass is flat and lies at sea level. Jaffna features a tropical rainforest climate with no true dry season month. Jaffna has the highest average temperature in Sri Lanka of 83 °F (28 °C). The temperature is highest in the months of April – May and August – September. The temperature is coolest in December – January. The annual rainfall is brought in by the North East monsoon and it varies from one place to the other and also from year to year.

Places of Interest in and around Jaffna

• Nallur Kandaswamy Temple
• Jaffna Fort
• Cankili Thoppu Arcway
• Jaffna Public Library
• Manthiri Manai
• Yamuna Eri
• Clock Tower
• Sangiliyan Statue
• St Mary’s Cathedral
• Keerimalai Hot Springs
• Point Pedro
• Nagadeepa Viharaya
• Delft Island

Popular new destination with a host of activities

Kalpitiya is located in the Puttalam district of North Western province of Sri Lanka. It is known for its serene beauty. It consists of 14 islands and has a total area of 16.73 km2. The people of Kalpitiya are mostly fishermen. It is now developing as an attractive tourist destination.

Records going far back reveal that the peninsula was associated with maritime trade and smuggling escapades since ancient times. It was first colonised by the Portuguese in early 17th Century. The arrival of the Dutch eventually resulted in the ousting of the Portuguese from here and elsewhere in the island. Historical records show that during the Dutch period of the island’s colonial history, the northern end of the peninsula was used as a strategic base for a military garrison and naval outpost to monopolise trade supplies to the mainland. A well preserved Dutch-era fort (incorporating an earlier Portuguese-era church) occupied by the Sri Lanka Navy, and a Dutch church remain today. Nearby at Talawila to the south, a vibrant annual festival keeps alive its Portuguese heritage, at the ancient St Anne’s church festival, when thousands of Catholic devotees descend upon the tiny village to celebrate St Anne’s Day on July 26.

Kalpitiya is now fast developing as an attractive tourist destination. It is a marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangroves swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches. It provides nursing grounds for many species of fish and crustaceans. The coastal waters are also home to spinner, bottlenose and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and the elusive dugong. The Sri Lankan government has now formulated a master plan for the development of tourism industry here.

Alankuda is a stretch of beach in Kalpitiya that is home to a number of beach hotels. The beach is a starting point for offshore whale and dolphin watching in Kalpitiya and offers various water related activities.

Kitesurfing

Kalpitiya is nominally the best location for Kitesurfing in the country. The summer kitesurfing season is from May to October during the south west monsoon while the winter season is from mid December to mid February during the north east monsoon.

Dolphins and Whale Watching

Kalpitiya is a great place from which to observe large pods of dolphins. It is also a good place to observe sperm whales and the occasional blue whales. Most hotels in the area offer whale watching expeditions.

A vibrant jewel in the hills of Sri Lanka

Kandy, the hill city, the sleepy town with centuries of history and tradition, is a must see during your visit to Sri Lanka. Home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and many other temples and kovils of historic significance, the city in the hills, located at the center of the island, can serve as a stopover on your way to other parts of the country. Some destinations close to Kandy include Sigiriya, Dambulla and Horton Plains National Park.

The town is buzzing during the day and winds down by dusk, but there’s plenty to see and do. Start with the Temple of the Tooth and take a walk around the Kandy Lake to experience Kandy ‘town’. A quick stop at Arthur’s seat at Rajapihilla Mawatha will give you a bird’s eye of the town and surroundings. Make your way the big white Buddha statue, Bhairavakonda for even more stunning views, or head over to Helga’s Folly for an out of the ordinary visit to a hotel with a lot of charm and culture of its own.

If you’re in the mood to shop, the Kandy City Centre is the one-stop mall in town, with a collection of clothing stores, bookshops, accessories and a new food court that offers both Sri Lankan and international cuisine. There are also several smaller cafes that cater to all different pallets, but plenty of smaller ‘kadey’ shops for local fare and a total local experience, as well. The Muslim Hotel is one such option.

Head out of the town area to Peradeniya where you can spend several hours strolling through the Royal Botanical Gardens – make sure you visit the suspension bridge that can give you a beautiful view of the Mahaweli River and the green surroundings. Also in Peradeniya is the well-known University of Peradeniya, an open-layout campus with a lot of greenery. This is a great place to visit if you have time to walk or drive around and take in the fresh air.

On the outskirts of Kandy you’ll also find ancient temples such as Lankathilaka, Gadaladeniya and Embekka, rich in history of the Kandy kingdom.

If nature is more your taste, the Hanthana mountain range offers a trail for hikers, but remember to keep safety in mind and go with a guide as it’s easy to lose your way. The Knuckles Mountain Range is also not too far away for hikes that can be done in a day or overnight. Closer to town, you’ll find Udawatta Sanctuary, where you can go for a fairly easy walk through a forest reserve.

If you get the chance to travel on the train from Colombo to Kandy, booking the Intercity is your best bet – the second class option will give you a real feel of the experience, while being able to take in the mountain air as you approach the hills with the windows open. Keep your camera handy because it’s definitely Instagram-worthy!

Key Attractions in and around Kandy

• Temple of the sacred tooth relic
• Lankatilaka temple
• Udawatta Kele sanctuary
• Kandy view point
• Bahiravokanda vihara buddha statue
• Kandy Lake
• (Peradeniya) Royal botanical gardens
• Temple of Gadaladeniya
• Embekke Devalaya
• Galmaduwa temple
• Maha Vishnu devalaya
• Degaldoruwa temple
• Asgiriya maha viharaya
• St. Anthony’s church
• Hanthana mountain range
• Helga’s Folly
• The church of St. Paul
• Kandy Garrison cemetery
• Commonwealth war cemetery
• Hulu river and waterfall
• Knuckles mountain range
• Millenium elephant foundation
• Ceylon Tea Museum
• Giragama tea plantation
• The Queens hotel