After spending 8 incredible weeks in Sri Lanka, I can tell you in all honesty that it’s a place to fall in love with, no matter how skeptical you might be in the beginning (and I was one of them, so no worries). The country has a little bit of everything to offer, from beautiful beaches over ancient cities to astonishing mountain regions. I will tell you the must-sees and places you should not miss when visiting my new favorite country, Sri Lanka!
KANDY
My first stop was the city of Kandy, a city that has a buzzing market, exotic fruits stands on every corner and, of course, temples everywhere you look. The Temple of the Tooth is the main attraction and truly a beautiful place to visit. Then there is also the Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue, overlooking Kandy Lake and the city in all its glory. The Royal Botanical Garden is wonderful as well! That being said, I was also fortunate enough to visit while the biggest Buddhist festival in Asia, Esala Perahera, was happening, and it is something not to be missed! You will see elaborate dancing, many, many extensively decorated elephants, and fire shows. If you can, make sure to attend the last night of the festival, which is the most glorious and colorful! If you are looking for amazing views and a luxurious stay, take a look at the Grand Kandyan Hotel. And the good thing there is that, even if you are not a hotel guest, you can call and make reservations to use their top-floor pool, which will only cost you $5 an hour. For restaurants, I highly recommend The White House for lunch (their Takka Masala was superb), Slighty Chilled for any Western cravings, such as pasta and burgers, and also Helga’s Folly, which is a literally hidden gem in the mountain area of Kandy. This is also a unique hotel, if you dare to try it!
The Temple of the Tooth
SIGIRIYA ROCK
From Kandy I was heading on to my next destination, Sigiriya Rock, a World Heritage Site. It is an ancient rock fortress that will force you to make your leg muscles work quite a bit! That is, if you are planning on climbing this might rock, which I highly recommend. It’s one of the most peaceful places when you reach the top and your reward will be the magnificent views. While in the area, you should also see The Golden Temple in Dambulla, which is very close by. It’s one of the best temples I had visited during my stay and my favorite part was the Dambulla Cave Temple there. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed! For lunch, go to Sakura, a great, family-owned place with a delicious and affordable buffet.
Keep all your belongings close to you at all times. Monkeys love new things!
And to make your stay perfect, please keep this advice in mind: Keep all your belongings, especially valuable items such as phones and cameras, close to you at all times. Sigiriya, as well as the temple, have a big population of monkeys and they love new things! This is also something you should be aware of at your chosen hotel in the area. My suggestion for that is Hotel Heritance Kandalama. When check-out time came around, I was nostalgic and sad – this is how much I loved this hotel! It has an amazing buffet for breakfast and lunch, laundry service, outdoor pools with gorgeous surroundings, a spa, a gym and some of the nicest staff I have encountered while in Sri Lanka. My room had a balcony and here I say it again: If you were to have one as well, always lock the balcony door to avoid monkeys from coming in and turning your room upside down! I know, this is a very uncommon problem for most people, but indeed a serious one in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya Rock
NUWARA ELIYA
What your stay should also include is a trip to Hill Country, which will give you a completely different experience from the rest of Sri Lanka. Make sure to stay in Nuwara Eliya for a night or two to explore the area. On your way there, visit one of the many tea plantations that you will pass up. The most famous one is Mackwoods Tea Plantation with the “Sri Lankan Hollywood sign”, but another good one is Blue Fields Plantation. Either way, make sure to get some tea and cakes while there. Nuwara Eliya is called “Little England” for a reason and you will still see many sights that are reminiscent of the British colony era. Victoria Park is a prime example; a beautiful landscaped park with a lovely rose garden and an ideal location, if you are looking for a romantic setting. My hotel suggestion for Nuwara Eliya is Villa Tea Fields; a charming, little bed and breakfast only 4 km from Gregory Lake. The hotel offers complimentary bikes for their guests, which makes a bike-ride to the lake a must-do. Here you can choose between a boat-tour and a nice stroll around the lake, which is both lovely by good weather. Another thing you should also do from here is to get up very early one day (4-5am) and visit Horton Plains National Park. The main attraction here is the so-called Worlds End, which requires a long, but rewarding hike and offers great views in the end.
Sri Lankan Hollywood sign
ELLA
From Nuwara Eliya, you should, without exception, take the train to Ella. Believe me when I say that this is one of the most beautiful train rides I have ever done in my life and I have been on many before. Ella is very small, so one night will be sufficient to see everything there is to see, such as the town center, one or two waterfalls and the mountain region (especially good for watching the sunrise). This you can easily do at Chamodya Homestay, a cozy airbnb right in the middle of the mountains, with an outstanding, freshly prepared breakfast.
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
Of course you can’t go to Sri Lanka without visiting at least one of its highly acclaimed beaches. My personal favorites were the towns of Hikkaduwa and Boossa. Let me start with Boosa: If you come here, stay at Isara Beach Home. This bed and breakfast provides a private beach and is beyond beautiful. Even better so, it is extremely affordable too! You also can’t beat the location. It is 15 minutes away from Galle, an absolute must-see! Galle has a very European vibe and feel, such as in of Spain or Italy, with all its little side streets, shops and cafes. Worth a visit there is Galle Fort, which makes for great picture opportunities. In addition to that, please do me a favor and eat at One minute by tuk-tuk! It’s located by the bay and has fantastic food and magnificent views.
Your next stop could then be Hikkaduwa, which is only 20 minutes away by train. Stay at Chami’s Place, located 5 minutes from the beautiful beach there. It’s a budget-oriented hostel-type place and very good for the price you pay, including an elaborate and yummy breakfast. They also organize tours, which are quite cheap. If you have time, make sure to take a morning trip to the Lagoon and also check out the Tsunami Museum, in memory of the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka. A glassboat-tour could also be of interest to you, if you don’t mind the mighty waves of the Indian Ocean!
Other, more famous beach areas are Unawatuna and Trincomalee.The only thing that really stands out in Trincomalee, for instance, is Pigeon Island, which is famous for its snorkeling and diving. However, I didn’t think it was worth the stay, while my two choices above left an impressive memory and are a nice way to finish your stay in beautiful Sri Lanka!
As you see, Sri Lanka has something for every nature lover! Ultimately, all I can say is this:
Enjoy the people, enjoy the food, enjoy new experiences and sensations, and with this, you will discover the real Sri Lanka – Do it as the locals do it.
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