Gregory Lake is a renowned man-made reservoir in the midst of Nuwara Eliya, the jewel of Sri Lanka’s hill country crown. Built in 1873, Lake Gregory is today an aesthetic delight - with its lush fields of green and cows grazing around it - it seems like something out of Middle Earth’s The Shire, but don’t be fooled; the waters are directed into a tunnel that hosts a hydro power station which in turn supplies electricity to the town to this day.

Situated close to St. Clair’s Falls, Devon Falls is a 97m tiered water fall. Named after an English coffee planter named Devon - supposedly because his plantation was close by - Devon Falls is today the sight of the self-proclaimed The World’s Largest Tea Shop: the Mlesna Tea Centre. From this Scottish-inspired bungalow, visitors can admire the magnificent scenery while shopping for premium tea. The falls is situated on the A7 leading to Nuwara Eliya.

Known as ‘Little Niagara’, St. Clair’s Falls is located close to Nuwara Eliya and often one of the most idyllic, picture postcard-perfect landscapes in Sri Lanka. The falls gets its name as a large pool runs through the St. Clair’s Estate, and is made up of two falls - Maha Ella (The Greater Fall), which is approximately 80m in height, and Kuda Ella - and is easily sighted from the road leading to Talawakele from Hatton, both in the greater Nuwara Eliya district. There’s a viewing point from which visitors can safely view this magnificent Water Fall.

One of the jewels of Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, Trincomalee has long been sought after by navies around the world. This deep natural harbour is one of the world’s largest and is characterized by terraced highlands, two headlands, and an entrance channel that is 500m wide.

Visitors to Trincomalee find themselves drawn to the harbour and the harbour’s beautiful surroundings - within short walk is the famous Koneswaram Temple; perched on a cliff, the temple is overflowing with architectural, archaeological and mythological history. From the temple, one can view the entire city of Trincomalee, its harbour and the magnificent Indian Ocean.

Located in the midst of the magnificent Knuckles Mountain Range, Riverstone Mountain is a nature-lover’s dream come true. The mountain itself is home to cloud forests that are ideal for all-day hikes while the areas surrounding the mountains offer other spectacular experiences. Chief among the attractions are the waterfalls Sera Ella, Rathinda Waterfalls, Pathana Falls, and the mythical Meemure Village. From Meemure, locals have attempted to scale Lakegala, a large rock that gives the village its character.

 Riverstone is best accessed through the Kandy - the World Heritage city, via Hunnasgiriya.

The Ridiyagama Safari Park is Sri Lanka’s first safari park, and was open to the public in 2016. This 500 acre property close to Sri Lanka’s southern coastal belt is divided into six zones, segregating carnivores and herbivores, and includes Sri Lanka’s only dedicated African Lion Zone.

It is accessible from Sri Lanka’s southern coastal belt with the closest city being Hambantota.

It isn’t surprising that Sri Lanka, upon first sight, comes across as something out of a fairytale - much of the island is referenced throughout the Ramayana, the ancient text that speaks of the God Ram’s quest to free his wife from Ravana. The latter, myth tells us, was a Lankan demigod king who had styled the island to his vision.

The modern hill town resort of Ella - like much of Sri Lanka’s hill country - carries a lot of this Ramayana/Ravana heritage to this day. A short drive from Ella is Ravana Falls - it is a majestic site for those who stop from their journeys to bask in its cool surroundings. Closer to Ella are the Mythical Ravana caves. Visiting the site requires a hike to get to the entrance of the cave - travellers should wear appropriate hiking clothing as the final bits of the climb require some degree of fitness.

The Hakgala Botanical Gardens are a stone’s throw away from Nuwara Eliya - arguably the most beautiful, idyllic hill town in the country – and is home to a wide variety of botanical species from around the world. The park’s history dates back to the early 19th century when it was constructed by the British. Local folklore also tells that it was in the surrounding areas that the Ramayana’s most incendiary incident took place - it was here Ravana had imprisoned Sita. Therefore, moulded as it is by myth, history and science, Hakgala offers something for everyone.

The cooler temperature of this mountain town is ideal refuge from the scorching temperatures of Sri Lanka’s dry zone and beaches. Here over 10,000 species of flora are displayed, including a wide range of orchids and roses.

The British, upon viewing this distinctive range of mountains, likened it to a clenched fist; the peaks looked like the knuckles of this fist. The locals called it Dumbara Kanduvetiya or ‘The Mist-Laden Mountain Range’. The Knuckles is home to 34% of Sri Lanka’s endemic trees, shrubs and herbs - and found nowhere else in the island. The range is, therefore, of great scientific value in addition to its ecological importance and its aesthetic beauty.

When trekking the range, visitors can experience rapid weather changes, and brushes with exotic wildlife.

The Knuckles range can be explored via Kandy, the hill country capital.

Ratnapura, the city at the foot of Adam’s Peak, is also a hidden gem - quite literally! This city’s name when literally translated means ‘City of Gems’, and is the focal point of Sri Lanka’s gem trade. Naturally, this entails that there be the presence of a Gem Museum - and for those who love jewellery, you will not be disappointed. The museum is a good repository of information around the extraction and polishing of precious stones. While in the city, why not go shopping for gems?

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galle Fort has an ancient history. The first known mention of Galle is from 125-150 C.E., when it was a large trading hub in the ancient spice trade. The fort as is stands now traces its history back to 1541, built by the Portuguese. In 1640, the Dutch captured Galle fort, and the large stone fortifications were added. Galle fort has been completely re-vamped in recent years, and now hosts a plethora of shops, restaurants, bed & breakfasts, churches, galleries, and museums.  This quaint part of the larger Galle town is a delightful walk through the history of Galle, as well as an experience of modern Sri Lanka. Each year, the fort hosts the Galle Literary Festival, with local and international authors alike. With its sunny weather, eclectic ambience, and artistic heritage, Galle Fort is a must-see for any visitor.

Galle Harbour is one of the oldest natural harbours in Sri Lanka, and is still a favourite among the international yacht societies who recognize Galle Harbour as one of the world’s best attractions for yachting. Inside the Galle Fort, the Maritime Archaeology Museum charts the history of the harbour and lays out the current preservation activities for the harbour and the many sunken treasures that have accumulated at the bottom over the centuries. Visitors are encouraged to visit the museum, to see how the layout of the harbour has changed over time, and then take a walk to the harbour, to appreciate the long history Galle has had with international trade.

Just 5 km from beautiful Nuwara Eliya, is Sita Eliya, a place shrouded in and mythology. According to the Hindu epic, Ramayana, Sita was a beautiful Indian princess, married to Rama, who was tricked and captured by the demon-king Ravana of Lanka. Ravana brought Sita to Sri Lanka and imprisoned her in the Ashoka forests. Sita Eliya is thought to be the exact location where Sita was held. The idyllic and remote landscape provides the perfect backdrop for this legend. The foot-print looking depressions nearby give even more credence to the story, as legend has it that those are the footprints of the monkey-god Hanuman, who helped Rama find his beloved Sita. Visitors offer flowers to the nearby stream, in remembrance of Sita’s eternal devotion to her husband, and her daily prayers for him to save her. Nearby lies the Sita Amman Kovil, the only temple dedicated to Sita in the world. In addition, a small shrine to Lord Hanuman sits nearby, a reminder of the great lengths Lord Hanuman went through to help Rama in his quest.

Being one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka’s eastern province, Trincomalee has a coastal belt of its own that, while not the most secluded, is still charming in its own right. The beach is easily accessible from Trincomalee town and is renowned for its white sand and blue waters.

In the mornings, it is a great place to catch the sunrise from while listening to the city wake up in the background. In the evening, it is a social gathering of the local folk that will surely charm visitors.

The kite surfing capital of Sri Lanka is a storied place. Known in ancient times as Arasadi (the place of the Bo Tree) then Kalputti before its current moniker of Kalpitiya, this beach resort town was a favourite among colonial powers too. Dutch-era fort and church, and a Portuguese-era church bear testament to the town’s timeless appeal.

Today it attracts visitors from all over the world intent on surfing or kite-surfing. The season times sync with the island’s monsoon seasons – the south-west monsoon opens the summer kite-surfing season between May and October while the North-east monsoon creates a window between December and February.

The town is also another gateway into the miracle of marine life – from Kalpitiya, visitors can hire boats to go whale or dolphin watching, an opportunity that every tourist in Sri Lanka has to grab.

Being a very popular holiday destination, Kalpitiya now attracts hotels and accommodation options of all sorts, from rustic, beach-front properties to luxury hotels that offer stunning views and a touch of class.

Passikudah meaning Green Algae Beach in Tamil is among the calmest and most inviting beaches in Sri Lanka. With one of the lengthiest stretches of shallow reef, the adventurous have ventured a couple of kilometres into the sea, with the water level barely going over chest level.

Sunrise with the glowing ball juxtaposed against this calm blue sheet of water is a truly spectacular site that should be experienced by all who visit Sri Lanka. Due to its rural roots, the accommodation options aren’t the widest but they are universally clean, comfortable and hygienic.

Among Sri Lanka’s most scenic beaches, Marble Beach in Trincomalee is a cloud-soft, white sand beach that will bedazzle with its clear blues. Start early and watch the sun rise from behind the ocean horizon, a truly beautiful occasion at the right of the year. One can laze around on the beach, and swim in the calm waters undisturbed by anyone – save for the occasional passing ship in the distance.

The shoreline too is interesting with a nest-like forest covering the beach, providing a natural buffer from the outside world. A truly lucky traveller can laze around in the crystal blue waters, fish swimming around her, and – were she to turn around and look at the forest – see peacocks swaggering while monkeys play on the trees.

A number of accommodation options are available including chalets built and maintained by the Sri Lankan Air Force – clean and comfortable, visitors should go stay here for the incredible views of the ocean.

Arugam Bay is Sri Lanka’s surf capital, but so much more. Walk up Elephant Rock, found in its namesake bay, and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire locale. From here, you’ll see the many hotels and surfing schools that have sprung up since 2005. During high season, you’ll discover why Arugam Bay has gained a reputation as one of the world’s best surfing destinations - it is why companies such as Red Bull have chosen to stage their extreme surfing competitions here.

Travellers who are looking for something beyond the surfing will find the village’s culture and heritage a charming escape from the waves. A lagoon safari, for instance, is a must; local fishermen will take travellers on 2-hour long safaris into the lagoons Kottukal or Urani where you can spot crocodiles, elephants and various bird life.

Easily the most well-known beach in Sri Lanka’s northern coastal belt, Casuarina Beach is named after the lining of Casuarina Trees. Very popular on weekends, it is best experienced early on a weekday. Alternatively, visitors can pay the local fisherman to take you out to the fairly shallow waters - about 2-3 km away from shore - for a more secluded swim in the waters between Sri Lanka’s northern most point and India’s southernmost coast.

A fishing village at heart, Weligama is now also beach resort that attracts surfers, especially beginner-intermediate level, who want to acclimatize with more temperate waves before moving on to the more demanding Arugam Bay.

Weligama or Sandy Village couldn’t be more apt for surfers and beach-lovers in general. This idyllic village’s transformation began when one of the country’s oldest surfing schools, and one of its few ISA-certified surf instructors, started operating. Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa were becoming popular among tourists but they weren’t exactly inviting to novices. Weligama soon filled that hole. Today, partly in thanks to Weligama’s inviting waves, surfing as a sport shows signs of increasing in popularity - even among locals.

Unawatuna (or Una as the locals call it) was the primary beneficiary of increased tourist visits to Hikkaduwa and Galle. For decades it was a tiny outpost, popular among divers and marine biologists, but has expanded since mid-2005 as one of the most exciting beach towns in the country. The beach is narrow, but lined with hotels offering accommodations, views of the ocean, and signature menus. The lagoon is calm and inviting, and seeing people float around languidly under the sun is a common sight. 

The Unawatuna beach is also a gateway to the oceans: boat-rides from here will take you up close and personal with dolphins and whales as they eat, play and lunge out of the water. 

During season time, Unawatuna doesn’t sleep. This is among Sri Lanka’s favourite nightlife spots with EDM festivals being very popular among tourists and locals.

The first of the Big 3 Beach resorts, Hikkaduwa (lovingly called Hikka by the locals) was a tiny sea-front village that became a favourite among surfers in the late 90s and early 2000s. Today, it offers accommodation, both high-end and budget, along its coastline. Depending on where travellers choose to stay, generally they’d have access to the respective property’s beach front. Some hotels offer private beaches while others are a lot more relaxed.

Around Hikkaduwa, visitors have access to charming arts and crafts marketplace that offer a variety of locally-sourced handicrafts and garments for sale.

The season time; from November to April offers the best time for water-sports and exploratory activities such as surfing and diving.

Sighting Beruwela’s beaches lets travellers know that the Sri Lanka’s incredible southern coastal belt is starting. This town of gem merchants is home to high-end hotels that dot the coast. The beach themselves are renowned for their pristine white beaches and crystal blue waters. Other attractions within the area include the Beruwela Harbour which, for a nominal fee, you can explore on foot; more adventurous tourists can take a short boat ride to the lighthouse, situated on a tiny island, and enjoy a panoramic view of the coast.

Bentota is the grand old dame of Sri Lankan beach resorts. Colonial powers from the Portuguese to the British came upon its picturesque beach, especially the post-card-perfect coconut trees and white sand, and were left mesmerized. Today, that heritage can be seen in the Bentota Beach Hotel – once a fort, it was converted into a Dutch rest house before the British, yearning for relief from the cold weather in their homeland, built a resort.

The beach itself hasn’t lost its beauty despite plenty of subsequent development happening around it, and has now become one of the country’s prime venues for water sports; diving, snorkelling, jet-skiing, water-skiing, and deep-sea fishing are just some of the options available for tourists.

Another one of the larger towns in the Southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka, Matara’s beaches are unique in that the proximity to the Garanduwa Lagoon opens up a whole new range of experiences for the curious traveller. The lagoon’s name is a nod to its past when crocodiles had roamed the lagoon - today it is safe for beach-dwellers to explore the lagoon using its walking paths, and observe an incredible bio-diversity of insects, plants, birds, and marine life. Observable species include birds such as woolly-necked storks, Indian pond heron, Ceylon blue magpies, Ceylon green pigeon, and purple coot; while trees include breadfruit and its wild cousins Kirala (sometimes referred to as the Mangrove Apple), Kadol, and Bael fruit.

Closer to the coast, the beaches of Matara also offer an alternative departure spot for whale and dolphin watching.

Mirissa is quaint little sea-side village that has transformed in the last decade into a beach resort that is famous for whale and dolphin-watching, water sports, and its thumping Electronic Dance Music-infused nightlife. It isn’t for everyone, but those who have ventured past the better-known Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa beaches know that Mirissa’s beaches offers signature experiences that can’t be found elsewhere.

The clean beach means that, in addition to swimming and surfing, other water sports are also available to experience. Snorkelling opens a whole new marine world for travellers wanting to experience swimming with turtles and other marine life. In addition, the view of the corals and the delicate eco-systems that they give rise to is sure to bestow a burning need to do whatever possible to protect them for future generations.

Mirissa is also home to some secret beaches – ask the locals and they’ll be happy to guide you to the locations of these less-known beaches. They are secret mostly because they are relatively inaccessible, but those who manage to find these beaches will be rewarded with relative solitude and pristine beach.

Located about 196km from Colombo, Tangalle is a beach town that is fast becoming a favourite among tourists, especially the up-market kind. The beaches around Tangalle, located in Madaketiya and Goyambokka, are renowned for their white sandy beaches that are relatively unspoilt. Half an hour away, Rakawa Lagoon is also popular for its calm swimming spots as well as turtle watching. The Turtle Conservation Project allows tourists to learn more about these fascinating creatures and their millennia-old relationship to Sri Lanka’s southern shores.

The locals have also started diving schools for those interested in seeing what lies under the sapphire-blue ocean surface, and has fast become one of the most popular activities among tourists heading to the Sri Lanka’s southern beaches.

While Galle is best known for its charming fort, it boasts beaches that have a character all their own. Here, visitors can see fishermen return from their pre-dawn excursions into the ocean in search of the freshest fish. This fish is then sold immediately at the beach itself, making it a prime location for restaurateurs, chefs and general foodies who demand the very best seafood; whether it is fish, crab or prawns that catch your fancy, you’ll find choice selections at this fish market.

In addition, some fishermen engage in the time-honoured art of stilt fishing; climbing a high stilt planted in the water, a fisherman sits on his slit with his fishing rod and waits for his catch. This activity usually takes place during sunrise or sunset, making it an ideal time to catch an Instagram-worthy photo or two.

Galle is also a natural harbour, and is the only Sri Lankan port-of-call that services pleasure yachts.

Bien que Galle soit surtout connue pour son charmant fort, elle possède des plages qui ont leur propre caractère. Ici, les visiteurs peuvent voir les pêcheurs revenir avant le lever du soleil l'océan à la recherche des poissons les plus frais. Ce poisson est ensuite vendu immédiatement à la plage elle-même, ce qui en fait un endroit de choix pour les restaurants, les chefs et les gourmets en général qui exigent les meilleurs fruits de mer ; que ce soit le poisson, le crabe ou les crevettes qui vous plaisent, vous trouverez des sélections de choix sur ce marché aux poissons.

De plus, certains pêcheurs pratiquent l'art séculaire de la pêche sur pilotis; grimpant sur un échassier haut planté dans l'eau, un pêcheur s'assoit sur sa fente avec sa canne à pêche et attend sa prise. Cette activité a généralement lieu au lever ou au coucher du soleil, ce qui en fait le moment idéal pour prendre une ou deux photos idéals pour Instagram.

Galle est également un port naturel et est la seule escale sri-lankaise qui dessert des yachts.

À seulement 5 km de la belle Nuwara Eliya, se trouve Sita Eliya, un lieu enveloppé de mythologie. Selon l'épopée hindoue Ramayana, Sita était une belle princesse indienne, mariée à Rama, qui a été trompée et capturée par le roi démon Ravana de Lanka. Ravana a amené Sita au Sri Lanka et l'a emprisonnée dans les forêts d'Ashoka. On pense que Sita Eliya est l'endroit exact où Sita a été détenue. Le paysage idyllique et éloigné fournit la toile de fond parfaite pour cette légende. Les dépressions ressemblant à des empreintes de pas à proximité donnent encore plus de crédibilité à l'histoire, car la légende raconte que ce sont les empreintes de pas du dieu-singe Hanuman, qui a aidé Rama à trouver sa bien-aimée Sita. Les visiteurs offrent des fleurs au ruisseau voisin, en souvenir de la dévotion éternelle de Sita à son mari et de ses prières quotidiennes pour qu'il la sauve. A proximité se trouve le Sita Amman Kovil, le seul temple dédié à Sita dans le monde. De plus, un petit sanctuaire dédié à Lord Hanuman se trouve à proximité, rappelant les grandes distances que Lord Hanuman a traversées pour aider Rama dans sa quête.

Ratnapura, la ville au pied du pic d'Adam, est également une petite ville caché Le nom de cette ville, traduit littéralement, signifie « ville des pierres précieuses » et cette ville est le point central du commerce des pierres précieuses du Sri Lanka. Naturellement, cela implique la présence d'un musée des pierres précieuses - et pour ceux qui aiment les bijoux, vous ne serez pas déçus. Le musée est un bon dépositaire d'informations sur l'extraction et le polissage des pierres précieuses. Pendant que vous êtes en ville, tous peuvent l’opportunité à faire de shopping.

Mirissa est un petit village pittoresque en bord de mer qui s'est transformé au cours de la dernière décennie en une station balnéaire réputée pour l'observation des baleines et des dauphins, les sports nautiques et sa vie nocturne rythmée par la musique de danse électronique. Ce n'est pas pour tout le monde, mais ceux qui se sont aventurés au-delà des plages plus connues d'Unawatuna et de Hikkaduwa savent que les plages de Mirissa offrent des expériences de signature qui ne peuvent être trouvées ailleurs.

La plage propre signifie qu'en plus de la natation et du surf, d'autres sports nautiques sont également disponibles. La plongée avec tuba ouvre un tout nouveau monde marin pour les voyageurs qui souhaitent découvrir la natation avec des tortues et d'autres animaux marins. De plus, la vue sur les coraux et les éco-systèmes délicats qu'ils engendrent est sûr de conférer un besoin ardent de faire tout ce qui est possible pour les protéger des générations futures.

Mirissa abrite également des plages secrètes - demandez aux habitants et ils seront heureux de vous guider vers les emplacements de ces plages moins connues. Ils sont secrets surtout parce qu'ils sont relativement inaccessibles, mais ceux qui parviennent à trouver ces plages seront récompensés par une relative solitude et une plage immaculée.

Une autre des plus grandes villes de la ceinture côtière du sud du Sri Lanka, les plages de Matara sont uniques en ce que la proximité de la lagune de Garanduwa ouvre une toute nouvelle gamme d'expériences pour le voyageur curieux. Le nom de la lagune est un clin d'œil à son passé où les crocodiles avaient parcouru la lagune - aujourd'hui, les habitants de la plage peuvent explorer la lagune en toute sécurité à travers ses sentiers de randonnée et observer une incroyable diversité biologique d'insectes, de plantes, d'oiseaux et de la vie marine . Les espèces observables comprennent les oiseaux tels que les cigognes à cou laineux, le héron des étangs indiens, les pies bleues de Ceylan, le pigeon vert de Ceylan et le foulque pourpre; tandis que les arbres comprennent le fruit à pain et ses cousins sauvages Kirala (parfois appelé la pomme de mangrove), Kadol et Bael.

Plus près de la côte, les plages de Matara offrent également un point de départ alternatif pour l'observation des baleines et des dauphins.

Bentota est la grande vieille dame des stations balnéaires du Sri Lanka. Les puissances coloniales des Portugais aux Britanniques sont tombées sur sa plage pittoresque, en particulier les cocotiers parfaits pour les cartes postales et le sable blanc, et ont été hypnotisés. Aujourd'hui, cet héritage peut être vu dans le Bentota Beach Hotel - une fois un fort, il a été converti en une maison de repos hollandaise avant que les Britanniques, désireux de se soulager du froid dans leur patrie, aient construit une station balnéaire.

La plage elle-même n'a pas perdu sa beauté malgré les nombreux développements qui ont suivi autour d'elle, et est maintenant devenue l'un des principaux lieux de sports nautiques du pays; la plongée, la plongée avec tuba, le jet-ski, le ski nautique et la pêche en haute mer ne sont que quelques-unes des options disponibles pour les touristes.

La visite des plages de Beruwela permet aux voyageurs de savoir que l'incroyable ceinture côtière sud du Sri Lanka commence. Cette ville de marchands de pierres précieuses abrite des hôtels haut de gamme qui parsèment la côte. La plage elle-même est réputée pour ses plages blanches immaculées et ses eaux bleues cristallines. Les autres attractions de la région incluent le port de Beruwela que vous pouvez explorer à pied pour un prix modique; les touristes plus aventureux peuvent faire un court trajet en bateau jusqu'au phare, situé sur une petite île, et profiter d'une vue panoramique sur la côte.

Unawatuna (ou Una comme l'appellent les habitants) a été développée apres les touristes qui vistaient Galle et Hikkaduwa. Pendant quelques années cette ville était populaire parmi les plongeurs et les biologistes marins, mais il s'est développé depuis la mi-2005 comme l'une des villes balnéaires les plus excitantes du pays. La plage est étroite, mais bordée d'hôtels proposant des hébergements, des vues sur l'océan et des menus de signature.

La plage d'Unawatuna est également un chemin vers les océans : des promenades en bateau à partir d'ici vous emmèneront de près avec des dauphins et des baleines alors qu'ils mangent, jouent et se précipitent hors de l'eau.

Pendant la saison, Unawatuna ne dort pas. C'est l'un des endroits d’où la vie nocturne est populaire au Sri Lanka.

La plage la plus connue à la côte de nord du Sri Lanka, la plage de Casuarina a créé après des arbres de Casuarina. Cette plage est très populaire pendant le week-end, De plus il est préférable de le découvrir tôt un jour de semaine et les visiteurs peuvent payer le pêcheur local pour vous emmener dans les eaux de l’océan - à environ 2-3 km de la plage - pour une baignade plus isolée dans les eaux entre le point le plus au nord du Sri Lanka et la côte la plus au sud de l'Inde.

Parmi les plages les plus pittoresques du Sri Lanka, Marble Beach à Trincomalee est une plage de sable blanc, douce comme des nuages. Commencez tôt et regardez le soleil se lever de derrière l'horizon océanique, une très belle occasion pour celles qui adorent la nature. On peut promener sur la plage et nager dans les eaux calmes sans être dérangé par personne. La plage est également intéressant avec une forêt en forme de nid qui couvre la plage, fournissant un tampon naturel du monde extérieur. Un voyageur vraiment chanceux peut se prélasser dans les eaux bleues cristallines, des poissons nager autour d'elle et - si elle se retournait et regardait la forêt - voir des paons se balancer pendant que des singes jouaient sur les arbres.

Un certain nombre d'options d'hébergement sont disponibles, y compris des chalets construits et entretenus par la Force aérienne sri-lankaise - propres et confortables, les visiteurs devraient aller rester ici pour les vues incroyables sur l'océan.

Étant l'une des plus grandes villes de la province orientale du Sri Lanka, Trincomalee possède une ceinture côtière qui, bien que n'étant pas la plus isolée, est toujours charmante à part entière. La plage est facilement accessible depuis la ville de Trincomalee et est réputée pour son sable blanc et ses eaux bleues.

Le matin, c'est un endroit idéal pour admirer le lever du soleil tout en écoutant la ville se réveiller afin de commencer la journée. Le soir, c'est un rassemblement social de la population locale qui charmera sûrement les visiteurs.

Les jardins botaniques de Hakgala sont à deux pas de Nuwara Eliya - sans doute la plus belle ville de colline idyllique du pays - et abritent une grande variété d'espèces botaniques du monde entier. L’histoire du parc remonte au début du XIXe siècle, lors de sa construction par les Britanniques. Le folklore local raconte également que c'est dans les environs que l'incident le plus incendiaire du Ramayana a eu lieu - c'est ici que Ravana a emprisonné Sita. Par conséquent, façonné comme il est par le mythe, l'histoire et la science, Hakgala offre quelque chose pour tout le monde.

La température plus fraîche de cette ville de montagne est un refuge idéal contre les températures torrides de la zone sèche et des plages du Sri Lanka. Ici, plus de 10 000 espèces de flore sont exposées, y compris une large gamme d'orchidées et de roses.

Il n'est pas surprenant que le Sri Lanka, à première vue, apparaisse comme quelque chose d'un conte de fées - une grande partie de l'île est référencée tout au long du Ramayana, l'ancien texte qui parle de la quête de Dieu Ram pour libérer sa femme de Ravana. Ce dernier, nous dit le mythe, était un roi demi-dieu lankais qui avait façonné l'île selon sa vision.

La station balnéaire moderne d'Ella - comme une grande partie des collines du Sri Lanka - porte à ce jour une grande partie de cet héritage Ramayana / Ravana. Ravana Falls se trouve à quelques minutes en voiture d'Ella - c'est un site majestueux pour ceux qui s'arrêtent de leur voyage pour se prélasser dans son environnement frais. Plus près d'Ella se trouvent les grottes mythiques de Ravana. La visite du site nécessite une randonnée pour se rendre à l'entrée de la grotte - les voyageurs doivent porter des vêtements de randonnée appropriés car les derniers morceaux de la montée nécessitent une certaine forme physique.

Située à proximité des chutes St. Clair, les chutes Devon sont une cascade à plusieurs niveaux de 97 mètres. Nommé d'après un planteur de café anglais nommé Devon - soi-disant parce que sa plantation était à proximité - Devon Falls est aujourd'hui la vue de l'autoproclamé The World’s Largest Tea Shop: le Mlesna Tea Centre. De ce bungalow d'inspiration écossaise, les visiteurs peuvent admirer le magnifique paysage tout en achetant du thé de qualité supérieure. Les chutes sont situées sur l'A7 menant à Nuwara Eliya.