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Sri Lanka is a surfer’s paradise. There are several sunny beaches which can just leave you enthralled and relaxed while on a holiday.

The beach of Negombo to the north of Colombo is a historical place seeped in Dutch history. You can get great seafood here. Fishing villages are strewn in this area and remnants of cinnamon cultivation, a church and a canal can be seen in this area. Mt Lavinia beach has beauty combined with heritage. You can engage in many different kinds of sports here like surfing, swimming, beach volleyball and beach rugby. This place is thronged by latest music bands and VJ’s.

The Beruwela and Bentota beaches are situated to the south of Colombo. These beaches on the south western coast are truly the lover’s spot due to their scenic beauty. Palm trees line both sides of the beach and white sandy strips and fresh blue waters would beckon you to this tourist spot.

Ambalangoda to the south western coast of Colombo also has sandy beaches and rocky isles. People sell traditional wooden arteacts, wooden moppets and mask carving alongside the beaches which show the people’s rich craftsmanship.

The beach of Hikkaduwa is situated to the south of Sri Lanka and is a paradise of coral reefs. It is the most breathtaking beach with the utmost scenic beauty in Ceylon. Multicolored corals, which is the home to many species of fishes is a rare sight that can be seen in Hikkaduwa. In the tiny islets alongside the beach you can see different coral formations. You can indulge in board and body surfing in these beaches. Snorkeling and surfing are the other sports that can be indulged in and equipment for the same is available easily. Shops selling jewelry, antiques, batik pieces, gems and masks are another added attraction in this beach area.

The port of Galle is situated to the south of Colombo. Portuguese and Dutch influence is seen in some the architectural marvels in this port city. Especially the Fort in Galle is seeped in rich Dutch tradition and you can go for a stroll within and outside the fort which can be a pleasurable experience.

You can go on a safari in Sri Lanka to view elephants and rare species of birds and animals. There are at least 30 hotspots for bird watching. You can also enjoy the landscapes and bio diversity of Sri Lanka as you travel.

Kandy –Udawatta Kale is a great location for some great wildlife and rare birds. Sinharaja rain forest is one of the most diverse natural rain forests of Sri Lanka. It was declared a world heritage by UNESCO in 1990. It encompasses the most beautiful flora and fauna and attracts nature lovers the world over. Kitulgala Kaleni River is another natural locale and adventure spot. You can deeply relax to just the sound of water flowing by in this great tourist spot. Water rafting, bird watching and other adventure sports can be undertaken here. Nuwara Eliya is a famous hill resort and has the famous tea shrubs. This place is also renowned for its Georgian style buildings and artifacts.

Closer to the city of Colombo is Bellanwilla a small but beautiful bird sanctuary. From here you can go the nearby beaches quickly. Muturajawela is another sanctuary of ecology and birds. Yala is the largest park in Sri Lanka and home to the biggest mammals, wild buffalo, deer and bear. Peacock and Sri Lankan jungle fowl can also be seen here. Uda Walawe is Sri Lanka’s most famous elephant park. This is also a great place for camping and safari. Mahiyangana, another ancient city of Sri Lanka is seeped in Buddhist tradition where you can see rare birds and it has close access to some good national parks.

Pinnawala elephant orphanage is unique of its kind and was established to nurse and feed young elephants abandoned by their mothers. On the way to the north, you can enjoy the peacefulness of Habarana city which is also the centre of attraction for nature and bird lovers. To know about Veddhas culture and tradition you can visit Dambana where you see people living in harmony with Mother Nature. Minipe is a great bird watching and cultural centre in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is famous for its Ayurvedic destinations where you can just relax and have a peaceful time. Ayurveda, the science of life is an alternative system of medicine and helps you relax in body and in mind.

Beruwala sea port is not only great in terms of a tourist spot but also for its Ayurvedic treatments and the lighthouse. The Western coast city of Bentota also offers spa and Ayurvedic treatments to relieve stress and other diseases of body and mind and are thronged by tourists all the year round. October and April are the best time to take a holiday in Bentota. Kurunegala is another ancient city which is famous for the various Ayurvedic treatments it offers tourists.

Amaya lake in Kandy also offers the best spa and ayurvedic treatments in Sri Lanka. Herbal body treatments and facials are given in different rooms. The ambience itself will leave you floored and leave you asking for more. Shirodara treatments which are a part of rejuvenation programmes are also offered to guests and involve pouring of warm oil on the forehead. You can also pick Ayurvedic oils and powders for use at home.

Ayurveda center, Maho situated on the borders of fort city Yahapahuwa is a full fledged Ayurvedic hospital offering all treatments. In the coastal city of Negombo is the tranquil health resort by name Ayurveda Pavillions. Induruwa has Niroga Ayurvedic resort and its tranquil atmosphere helps in rejuvenation of mind and body of the guests. Individual attention for each guest is a remarkable feature of this Ayurvedic center. Wadduwa has Siddhalepa Ayurvedic health resort. It gives 100% natural Ayurvedic treatments under the supervision of Ayurvedic doctors.

Beruwala is famous for its Neptune Ayurveda village. This resort provides an idyllic setting for a relaxation and rejuvenation programme in Ayurveda. Each and every individual will have tailor made packages to suit his or her taste as advised by an expert in Ayurveda. Ulpotha, a pilgrim center in Anuradhapura also is famous for its holistic treatments in Ayurveda. Kandy’s Earl Regency also has unique Ayurvedic treatments to suit each and every individual’s needs.

The abundance of rivers, lagoons and beaches in Sri Lanka makes it an attractive destination for adventure sports like Para gliding, trekking and rafting. The many reservoirs in Sri Lanka has hotels that will provide all facilities to indulge in canoeing or kayaking. Kayaking is a new adventure sport which involves descending a waterfall amidst boulders and is very thrilling. You can undertake white water rafting to fully enjoy the spectacular scenic beauty of the region.

Sri Lanka offers a great scope for trekking and climbing because of its diverse climatic zones. You can also trek in cities or towns closer to Colombo. You can view tiny hamlets and farms on the way and also take up bird watching. It is however advised to avoid the monsoon season to take up trekking and climbing due to muddy terrains. Peak wilderness sanctuary offers ample scope for trekking apart from other places.

Sri Lanka’s physical features and climatic conditions make it suitable for para gliding. You can indulge in this sport at Ella Adventure park, a hotel situated at Ella city. Knuckles mountain range makes it possible to indulge in rock climbing. The mountain ranges offers plethora of opportunities for those who are love adventure. It also enables you to discover nature in all its glory.

You can also have a bird’s eye view of Sri Lanka by ballooning in a hot air balloon. You can view the ancient lakes and the ruins of cities from a hot air balloon. Tour operators like Red Dot tours make available ballooning as an adventure sport. The balloon rides are conducted as a team with people who have had years of experience so there is no worry about safety. October to April will be the ideal time to pursue this sport as it is dependable on climatic conditions to a large extent. You can also cycle through small villages and cities to know more about Sri Lanka. The National Cycle Trails have been developed to encompass a large number of tourists, while giving priority to the exploring some rare sights of nature.

The night clubs sprinkled across Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Negombo are ridden with floor shows and music for dancing. They are open between 9 A.M and 3 A.M. Drinks are expensive and not served on full moon days in Sri Lanka. The dress code is smart casual and music code is mainstream pop. The famous night clubs are Blue Elephant, The little hut, Peacock Night Club, The Garage etc.

The Karaoke bars, pubs and clubs are also popular entertainment spots in Sri Lanka. Casinos are famous spots for foreigners and locals. Black Jack, Roulette, Baccarat, Rummy are some of the famous games that are played. The Ritz Club, Jupiter’s Casino, Continental Club, Tokyo Club, Treasure Island are some of the renowned clubs here.
Specialty restaurants cater to Japanese, Thai, Continental, Chinese, Indian fare and seafood and fast food joints are also aplenty. There are also coffee shops and mixed fare serviced in the same restaurant.

Traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly popular with the growing influx of tourists and can be seen in the cultural centers and shows organized by hotels and travel agents. Lake Club and Avanhala cultural hall in Kandy organizes regular dance shows in the evenings.

The art galleries are also worth a visit in Sri Lanka that showcases photographs and paintings of artists in Sri Lanka and also the sculptures. The National Art Gallery and the Lionel Wendt art Gallery deserve specific mention. Cyber cafes offer opportunities especially for young people to connect to their relatives and friends and lots of people throng cyber cafes for quick communication.

Festivals in Sri Lanka

There are a lot of festivals that are celebrated in Sri Lanka. Sinhala and Tamil New year is called Sinhala Avurudu and is celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists alike. Vesak is celebrated on a full moon day in May. There are Vel festivals in July, Esala festival in August. Deepavali and Christmas are also celebrated with much fanfare. Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Fitr. In short, Sri Lankans celebrate a wide range of festivals that call for ritual, religion and pageantry.