Central Province Sri Lanka

Horton Plains National Park is best known for its scenic panorama in Sri Lanka, delighting travel enthusiasts with gamut of exclusive plant and animal life. It is also one of the heritage sites in the world, stretching above the two lofty mountains Totapola and Kirigalpotta, which is a sight-to-behold. Tourists from all over the world head for this national park, a highland-like structure with plains on one side and spectacular mountains and deep jungles on the other. All of it constitutes the Central Highlands of the island country Sri Lanka.   You need to wake up very early in the morning to take in the beauty of this park before the clouds roll in to obscure the view. Make sure you are prepared to head for the park by 9 am, else, you will miss the scenic view because a thick blanket of morning mist enfolds Horton Plains for the rest of the day.  Take a walk deep into this national park to discover World’s End, which is a towering cliff top offering a sweeping view of Sri Lanka towards the coast and also past the shoreline. You will discover numerous lakes, waterfalls, rocky hills, as well as the spectacular view of the ocean from this heritage site in Sri Lanka. Besides, the scenic vista, Horton Plains National Park is covered with thick verdant forests boasting a variety of wild animals and numerous species of birds. The national park is an inimitable ecosystem with plentiful flora and fauna, which is why it’s hailed as a super biodiversity site of Sri Lanka.

Have you seen the waves dancing freely? Koggla beach is one such place where you will find a combination of warmth of the golden sand beneath your feet along with sea breeze caressing you. Located 140km from Colombo, this idyllic place is for all the beach lovers to spend some time and enjoy life as they have always wanted to . Leave your care and worries behind and just be a part of some breath-taking moments. You will surely treasure some of the fond memories of this beach. Get into the adventurous mood by trying snorkelling and diving. If you are not too fond of adventures you can sit by the beach and enjoy the sight of the mighty waves. Highlights: If you are going to Koggala, you can’t miss the chance to visit the Turtle Hatchery which is an initiative taken against selling the turtle’s eggs for the purpose of food.

Also known as the Kelaniya Temple, Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple which is situated seven miles from Colombo. This temple is well known for its magnificent sculptor’s art. Kelaniya Temple was built on the bank Kelaniya River which is believed to be one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka.This temple was built in the era prior to the chronologically recorded history of Sir Lanka (since 543 B.C). The ancient temple was destroyed by a lot of invaders but was reconstructed again. Highlights: The best feature of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is its amazing architecture which has grabbed the attention of lot of tourist around the world. There is a vaulted grill that opens upto the lower patio of the temple yard. The lower patios lead four sets of flights in four directions to the Upper patio where you can see the image of Hose, Dagaba and the Bo Tree (Peepal tree) with other buildings. Location: The temple is located at Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Lanka Price: The entry is free of cost.

Gangaramaya Temple is not only one of the most beautiful but also one of the most iconic Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. It is more than a century since this temple was constructed; however even today, the temple doesn’t stop to surprise tourists and devotees. The pathways and doors that lead into the main sanctum sanctorum contain intricately carved sculptures that are simply breath-taking. Highlights: The ceilings and walls contain pictures and miniature paintings that explain stories from Buddhism religion. In the main sanctorum, a huge Buddha statue exudes a brilliant sense of calmness in the devotees. Built in a mix of various architectural styles including India, Burmese, Thai and Chinese, this temple also houses a museum. Location: The temple is located right on the Jinaratana Road in the heart of Colombo city. Timings: The temple is open from 5.30AM to 10PM. Price: Entry fee is LKR200 per adult.

Standing tall along the banks of Beira Lake, Seema Malaka forms a part of the southern region of the Colombo City of Sri Lanka. It lies in conjunction with the Gangaramaya Temple, which is the main shrine there. Residing on three man-made podiums, Seema Malaka Temple stands unrivaled in both its location and architecture. The architectural allure of this temple is highly inspired from the ancient forest monasteries Ritigala and Anuradhapura. The building of the temple is built in the Kandyan style and is characterized by its hanging blue tiled roofs. There is a pontoon boardwalk that links the premises of the Seema Malaka temple with its mainland. The outer boundary wall of this shrine is adorned by numerous Buddha statues representing different sitting postures.There are three raised platforms which divide the temple and are connected with the walkways. The four-sided blue roof on the central platform of this temple is quite evident. On the very next platform, you have a statue of the Treasury of Truth which has got its own significance. This platform at the Seema Malaka temple is actually a treasure of ancient Buddhist texts, which is usually stored in locked conditions and is accessible only to the monks.There are beautiful wooden panels embracing the décor of the central building of this shrine - where people reach out for meditation. In case you have any queries, you may approach the caretakers there. The outer area surrounding this room features several Buddha statues. If you keenly observe them – some of them have their hands placed on their lap, while others are portrayed yogic postures.At the next platform, you have a Bodhi tree in the central portion, which is all over flanked with several Buddha statues. On special occasions, you can mark the presence of numerous Locals here to venerate the Bodhi tree. Apart from all these, the four corners of the Seema Malaka temple, you also have shrines which are entirely dedicated to the Gods of Hindu religions – Ganesha and Shiva.

Located west to Unawatuna, Jungle Beach is a pretty bay nestled in a forested area. It is one of the secret gems of Sri Lanka which has everything to make your holiday experience one of its kind. The place retains its pristine natural charm as it is not ventured by a large number of tourists throughout the year due to its secluded location.Jungle Beach offers a plethora of water sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, boat ride and many more. The reefs jutting out of water a few metres offshore make a good site for snorkelling which introduces you to the exotic marine life of the region. Apart from schools of colourful fishes you will spot moray eels, encounter crabs, barracudas, trigger fish and many other reef dwelling creatures. The other activities you can indulge in Jungle Beach include whale watching, visiting historical ruins, jungle hiking and many more.There are top notch resorts and cabins at Jungle Beach furnished with plush amenities and offering you a tranquil retreat amidst the jungle settings. The resorts and cabins have private walkways which will lead you to the calm shoreline caressed by the lapping waves of the Indian Ocean. You can savour traditional Sri Lankan cuisine in a communal restaurant or enjoy private dining on a beachside restaurant. In a nutshell, Jungle Beach is the place which awaits you to explore its hidden treasure and spend your vacation in style and luxury.

Established in the year 1936, Dehiwala Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Asia. It is also believed that the open zoo concept was introduced by this particular zoo which was further taken ahead by various others. Basically known as the Dehiwala Zoo, the real name of the zoo is the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka. The place is a flourishing landscape that is housing over 2,500 splendid animals, birds, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and much more. The distinct species does not limit to the ones found in Sri Lanka but there are animals from various other countries too. Not only the fauna, but the tropical flora of the zoo is also renowned for its diversity among its visitors. The visitors can experience the variety of the species kept in the zoo along with close interaction with the various harmless birds and mammals. They also get to witness the lifecycle of various animals and insects along with the breeding and symbolic patterns of butterflies and fish. Also, the two of the most popular activities of the zoo, elephant dance & show and the other being the night safari is a must-to-do. The soothing green flora and dense wood patches in the zoo make it even more appealing to the tourists. Also, one can unwind themselves in the butterfly garden where they could witness the colorful myriad of butterflies fluttering over their heads. You must take help from the zoo map in order to not miss any part of the sprawling zoo.

The Royal palace of the Kandyan Kingdom is the last reminiscence of the reigning King of Kandayan, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. The palace dates back to the 14th century, yet witnessing the glory and glamour of the kingdom is stupendous. The Palace has seen scars from many wars and tremors of foreign invaders like the Portuguese.The Royal court, another architectural capture has confronted many meetings formed by the king and it is here that the end of Kandyan Kingdom convention was signed.The temple of Tooth contributes maximum attraction to the tourists. Even though, the original palace walls have been burnt and rebuilt, the interiors remain the same. Highlights: Dalada Maligawa - Temple of Tooth (relic of Buddha’s Tooth), Royal Court (Magul Maduwa), Queen’s Bathing pavilion – Ulpange and the Royal gardens inside the Palace gates Location: Sri Dalads Veediya Kandy Price: Rs 100 per head Timings: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm