Nestled away on the forested mountainside of Ritigala is a mysterious monastery, waiting to be uncovered!
Dating back thousands of years, the ruins of the forest monastery of Ritigala are immersed in mystery and legend. The ruins sit on the eastern side of the Ritigala Mountain which is carpeted with lush, dense forest and home to countless species of wildlife.
When looking to book a holiday in the far-east we hear people asking about Sri Lanka vs Thailand as a holiday destination. Here’s our two cents…
Given that we provide customised tours to Sri Lanka, you may expect us to be somewhat biased! The truth is – the answer depends on what you’re looking for from your holiday experience. Some travellers only really care about the beaches, while others like to spend some of their holiday time exploring the country, its wildlife and its culture.
Sri Lanka – The Pearl of the Indian Ocean – is blessed with so many stunning white sand beaches for such a small island. Paired with its unique points of culture and amazing wildlife, Sri Lanka is surely the ultimate beach holiday destination.
Surrounded by the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has world class beaches along its entire coastline.
The South coast of the island is particularly rewarding with the likes of Unawatuna beach near the colonial town of Galle and the intimate beach at Mirissa where you can also go whale watching (including Blue Whales)!
While the North and East of the island have countless beautiful coastal spots that come highly recommended, it is the West coast of Sri Lanka which is most the developed, tourist friendly and ‘Westernised’. It is on the West Coast you’ll find the fine, white sand beaches of Negombo – home to a large resort catering for sun worshipers and a great base to explore the island.
The emerald hills of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country provide some of the most picturesque landscapes you’ll find anywhere in the world.
There’s plenty to do in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country with the stunning views as a backdrop, including taking a scenic train ride through the meandering hills, visit Kandy – the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, or, for the more adventurous, white water rafting down the Kelani River!
Sri Lanka has been the focal point of Buddhist teachings since the third century BC. Today, over 70% of the population of the small island are Buddhists.
With more than 2,000 years of practicing Buddhism and culture, Sri Lanka can boast its ancient Buddhist temples like few places in the world. What’s more, because Buddhism is still the islands primary region, you can heighten your experience of visiting the Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka by coinciding it when the time of one of the many festivals that takes place.
The following are a few of the prominent temples you can see during a Sri Lankan tour:
