The Gems of Sri Lanka

A country poised for its cultural richness, natural diversity, and world heritage sites was long overdue on my travel list since 2021! And finally, my plan to visit Sri Lanka reached its Eve peak by the end of 2023 after a deliberate search of key places to see and the ideal time of the year to untap the pearl of the Indian Ocean.

Historically known as ‘Ceylon’, Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia that has a population of over 20 million and an intriguing mix of languages, cultures, and ethnicities. Its strategic location made it a key regional hub for trade and a target for colonization throughout history – from the Portuguese to the Dutch and British – until it regained its independence in 1948.

The island is shaped like a teardrop of India and is blessed with so many hidden gems, beautiful landscapes, and mouthwatering flavors from its northern to central and southern areas. A ten-day trip will be barely enough to explore some of its memorable highlights.

A Piece of Kandy

The first entry point to Sri Lanka is its capital ‘Colombo’; however, I decided to skip the city life and go directly to the country’s central highlands. Deemed as the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka, Kandy is a great place to start your Ceylon adventure, get a sense of its cultural and spiritual vibes, and cleanse your eyes, mind, and soul with its beautiful nature. The city is set on a plateau surrounded by mountains overlooking its scenic Kandy Lake, the beating heart of the city.

The city center is full of local markets, where you can taste the island’s tropical fruits and flavourful cuisine. It’s also home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the relic tooth of the Buddha. Sri Lanka’s largest botanical garden, Peradeniya, with over 10,000 trees and 4,000 species of plants, is located about 5 km west of Kandy. Apart from strolling down its impressive Avenue of Royal Palms, you can also walk through the garden’s suspension bridge hanging over the longest river in Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli River. 

Kandy is also well known for its colorful traditional dance including the cobra dance, mask dance, and the Ginisila (demonstrating power over fire). The Kandyan dance was originally performed by Indian Shamans who came to the island and mostly used drums along with lyrics in tune with the movement of the dancers. While exploring the neighborhoods in Kandy, you’ll find many jewelry shops specializing in gemstones. Sri Lanka, also named ‘Gem Island’, is blessed with natural wealth and some of the world’s finest gemstones, from sapphires to topazes, amethysts and others. In 2003, blue sapphire was declared the national gemstone of the country with its superior quality and mesmerizing color range.

Sri Lanka’s World Wonders

While staying in Kandy, you can easily take day tours to explore some of Sri Lanka’s world-renowned natural wonders and landmarks. Within a two-hour drive from Kandy, you can visit Dambulla Cave Temple, a sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries that contains five sanctuaries, Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2 ) and 157 statues. The temple is well preserved with no changes to its overall form and design, or the location of sculptures and paintings.

Only 30 minutes from the cave temple is the UNESCO’s 8th World Wonder and an engineering and architecture marvel, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya, also known as the ‘Lion Rock,’ is built atop a tall rock mountain - 200 meters high, and is surrounded by lush greenery and water gardens. The site also features well-maintained frescoes, which reflect the daily life in ancient Sri Lanka. You can also take an adventurous climb to the top of the rock and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

One of the most memorable experiences was taking a scenic train trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, which is about a three-hour ride through the breathtaking views of Lanka’s green highlands, waterfalls, picturesque towns, and jungles. If you have time, you can continue the full ride for 8 hours, reaching Ella. My day began with some adventure, taking the wrong train, pushing among the crowd, and finding a seat to enjoy the views. People were very helpful and reassuring that despite missing the train and seat reserved in my ticket, I could still get off at Hatton station, a one-hour drive from Nuwara Eliya.

After reaching my ultimate destination, I had a quality time sailing through Gregory Lake and then visiting Damro Tea, which has over 5,000 hectares of lush tea plantations spread across all major tea-growing regions in Sri Lanka, the third largest exporter of tea worldwide. You’ll be greeted by the kind staff and taken on a brief walk through the factory to explain the tea-making process, sample some of its best products – from black tea to green, white, and flavored teas, and taste a delicious tea cake with the serene views of infinite green fields.

Coastal Vibes

Following a five-day stay in Kandy, full of green landscapes, discoveries and rain, I moved to the south coast area of Sri Lanka. Galle, known for its unique fort, stone sea walls, and car-free streets, is the central town of this region. The south coast has many small towns that overlook the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean with fine golden sands, palm trees, laid-back vibes, and tasty food. Eventually, I picked a boutique beach house in Unawatuna for my five-day beach stay. I fell in love with every detail of this little haven, the yellow and turquoise rooms, the colorful reception, the dreamy seaside restaurant and café that became my favorite corner for morning coffee, book reads, sunset views, and the local Lion beer sips by the sea.

While my schedule in Kandy was packed with tours and visits, I decided to slow down and start embracing the real sense of chill and vacation by the beach. This also meant skipping some of the ‘must-see’ places in the country, such as its national parks that offer an opportunity to see elephants, leopards, and birdlife. I enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, speaking to locals and tourists, soaking in the sun, and observing the rainy weather on the beach under the shade. Yoga, meditation, diving, and surfing classes are also available for those who wish to be active or calm.

Nearby interesting locations include the Madu Ganga (river), the second-biggest wetland in Sri Lanka. The river is rich in biodiversity and covers 150 acres of land and 14 mangroves. It is also home to 300 plants and about 250 wildlife species, making it an ideal place for ecologists, botanists, and nature lovers. The Ambalangoda Mask Factory and Museum is another spot that can give you a background about the local culture and history of mask making. The masks have dramatic and visual representations of evil, hopes, and beliefs and are still used to hold ceremonies, treat illnesses, and celebrate special occasions.

Unawatuna is just one hour away from Mirissa, a famous spot for whale-watching trips. Every morning around 6 am, boats gather at the harbor to take visitors to the middle of the ocean and race for the much-anticipated whale show. Plenty of energetic dolphins can also be spotted along the way. However, whales aren’t always guaranteed. I was lucky enough to have a quick glimpse of the blue whales that were quickly changing directions and making a shy, brief appearance to the crowd.

Even though I did read about the country and put together a rough wish list of places to see and things to do, I was amazed by Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, diverse landscapes, kind people, and rich cultural heritage…And I even ran out of time before tapping into some of its popular landmarks. This trip taught me to walk under the rain like locals do, get comfortable with uncomfortable scenarios, adjust my travel pace, let go of the fear of missing out, and enjoy the simple day-to-day details and interactions.