Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka boasts no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites listed by Unesco, ranging from sacred cities, palaces and cliff-top citadels to colonial strongholds, spanning close to 3,000 years of history. Sri Lanka is a land of excitement, bursting with colour, friendly people and fabulous things to see and do. Sri Lanka is shaped like a giant teardrop falling from the southern tip of the vast Indian subcontinent. It is separated from India by the 50km wide Palk Strait, although there is a series of stepping-stone coral islets known as Adam's Bridge that almost form a land bridge between the two countries. The island about the same size as Ireland, West Virginia or Tasmania.
Colombo, the busy capital city of Sri Lanka is an excellent stop for shop-a-holics and lovers of Sri Langkan cuisine. With the international airport, nearby it’s worth stopping here for a night or two at the beginning or end of your holiday. Among the many places of interest in the city are the Fort, the Old Parliament House (presently the Presidential Secretariat), Buddhist temples, Old Churches, Hindu temples, Mosques, the National Museum, Independence Hall, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall and the Zoological Gardens. ‘Five Star’ international hotels and a large number of other hotels provide comfortable accommodation in the area.
The southern half of the island is dominated by beautiful and rugged hill country. The entire northern half comprises a large plain extending from the edge of the hill country to the Jaffna peninsula. The highest mountain is the 2524m Mt Pidurutalagala near Nuwara Eliya, and the longest river is the Mahaweli, which courses from the centre and empties into the Indian Ocean at Trincomalee. The best beaches are on the south-western, southern and south-eastern coasts. Animal life is profuse and includes the elephant, as well as leopards, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, wild boar, snakes, crocodiles, dugong and turtles. The island is an important seasonal home to migrating birds, including flamingos, which flock to the lagoons, wetlands and bird sanctuaries.
Sri Lanka, like nearby India, appeals to a wide range of interests including walking, culture, ancient sites and outdoor activities that ensures a steady (ever increasing) trickle of tourists. In addition to the wide range of activities and interests, Sri Lanka has an excellent variety of accommodation.
South and West Coasts These are the famous beach areas of Sri Lanka and there is a wide choice of excellent accommodation. The West Coast is the more developed as it is closer to the airport. The South Coast is closer to National Parks. The old town of Galle, with its Dutch Fort, in the area is worth seeing as are numerous other sights.
Central Sri Lanka It was here that the early Kings created their cities and the whole area offers places of Sinhalese and Buddhist interest from the oldest site at Anuradhapura (380 BC) to the more recent (10th century) medieval capital at Polonnuruwa. The rock fortress at Sigiriya (5 AD) is extremely impressive and the Cave Temples at Dambulla (1 BC) are definitely worth visiting.
Kandy and the Highlands The hill country of central Sri Lanka offers a totally different experience with its green vistas and cool, comfortable climate. Kandy is where the old capital of Ceylon was situated and where the British created huge tea plantations. Places that may be visited while in this scenic area include the elephant orphanage; Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lanka; Horton Plains (where you can walk to World’s End – a drop of 700m); Adam’s Peak and the gem centre of Ratnapura. Sri Lanka offers leisure and pleasure opportunities at a gentle pace; this is no package holiday destination but rather one to be savoured by discerning travellers who enjoy discovering their own diversions.
Featured Destinations from Europe
Kristiansund : Norway
Kristiansund, officially rewarded township status in 1742, is a city and municipality on the northwestern coast of Norway, in the Nordmøre district of county Møre og Romsdal. The city borders islands/municipalities Smøla to the northeast, Tustna to the east, Frei* to the south, and Averøy to the SW (in the
Moate : Ireland
Moate (Irish: An Móta) is a town in County Westmeath, Ireland. The town is situated near the Bellair bog and Athlone, along the N6 route between Dublin and Galway. A disused railway runs through the town, built by the Midland Great Western Railway to connect Dublin and Galway (now served
Çankiri: Turkey
Çank?r?: Turkey
Badajoz : Spain
adajoz (formerly Badajos), the capital of the Spanish province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, is situated close to the Portuguese frontier, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid-Lisbon railway. The population in 1990 was 126,781; in 2002 it was 136,851. Badajoz is the see
Leiden: Netherlands
Leiden: Netherlands
Rakvere : Estonia
Rakvere Travel: Estonia Rakvere (Wesenberg in German) is a town in North Estonia, county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland. Rakvere is mainly known for its historical stone castle in Vallimägi Hill. The castle was built before 1226 at the place of Tarwanpe fortress of
Mariestad : Sweden
Mariestad is a Municipality in Västra Götaland County, in western Sweden. The municipality covers an area of 603.1 km². Of the total population of 23800, 11857 are male, and 11943 are female. The population density of the community is 39 inhabitants per km².
Heilbronn: Germany
Heilbronn: Germany Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, near Stuttgart. This district-free city is completely surrounded by the district Heilbronn. It is located on the river Neckar . As of 2004, it has ~120,900 inhabitants. Heilbronn was first mentioned as Helibrunna in 741. In 1281, it was declared city by
Le Chenit : Switzerland
Le Chenit is a commune in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, part of the district de la Vallée de Joux. It is located in the heart of the valley in the Jura. It includes the hamlets of Le Brassus, Le Sentier (the district capital) and L'Orient.
Oradea : Romania
Oradea (Hungarian: Nagyvárad, sometimes Várad; German: Großwardein) is a city located in the county of Bihor (BH), in Transylvania, Romania. The city proper has a population of 206,527 (according to the 2002 census); this does not include areas outside the municipality; they bring the total urban area population to approximately
