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Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Galle, Sri Lanka
Galle is a small town on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. The main attraction
in Galle is the Galle fort practically has a town inside is bustling with shops,
restaurants, and hotels. If you can, live here! I lived at a hotel at the
farthest tip of the fort. The beauty of it is you can see both sunrise and
sunset from it which means you are practically standing on the near most
southern tip of the Indian sub-continent. This was my first highlight of Sri
Lanka backpacking.
- Galle Fort
- Galle Lighthouse
- Unawatuna Beach
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Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Mirissa is a town near Galle known for Whale and dolphin watching along with a
few other rare species of water animal exotic to Sri Lanka. The season for whale
watching is limited from October-May. You can check out the tickets here. Apart
from backpacking, Sri Lanka is a great destination for cheap water activities
like snorkeling with sea turtle. You can go experience Scuba diving or
a beginner’s session in surfing at the Weligama beach next to Mirissa. Sri Lanka
is also known for its biodiversity when it comes to wildlife. In case you want
to see elephants along with other animals in Sri Lanka you can take a jungle
safari to Udawalawe National park or Yala National Park from Mirissa or Galle.
Check on the best time to travel to any of these because rain may be a spoiler
of day plans.
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Pinnawala, Sri Lanka
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Kandy, Sri Lanka
It takes less than an hour from Rambukhana to Kandy. Kandy is one of the most
important cities of Sri Lanka, located in the central province. It has been the
capital of Sri Lanka before Colombo during the reign of local kings. It’s also
the seat of the Temple of the tooth which is the relic of Buddha’s tooth. It is
one of the most sacred places in southeast Asia for Buddhists.
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Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
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Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
- Sigiriya Rock (සීගිරිය)
- Elephant Rock
- Pidurangala Rock
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Dambulla, Sri Lanka
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Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Anuradhapura the seat of the Sinhalese Kings of Sri Lanka and thus the capital
who ruled for about 2300 years starting 543BCE. The city consisted of complex
irrigation systems, monasteries, public baths, residential quarters, parks,
hospitals, and Schools. Only the ghost of the city’s vibrant past is present.
You will find many monasteries in the shape of huge stupas built around the
city. Although, after a couple of them, all looked the same to me. You can book
a tuk-tuk or cab from your hotel for half a day and they can take you around the
whole town which will really save up a lot of hassle. The best time to see the
outdoor places would be earlier in the morning or after 4 when the sun is not so
scorching. You can visit the indoor museums during the afternoon time. We took
the afternoon train back to Colombo.
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Colombo, Sri Lanka