Sri Lanka

Colombo

Like many capitals, Colombo is a city full of chaos, turbulence and crowded, not very attractive and well-organized for tourists.I would recommend to just stay there one night.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka was exposed in the 19th century. Here you are face to face with an era spanning fourteen centuries and facing numerous wars, religions and legends. Even today many of the temples are still active and are visited with great respect by the many believers. Make sure you are properly dressed to visit the temples. Knees and shoulders should be covered. Take a pare of socks to put on visiting a temple barefooted. The ground can be very hot.

Polonnaruwa

This former capital was forgotten over the years and taken over by the jungle, just like Anuradhapura, although the foundation of Pollonaruwa is much more recent. The monuments are well preserved although they no longer have a religious function. We rented some bikes to visit the site. It's a comfortable and easy way to get around.

Dambulla

Dambulla is the center of the cultural triangle and the geographic center of the island. A century before our era a king who had been driven out of the Tamillegers from Anuradhapura sought refuge here. The dethroned king met a hermit who taught him it was to lead a poor life and beg to be able to provide for the maintenance of his family. When the king recaptured his throne, he changed the caves of Dambulla into beautiful richly decorated temples. In the course of time, UNESCO-recognized temples were supplemented with other treasures and murals.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya lies on a 200m high rock surrounded by jungle. A human tragedy lies at the origin of this archaeological-architectural piece of history. Kassapa, the power hungry king, killed his father and drove out his brother to hide here. In the plain he had a palace built and landscaped beautiful gardens. A citadel arose on the rock, where he retreated during the humid season and felt safe for everyone else. To get forgiveness for his sins and to come to the favor of Buddha, he showered monks with favors and benefits. Eighteen years after his departure, the exiled brother returned with an army from India to chase the father killer out of his golden cage. After the departure of the king, the complex came into the hands of the monks. Eventually the place was abandoned and Sigiriya fell into oblivion.

Kandy

Kandy, another former capital of Sinhalese kings, lies between the mountains and green hills with an artificial lake in the center. Kandy, the capital of the mountains lies at 500 m altitude. Because of the atmosphere and history, this city is one of the absolute highlights of your trip. The city is the largest religious center of the country, since the temple with the tooth of Buddha has a place.

Nuwara Eliya

Grown mountains and hills, parties trees, forests and tea plantations, a lake and many streams, vegetable gardens where vegetables thrive luxuriantly in the shade of the fruit trees, golf courses and colonial houses of another time, and more to the south mountain pastures where cows are peaceful to graze. A lot of green pure mountain air, far from the scorched heat of the Sri Lankan coast. The city, at an altitude of 1900 meters, is the highest in Sri Lanka and was built by British settlers. Nuwara Eliya was built as a small English town in windsor and tudor style in combination with the Sinhalese environment. Make sure you have enough warm clothes! It can be very chilly in Nuwara Eliya.

Ella

Ella is a wonderful place, because the environment is very beautiful, green, colorful and wooded, with a beautiful horizon in the distance. Ella is hip, cozy and very European. You get the feeling that, if Ella had wings, she would rise from the earth to fly in the clouds.

Mirissa

Paradise beaches, despite the tsunami. The beach is bordered with the inevitable coconut palms and has the shape of a crescent moon. Until a few years ago the big cape was the shelter for parrots, hence the name Parrot's rock. A fantastic place to enjoy the sunset.

Unawatuna

Unawatuna, just 5 km from Galle, is one of the beaches that you see on a postcard and in tourist brochures. The charm of Unawatuna is mainly in the location, in the bay with reasonable dimensions which are bordered by a rocky point on which a beautiful white dagoba adorns. Unlike most beaches, this beach is a bit off the main road, far from the traffic. The village, along a beach lined with coconut trees and other tropical trees, is intersected by roads that you cross on foot or by bike.

Negombo

Negombo is a touristic center close to the airport. It is the ideal location for the last day of your holiday to buy some souvenirs.