Unawatuna is a town in southern Sri Lanka. It’s known for its coral reef and its palm-lined beaches, like Unawatuna Beach. Nestled in nearby jungle, the Japanese Peace Pagoda has a stupa with ocean views. The Sea Turtle Farm and Hatchery south of town protects endangered species. North across the bay is the city of Galle’s fortified old town, founded by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch in the 17th century.
Read MoreTrincomalee is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. Set on a peninsula, Fort Frederick was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century. Within its grounds, the grand Koneswaram Temple stands on Swami Rock cliff, a popular vantage point for blue-whale watching. The holy complex contains ornate shrines and a massive statue of Shiva. Nearby Gokanna Temple has panoramic views over the city and the coastline.
Arugam Bay, the best surf spot in the island. A long breaking right-hand point break. The wave breaks over the reef with several fast sections rifling down the line. It has plenty of loyal surfers returning every year to catch the amazing waves and the welcoming atmosphere.It also boasts plenty of beachfront chalets, oceanside restaurants and a mellow, swing-another-day-in-a-hammock kind of vibe that’s totally removed from the brash west-coast beach resorts. Arugam Bay also makes a great base for several adventures in the surrounding hinterland
Read MoreBentota is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Its long beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Coral-rich dive sites include Canoe Rock. On Bentota River, centuries-old Galapota Temple has a large Buddha statue. Southeast is Lunuganga, the estate, and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa. Northeast is his brother Bevis's Brief Garden.
Sri Lanka’s capital and largest city, Colombo.Offers confusingly busy bustling streets, Modern building and Old ones with Portuguese, Dutch and English influenced architecture and cultural melting pot. But once you look past the hustle and bustle, Colombo is a city with beautiful Buddhist temples, amazing restaurants and a buzzing vibrant night life scene.
Galle is a one of a kind city where you can travel into the dutch colonial era in an instance. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic city is an absolute pleasure to explore, with surprises hidden in every corner. The city is dotted with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its narrow lanes you'll pass stylish cafe's, boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers.
Read MoreJaffna is a city on the northern tip of Sri Lanka. Nallur Kandaswamy is a huge Hindu temple with golden arches and an ornate gopuram tower. By the coast, star-shaped Jaffna Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and later occupied by the Dutch and British. Jaffna Public Library is a symbol of the city’s post-war regeneration. Jaffna Archaeological Museum has Dutch cannons and pre-colonial artifacts.
Negombo is a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka, north of the capital, Colombo. Near the waterfront, the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort now house a prison. Negombo Lagoon, lined with fishermen’s huts, feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal. The canal leads south to Colombo. Neoclassical St. Mary’s Church, completed in the 1920s, features a ceiling decorated with vivid religious paintings.
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