Sri Lanka the “Pearl of the Orient”
The political situation was starting to be quite tense, as the country suffered a lot during the pandemic, but I can honestly say that as tourists, besides the lack of petrol and some food items in restaurants, we felt totally safe and enjoyed an amazing break.
We landed in Columbo, with our Emirates flight around midday and the arrival at the airport was super smooth and fast. Our driver/ guide was waiting for us with a big smile and flowers necklaces. As we live by the sea all year long, we decided to see as much inland as possible and then spend the last few days by the beach. So, from Columbo airport we headed straight to Sigiriya which was my absolute favourite. The drive from the airport was quite hectic due to the traffic at this time of the day, I think the journey took about three hours, so don’t forget to take some snacks you. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180 m high. The climb wasn’t easy, as the steps which are used to go up and down are super narrow … but we all managed with a few moans here and there from our girls. The view, from the top is stunning, but for me the most spectacular part was the wall paintings on the façade, but I won’t reveal more. This is a must see to visit.
We decided to stay in a hotel near the city of Dambula as we were headed to Polonnarwa the next day; the second oldest of all Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first established as a military post by the Sinhalese kingdom. If you have been to Angkor Wat, this is very similar.
On day 3, we drove down to Kandy, UNESCO world heritage site and stayed in a lovely hotel on top of the hill, where we could admire the entire city and the green mountains surrounding it. In Kandy, you must visit the Temple of the scared tooth relic where cultural shows are held daily.
Another of my favourites, was the visit of the Peradeniya Garden on the way to Nuwara Eliya, where we could walk amongst 100 years old trees gifted by Royalties and Presidents from all over the world. The garden hosts a big colony of cute little monkeys that walk you through the park, which kept our girls walking nicely..??
On the way to Nuwara Eliya, you must stop for some tea shopping and get ready for some cooler weather, depending on the time of the year. We got to sit by the fireplace and enjoyed a nice cup of tea. Next up was the very famous “Instagramable” train ride that took us from Nanuoya to Ella…stunning scenery along the way with total immersion with locals as we had booked the slowest train… We then spent one night in Udawalawe where we did a short safari in the national park and saw a zillion elephants, from our roof topless jeep which the kids adored.
Finally, the last 2 nights were booked in a lovely hotel in Galle, not far from the old town where life was really bussing. I loved the colonial heritage that left amazing architecture near by the Fort area. We enjoyed a mangrove tour, some time on the beach, walks in old streets with a little shopping and great food before heading back to Columbo to catch our flight back.
If you are an outdoorsy family/couple/solo traveler looking for a mix of cultural and adventure, then Sri Lanka is just what you need. The flight is short, the people are warm and welcoming, and the greenery is refreshing break coming from our desert.