Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock

Visit the beautiful and laid back town of Ella. Located in the Badulla District of the Uva Province; Ella is a rather quiet place nestled in lush greenery. With plenty of accommodation to offer; boutique villas, resorts and hotels as well as cosy cafes, rest houses and pubs; Ella is an ideal place to unwind during a vacation. Board a train and enjoy the most scenic views from Nuwara Eliya to Ella whilst gradually appreciating the cooling climes of the hill country. Passing picturesque sights, especially the nine-arch Demodara Bridge, one can witness the true beauty of nature. The best two sites for hiking and trekking in Ella is the climb to Little Adams peak’s and the hike up to Ella Rock. Little Adam’s peak is also known as the “little brother” of the sacred mountain, Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada). The hike is not as vigorous as the path is marked with signs boards to ease your navigation around the trail. Begin a 45-minute walk from the Ella town to the foot of the mountain. Along the way, you may explore views of the local village and tea plantations. The path up the mountain may take you approximately 30-45 minutes. When you finally reach the top, you will be mesmerized by the panoramic view of Ella including the sight of Ella Rock. The climb is worth it as it offers breath taking views of the surrounding vistas. If you are ready to embrace a more adventurous hike, trek a journey to the height of Ella rock. From Ella town, trod along the road, up the railway lines and head south. The aim is to walk along the railway lines until you reach the second turn after the Kithaella train station. Be alert at all times when walking on the train lines! Bushy plants meet the beginning of the journey, while the ascent up to Ella Rock is through the neatly arranged rubber tree forest. The total time taken to reach the top of the cliff is roughly a two hour-long trek. The views of the gorgeous scenery however, are worth all your effort.

The Knuckles Mountain Range

This mountainous backdrop is stretched in between the Kandy and Matale districts; the range is spreading through Laggala and Urugala. The Knuckles is well known for its hosting of a wildlife sanctuary and a watershed. The Knuckles range offers many nature trails, however, it is best to get advice from a tour guide or hotel manager as to which trail suits you best. Some of the wonderful trails to experience include: Mini World’s End trail, Pitawala Pathena, Ash Cave trail, Niter Cave and the Knuckles Summit. The highest peak in the range is called Gombaniya. The views at the top are breath taking, although there are days when the view may be blurred by a sheet of mist.

Horton Plain National Park

The nearest towns to the Horton Plains are Ohiya and Nuwaraeliya. Declared as a World Heritage site in 2010, Horton Plains is a nature reserve home to diverse fauna and flora. The main tourist attraction site is ‘World’s End’, which is a steep precipice. A laborious track will lead you to see sights of the tea plantation and the daring drop from the top of it. The circuit to World’s End is an eight kilometer trek. Another trail to endure is the hike to Baker’s fall. This journey will divert you away from the main trail down to a more strenuous downhill descend. The best time to hike is the early morning hours, preferably around 6.00 am – 7.00 am.

Riverstone Sri Lanka

River stone peak is located approximately 30km away from Matale town. The path to River stone is untouched by urban development and therefore, remains unpolluted; surrounded with alluring scenery. The Riverstone trek leads to two picturesque waterfalls – Sera Ella and Bambarakiri Ella. The hike up to Sera Ella offers rock seats, on which one can relax and enjoy the sprays of water after a tiresome walk. The trek, known as Pittawela Paththana which is the lead to Riverstone Peak is about a two and half kilometer journey. The peak is a great place to rejuvenate with beautiful views of the countryside.

Belihuloya

Belihuloya is another destination well known for hiking trips in Sri Lanka. It is a village situated in the Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province. One may participate in abundant adventurous activities, hosted by local hotels, or canoe along the Samanalawava reservoir. The landscape is perfect to experience both, wet and dry zones; the land area covers an approximate of 1500m. Belihuloya is a famous bio-

diversity spot, making it an attractive destination for nature lovers.

So make sure you wear your best trekking shoes, carry plenty of water and visit these mind-blowing destinations; guaranteed to entice the nature lover in you. All of these sites promising stunning scenic views at the end or along the trail.

Sinharaja

Trek through the largest and the best-unspoiled rain forest on the island, which you cannot explore by any other mean but on foot! There’re more than enough reasons why to include Sinharaja rain forest in your list of adventurous things to do in Sri Lanka. Sinharaja is a jaw dropping amusing green beauty that stretches out covering a massive land area of 88.64km in the heart of the hill country – which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You will be astonished to hear that the borders of the rain forest are marked by two stunningly streaming down rivers. Slippery paths, sudden drizzles, exquisite flora and fauna and rare wild creatures are all a part of your enchanting journey in Sinharaja.

Kirigalpoththa

A trail to the second highest summit on the island located in Nanu-Oya is certainly one of the greatest nature trails you’d ever encounter. It’s a wonderful trail of mere 5.6 kilometers that goes through areas of wet lush lands, cloud forests, dazzling blooms and endemic creatures.

Finally, when you reach the summit, the crisp & clean air piercing through your throat, viewing a sight running for miles and the majestic feeling of conquering are going to kill all your muscle pains!

Pidurangala

The gem destination of Hiking & trekking in Sri Lanka is settled next to the famous Lion Rock Fortress of Sigiriya. Pidurangala is not another mere rock but it is an oasis of both adventure and historic legends as this was a meditative retreat for monks centuries ago built by King Kashyapa. Being the adventurer’s paradise in the cultural triangle the rock is quite a delight to explore with an uphill trek.

Atop lies a hundreds of years old temple with a giant statue of Buddha and a panoramic landscape scenery which make worthwhile you’re every single step through rocky and skidding path to the top. Above them all lies the view of the famous lion rock fortress standing up from the thick jungle setting which complements the value of the journey as many don’t get to see the fortress from this angle.

Sri Lanka, known as “the teardrop of India”, is a small but very beautiful island with a rich and ancient history and culture. It is full of the most amazing places to visit and in recognition of the wondrous beauty of these sites, eight of the best have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka

The sacred city of Anuradhapura             – (1982)
The medieval capital of Polonnaruwa      – (1982)
The Sigiriya rock fortress                         – (1982)
The royal city of Kandy                            – (1988)
The Dutch fortifications at Galle              – (1988)
The Sinha raja forest reserve                  – (1988)
The cave temples of Dambulla                – (1991)
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka                – (2010)

Kandy

Kandy is a mountain city in Sri Lanka. It is also the site of Sri Dalada Maligawa, also called the Temple of the Tooth, as a special container holds a tooth of the Buddha. Over the years, the relic came to be very important politically; the belief was that the holder of the sacred tooth was the one who would have power over the Buddhist population. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. Kandy became the capital city of the last remaining independent kingdom in Sri Lanka after the coastal regions had been conquered by the Portuguese. Invasions by the Portuguese and the Dutch (16th, 17th and 18th century) and also by the British (most notably in 1803) were repelled. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times, it’s believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort. Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815, fortified by the terrain of the mountains and the difficult approach. In addition, Kandy is a city set in forested hills and surrounded by tea plantations. As one of the most beautiful cities of Sri Lanka, it is famous for its scenic beauty and rich cultural value. The Sacred City of Kandy was appointed the status of World Heritage Site in 1988, mainly due to the Temple of the Tooth.

Sigiriya

Located in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, Sigiriya, considered by some as the eighth wonder of the world, consists of an ancient castle used by King Kashyapa of the 5th century AD. Sigiriya also known as Lion Rock, the archaeological rock fortress or lion -mountain and palace of the Sigiriya situated in the central province in Matale District of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya was designated a World Heritage site in 1988.The Sigiriya site has the remains of an upper Sky Palace sited on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the Mirror Wall and the Sigiriya Frescoes, the lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock, and the moats, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of meters out from the base of the rock. The Sigiriya rock is a hardened magma plug from an extinct and long-eroded volcano. The site is both a palace and fortress. Sufficient remains to provide the visitor with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders. The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are still exquisitely beautiful.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka which lasted for the longest period as the capital in the country. It is the largest and oldest city of all ancient cities in Sri Lanka. It is important to locals for religion, history and the culture and world-famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. The Civilization which was built upon this city was one of the greatest civilizations of Asia and in the world. The city now a UNESCO heritage site, lies 205 km (127 mi) north of the current capital Colombo in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, on the banks of the historic Malwathu Oya. Founded in the 4th century BC it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom till the beginning of the 11th century AC. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. It was also a wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, which is sacred to the Buddhist world, which its surrounding monasteries covers an area of over sixteen square miles ( 40 km²) and is one of the world’s major archaeological sites.

Galle

Galle is a town situated on the south western tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km (74 mi) from Colombo. Galle was known as Gimhathiththa before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British, who developed the harbor at Colombo. Galle is the main city and port on the south coast. Built by Europeans, the Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications show the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions. There are two main gates to the Fort, containing the Dutch Coat of Arms on one side and the British on the other. Houses with art decoration from the Dutch and British period can be seen on the street, many of which have become boutique shops and guest houses. Dutch Reformed Church, National Maritime Museum, Old Dutch Hospital and the New Orient Hotel are the major landmarks within the fort. Nevertheless, until the construction of breakwaters at the Colombo port was completed in 1875, Galle remained the island’s major port. On 26 December 2004 the city was devastated by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the city alone.

Polonnaruwa

The second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 CE to reunite the country once more under a local leader. While Vijayabahu’s victory and shifting of Kingdoms to the more strategic Polonnaruwa is considered significant, the real Polonnaruwa Hero of the history books is actually his grandson, Parakramabahu I. The city Polonnaruwa was also called as Jananathamangalam during the short Chola reign. However, with the exception of his immediate successor, Nissankamalla I, all other monarchs of Polonnaruwa were slightly weak-willed and rather prone to picking fights within their own court. They also went on to form more intimate matrimonial alliances with stronger South Indian Kingdoms, until these matrimonial links superseded the local royal lineage and gave rise to the Kalinga invasion by King Magha in 1214 and the eventual passing of power into the hands of a Pandyan King following the Arya Chakrawarthi invasion of Sri Lanka in 1284. The capital was then shifted to Dambadeniya. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the kingdom’s first rulers. Polonnaruwa was designated a World Heritage site in 1988.The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Cave Temple Dambulla

Dambulla Cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a world heritage site in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. This paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The later 4 include two statues of Hindu gods, god Vishnu and god Ganesh. The murals, covers an area of 2,100 square meters. Depictions in the walls of the caves include Buddha’s temptation by Mara (demon) and Buddha’s first sermon. Dambulla was designated a World Heritage site in 1991.

Sinharaja Forest

Sinharaja forest reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forests in Sri Lanka. It is also national park in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1989. This is a very good place to see many endemic birds. Sinharaja is situated close to Ratnapura and is between the villages of Rakwana, Deniyaya and Matugama. It covers about 11,187 hectares from east to west. Out of a total of 830 indigenous flowering plants in the Island Sinharaja has nearly 500 plants and out of 21 native bird species in the country 17 species have made Sinharaja their home. It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978, as representative of tropical humid evergreen forest Eco system in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of its International Network of Biosphere reserves.

Central Highlands

Sri Lanka’s highlands are situated in the south-central part of the island. This site comprises the Peak Wilderness Protected area, the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest Central Highlands was added to the list in 2010 and qualified because of its biodiversity. At over 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) above sea level, this natural UNESCO World Heritage Site joined the others in 2010. There are plenty of hiking trails in the Central Highlands, and it’s a biodiversity haven for naturalists. These montane forests, where the land rises to 2,500 meters above sea-level, are home to an extraordinary range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species such as the western-purple-faced langur, the Horton Plains slender Loris and the Sri Lankan leopard. The region is considered a super biodiversity hotpots.