Dondra Head Lighthouse

Dondra Head Lighthouse in Matara

Dondra Head Lighthouse is situated in the Dewinuwara of the Southern Province, Sri Lanka. It is considered the southmost point of the island which is situated 6km from the Matara. The Dondra Head Lighthouse is considered the tallest lighthouse in Sri Lanka and one of the tallest lighthouses in Southeast Asia.

The lighthouse is managed by the Sri Lanka Port Authority. It is open to visitors, but you should get special permission to visit its balcony. The view looks breathtaking, and you can observe the calmness of the Indian Ocean and many other land areas of the Matara region.

The height of the lighthouse is 49 meters (160 feet). But the light’s focal height is 47 m. Overall, it contains seven floors and 14 windows. Further, Dondra Head Lighthouse is considered one of the four international lighthouses in Sri Lanka. Electricity is used to power the lighthouse, where its range is 52 km (32 miles).

The construction of this lighthouse was commenced in 1887 and completed in 1889. The initial design was made by Sir James Nicholas Douglass. But the construction was done by William Douglass. All the construction materials, including bricks and steel, were imported from the UK.

The place is a superb spot for travelers who visit southern Sri Lanka. Therefore, we request that you don’t miss this place when you are traveling to Matara, Mirissa, Weligama, or any other area of the Matara area.

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(Image Source: Anna Franci from Facebook) 

Hike to Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya

Sigiriya View from Pidurangala Rock

Pidurangala Rock is another famous tourist attraction in the Sigiriya area. It is a 360-degree viewpoint with a nice little hike to follow. The view of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress from Pidurangala Rock is simply breathtaking, and we believe you’ve seen it while searching for images of Sri Lanka on Google Images.

Pidurangala Rock is not as famous as Sigiriya Rock. But it is a superb destination that you should also visit during your tour of Sigiriya. It is located 2 kilometers to the north of the rock fortress. The hike will start from the Pidurangala Raja Maha Viharaya, where the initial part of the hike is not very difficult. In the beginning, there is a clear and nice footpath. After that, you will meet the Pidurangala cave temple and the ancient ruins around it. Historians believe that the ruins date back more than 2000 years. They also believe the entire area was a monastery before King Kashyapa came to Sigiriya in the 5th century AD.

After the cave temple, your hike will become much harder, and you will have to cross some difficult spots. The route is easy to find thanks to the man-made red arrow signs. Anyhow, your route is along the large boulders. If you are an experienced hiker, it will only take you around 30 minutes to climb this rock. But if you are a lazy hiker, then it will take you around 45 to 60 minutes to reach the top.

The view from Pidurangala Rock is absolutely fabulous. It is an ideal spot to take some rare images. From there, you can observe most parts of the Central and North-Central provinces of Sri Lanka. The best time to visit there is at sunrise and sunset. These times allow you to take your best shots.

As a visitor, you should buy a ticket to enter Pidurangala Rock. It is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no water source on the top; therefore, you should bring enough water with you.

Finally, we suggest that you don’t forget this place during your travels to Sigiriya Rock Fortress or Dambulla Cave Temple.

 

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(Cover Image Source: @ParadiseSrilanaka 

Nuwara Eliya Post Office

Nuwara Eliya Post Office

The Nuwara Eliya Post Office is a popular tourist attraction in Nuwara Eliya. It is situated in the center of the city, where you can reach it easily. The post office is considered one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. It was inaugurated in 1894 by the British.

The Tudor Revival architecture has been used in the development of this building. It looks very beautiful when you are seeing it from a distance. The red bricks were used in the construction. Its clock tower, which you can see in the corner of the building, also attracts visitors.

Sri Lanka Post issued a Rs 10 stamp on December 20, 1990, to commemorate World Post Day. On that stamp, a photograph of this building was included. In 2012, the upper floor of this building was converted into accommodation for tourists. Before that, it was used by former postmasters as quarters.

If you are a traveler who explores the hill country of Sri Lanka, then we request that you visit the Nuwara Eliya Post Office during your Nuwara Eliya tour.

Seetha Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya

Seetha Amman Kovil

Seetha Amman Kovil, or someone called “Seetha Amman Temple,” is a famous tourist attraction in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. It is 5 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya and 1 kilometer from the famous Hakgala Botanical Garden. Therefore, you can visit Seetha Amman Kovil during your Nuwara Eliya tour or Hakgala Botanical Garden visit. The village is called “Seetha Eliya,” and it is near the Hakgala Mountain.

It is the only Hindu temple in Sri Lanka that was dedicated to Princess Seetha. People believe the place is special where it combines with the epic tale of Ramayanaya.

 

History of Seetha Amman Kovil

King Ravana has captured Indian Princess Seetha, according to the Indian epic Ramayana. He took the princess to Sri Lanka and kept her as his prisoner. This happened almost 5000 years ago. The Hakgala region is thought to be one of the locations in Sri Lanka where King Ravana held captive Princess Seetha.

The nearby stream to the Kovil, according to the story, catered to Princess Seetha’s needs when she spent her days here. Later, Lord Hanuman found the princess. But King Ravana captured Hunaman and burned his tail. He was then burned alive with his tail. Now, the people believe the dark color of the soil comes from when the Hunuman burned the area. They also think the circular depressions on some rocks in the stream are because of Hanuman’s footprints.

There were no Kovils at first. But later, people made the Kovil by respecting Princess Seetha. There, you can see South Indian architecture on the Seetha Amman Kovil.

 

More facts about the Temple

Seetha Amman Kovil is open every day, and visitors can participate in pujas. There are two main puja times. The morning session continues from 8 a.m. to 1pm. The evening session runs from 2 to 6 p.m. You are no need to buy tickets to enter. It is fully free. In any case, you can donate to the Kovil. You can also find this place easily when you are traveling on the Badulla-Nuwara Eliya road.

If you are a traveler who loves to explore Ramayanaya locations in Sri Lanka, then you should definitely not miss this place. It is 10 minutes from Nuwara Eliya. Therefore, you can come here very easily. As well, don’t forget to visit Seetha Amman Kovil with your full devotion.

 

Some Photos of the Seetha Amman Temple

Seetha Amman Kovil  

 

(Image Source; Facebook.com and Credit should go to the original owners)

 

 

Best Hiking Places in Kandy

Hiking Places in Kandy

Looking for the best hiking places in Kandy? If yes, you are in the correct place. This post will go over the top six hiking and trekking spots in and around Kandy. According to us

Here are the best hiking places in Kandy and its surrounding areas.

  • Hanthana Mountain Range
  • Pettigala
  • Knuckles Five Peaks
  • Alagalla
  • Yahangala and Kehelpathdoruwa
  • Dothalugala

We will go into greater detail about these 06 locations from here, but if you are really interested in them, we recommend that you read more about them.

Hanthana Mountain Range

Hanthana Mountain Range is a very popular destination among hikers in Sri Lanka. It is situated very close to Kandy City. You can observe this mountain range from the city. The radio transmission towers on the mountain range will definitely catch your eye as you look towards the entire range. It’s not difficult to reach the place.

There are 4 main routes to go there;

  • Peradeniya-Sarasawigama Route
  • Mahakanda – Sarasawigama Route
  • Galaha – Delthota Route
  • Hanthana – Uduwela Route

The Hanthana-Uduwela Route is the simplest of the four. It’s a few-hour, moderately difficult hike. After reaching the first peak, you can trek long distances along the whole mountain range. Uragala is the highest point, with an elevation of 1240 m.

Katusukonda is the most attractive spot for adventure in the Hanthana Range. It is a narrow footpath on the edge of a large rock that is ideal for adventure lovers. There is a sudden change in weather on the top of the range. As a result, it is best to go on a hike after considering the weather forecast. You can observe the entire Kandy city from the Hanthana. This is certainly one of the best hiking places in Kandy for sure. 

Related: Hanthana Mountain Tekking with Mahaweli.

Pettigala

Pettigala Mountain is 20 kilometers away from Kandy. To reach there, you should first visit Digana Town via the A26 route. You’ll need to travel another 5 kilometers to get there. Before Pettigala, you are entering the Bambaragala Raja Maha Viaharaya. It is a historically important temple because of the old temple. During your hike, you can visit the Bamabragala Raja Maha Viharaya with devotion.

Hiking to Pettigala is not much of a difficult effort. It is easy, and you have to travel around 1 km to reach its top. The height of the mountain is 760 meters, and anyone can go to the top without any problem. You will meet two ancient caves called ‘Indrasala Guhawa” and “Sithuwam Lena” during this trek.

The top view is absolutely fantastic, and you can observe Victoria Reservoir from there. wonderful spot to relax and take in the scenery. You can view the Knuckles Mountain range and the surrounding mountains from there.

Knuckles Five Peaks

The Knuckles Mountain Rage has spread to Kandy and Matale districts. You can enter the Knuckles range by traveling around 30 to 40 kilometers from Kandy. Knuckles Five Peaks are the most popular hiking spot in the Knuckles Massif, with an elevation of 1863 m. It is the second-highest point in the entire range by elevation. For the travelers, it is a much more difficult hike and a much longer trek.

There are two major routes to reach the Knuckles Five Peaks. one from Wattegama-Bambarella and the other from Teldeniya-Thangappuwa. The best route to follow is the first one. The Dawatagala Nature Trail serves as the starting point for the trek. You will meet a beautiful waterfall called ‘Knuckles Falls’ during your trail. The hike is easy at the start and then gradually gets harder when the elevation goes up. You can reach the first peak within 2 hours. According to your preferences, you can cover all five peaks in a single day. Second Peak is the highest point and offers the best views. From there, you can view most of the Knuckles Mountain Range.

Alagalla

Another popular hiking destination in Kandy or Sri Lanka is Alagalla. It is a moderately difficult hike with a duration of 2–4 hours. There are two major routes to reach the mountain. One comes from Ihala Kotte Railway Station, while the other comes from Poththapitiya Village. But the most famous route is from Ihala Kotte station. You can reach the station easily via the Kandy-Colombo Railway route.

The hike starts near the Alagalla Tea Factory, and both routes join together there. You have to follow a small footpath to reach the mountain. Because of the steep slope, the later part of the hike is much more difficult. The elevation of the highest point is 1140 m. You can observe a scenic view from the top of the mountain, where you can identify most of the Kagalle and Kandy districts. It is a superb place for adventurous hikers.  So, don’t miss this place if you are seeking best hiking places in Kandy or Sri Lanka. 

Yahangala & Kehelpathdoruwa

Both Yahangala and Kehelpathdoruwa are the two neighboring mountains on the south-eastern side of the Knuckles Mountain Range. Those two peaks are now really popular among local hikers and trekkers. Yahangala (1220 m) is a popular place where it combines with the epic tale of Ravana. The mountain is very hard to climb and needs a proper guide to reach its top. Kehelpathdoruwa (1485 m) is not much harder to climb, and you can trek long distances to reach its top.

To get to those two mountains, you must travel about 60 kilometers to the eastern side of the Kandy district. Therefore, you should first come to Udadumbara, a small town, and then travel to Kalugala, a small village. From there, the trail will start, and it takes around 12 hours to complete the whole journey.

Dothalugala

Dothalugala is another beautiful mountain in the Knuckles Mountain range. To reach there, you should enter Knuckles Range through Hunnagiriya. The distance from Kandy is 50 kilometers. The trail will start from Deanston Village, and you will need to trek around 3 km to reach its top from there. It’s not much harder to climb, and there is a well-maintained footpath available for visitors. The place is not very popular among most travelers. Rather, describe it as a hiking destination; a nature trail is an excellent way to introduce the area.

Dothalugala is a biodiversity hotspot. Here you can identify rare flora and fauna. It is one of the two places where you can go camping in the Knuckles Mountain range. Dothalu Ella is a nice little waterfall that you will meet during your trek. So, finally, we can recommend that Dothalugala is one of the finest hiking places in Kandy district.

Final Words

Here are the six best hiking places in Kandy and its surroundings. If you are a foreigner, then you should have a local guide with you to visit these places. Apart from these six places, there are a few rare hiking spots also available around Kandy. We haven’t included them because they are best suited for experienced hikers. If this post would satisfy your requirements, then we request that you share this article with your friends on social media.

(Cover Image Credit: Isuru B Rathnayake)

Sigiriya Village Tour (Habrana) with Mahaweli Tours and Holidays

Sigiriya Village Tour

Our Sigiriya Village Tour will give you an exciting and memorable experience, for sure. This guide will give you all the information regarding the tour.

Introduction to Sri Lanka Tours

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean with a total area of 65610 sq km. It is a rich nation in lovely beaches, scenic landscapes, amazing wildlife, and cultural heritage. It is a worthwhile decision to visit Sri Lanka in 2022 and beyond. There is no matter whether you are a foodie traveler, an adventure lover, a beach lover, or a wildlife enthusiast. Sri Lanka is the best place for all these activities. The island is now free from COVID-19 and welcomes tourists with great hospitality.

Our Village Tour in Sigiriya

If you are interested in experiencing traditional Sri Lankan culture, you should definitely visit a Sri Lankan village or a remote area.Our Sigiriya Village Tour will give you opportunities to listen closely to villagers and their normal lifestyle, which they have been surviving for thousands of years.

You can spend a few hours with villagers to learn about their daily lives. You can enjoy sightseeing paddy fields, chena cultivation, poultry keeping, and beekeeping during your Sigiriya village tour. Activities such as bullock cart riding and traditional catamaran riding will also provide you with unforgettable experiences.

The visitors will also participate in learning how to cook traditional Sri Lankan food. Here you can take part in its activities and finish up with delicious Sri Lankan dishes. Finally, you will take the buffet lunch that you worked on.

Highlights of Our Sigiriya Village Tour

Dates and times are available all year.
Time: It is preferable to begin after 11.30 a.m.
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Meals Included: Sri Lankan Lunch
Difficulty Level: Easy
Dress code: Casual dresses with shoes, sunglasses, and caps and hats if required since it is an outdoor activity taking place during the middle of the day.
Tour Type: Private
Guided Tour: Yes. Tour guide will accompany the guests,s and there will be local guides to explain each activity.

Activities / Places Nearby

Image Gallery

Arugam Bay Beach in Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay is a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province. It’s a beach with a beautiful shoreline. The place is hugely famous among local and international surfers, where it is considered one of the best surfing destinations in Sri Lanka and the world. Therefore, Arugam Bay is busy with surfers during the season.

Arugam Bay beach is situated in the Ampara district of Sri Lanka, 320 km away from Colombo. The distance from Ella is 134 km, and the distance from Kandy is 213 km. For that, you should first come to Pothuvil, and then you should travel 4-5 km to reach the place. The surrounding area is home to a diverse religious population, the majority of whom are Muslims.

The beach is so attractive and superb for water activities. The blue ocean with gently rolling waves is ideal for swimming with joy. White sands are great for doing beach volleyball and football with your buddies. There are many restaurants, hotels, and guest houses available for the visitors. You can stay or take your food from there. The nights are also busy with travelers. It’s fantastic if you can stay there late at night around the bonfire.

As we mentioned earlier, it is an awesome place for surfing. During the season, the beach hosts a number of international surfing competitions. Beginners can also learn to surf, and there are numerous surfing schools to help them. You can rent surfboards and ride the waves until you’re exhausted. The lifeguards are always waiting to help you during the season, so you don’t want to fear surfing. Arugam Bay’s season runs from June to September.

Arugam Bay is situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, where the average rainfall is around 1250 mm and the average temperature is around 28 °C. As a result, you will experience hot and humid conditions the majority of the time. The wet season begins in November and lasts until February.

Other than the beach, there are some nice places to travel around Arugam Bay. Baby Point, Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Kumana National Park, and Elephant Point are some of the places to visit nearby.

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Related Article: Beautiful Beaches in Sri Lanka

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(Cover Image Source: Pearl Exp from Facebook) 

White Water Rafting and Outdoor Adventure Tour at Ulapane

Whaite Water Rafting Ulapane

White Water Rafting in Sri Lanka

White Water Rating is an adventure activity with lots of excitement and joy. It is a water activity that is an interesting thing to do in Sri Lanka. Being an island in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is renowned as a beach paradise. But the country is rich in cascading waterfalls, scenic mountains, cultural heritage, and abundant wildlife.

There are more than 100 rivers all around Sri Lanka. Some topographical features of some of those rivers have made them ideal spots to do whitewater rafting. It is a challenging activity for newbies. The Kelani River, Mahaweli River, Kotmale River, and Sitawaka River are the most suitable rivers for this activity. Kithulgala is the best and most famous place for whitewater rafting in Sri Lanka. The Kelani River is flowing through Kithulgala, where it has created the best spots for whitewater rafting.

White Water Rafting in Ulapane

After the Kithulgala, Ulapane is another nice place to do whitewater rafting in Sri Lanka. The Mahaweli river flows through Ulapane before reaching the Gampola area. The water’s flowing speed and other geographical features make it ideal for doing this water activity there. It has rapids graded from grade 4 to grade 5.

Ulapane is a place that is situated 28 kilometers from Kandy and 130 kilometers from Colombo. You can’t do this activity on a heavy rainy day because of the high water speed and huge amount of water. Anyhow, it is possible to do it on other rainless days.

Starting time from Kandy: 8.30 a.m.

Travel time to reach Ulapane: approximately 1 hour

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Not Recommended for: Pregnant Women; Travelers with Back Pain and Knee Pain

Dress codes: Suitable sportswear with shoes Safety helmets and other equipment will be provided.

Meals: Drinking water and lunch will be provided.

Other Outdoor Adventure Activities

Apart from whitewater rafting, you can do many other water sports, including rafting, kayaking, and water abseiling. As well as being lucky enough to do wall climbing, air rifle shooting, archery, etc. We will provide safety guards and other safety equipment for each individual where we have high concerns for their safety. Those will be managed by well experienced guides who have worked in Sri Lankan forces before.

You are also allowed to go trekking through villages, tea estates, and waterfalls. It will definitely bring you fun and new experiences. Ulapane is a beautiful spot near the Mahaweli River with a pleasant environment.

Adventure Activity in Sri Lanka
Wall Climbing

Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya.

Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya

Introduction

Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple that is situated in the Mahiyangana Area of Sri Lanka. The place belongs to the Badulla district of Uva Province, where the temple is situated a few kilometers away from Mahiyangana City. This is a historically and religiously important place for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It is considered by the Mahiyangana Temple as one of the Solosmasthana, or 16 sacred religious locations in the country.

How to get Mahiyangana Temple?

The distance to the location from Colombo is 185km and from Kandy City is 68km. You can easily reach the location if you are following the Colombo-Padiyathalawa A26 route. After reaching Mahiyangana City, you need to go around 3 kilometers along the Mahiyangana-Badulla Route to reach the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya.

History of the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya

According to the Mahavansa, Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka after the 9th month of enlightenment. This happened on the full moon, Poya day, of the Duruthu month. The Lord Buddha’s aim was to stop the fight between two groups of local people called “Yakkhas. On that day, the place was renowned as “Mahanaga Park,” where Lord Buddha landed in Mahiyangana. It was the first time Lord Buddha landed in Sri Lanka in the 6th century BC.

Lord Buddha gave his hair relics to the god ‘Saman’, and then he made a stupa in the Mahiyagana Area by keeping those hair relics. In the early days, it was renowned as the “Miyuguna Viharaya”. The place where the stupa was established is considered where Buddha kept his feet in Sri Lanka. Therefore, Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya and the area are extremely important places for Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

In history, Mahiyana and the surrounding area were called “Binthenna”. It was a historically important place because it connected both Ruhuna and Rajarata.

The stupa of the Mahiyangana Temple was reconstructed on many occasions. King Devanampiyathissa, King Dutugemunu, King Parakramabahu, and King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe were some of the kings who contributed to the development of the temple. In the last century, former Prime Minister DS Senanayake contributed to the Modern Stupa of the Mahiyanagana Raja Maha Viharaya.

Modern Temple

The modern temple looks really beautiful from a distance. You can find many beautiful photos of the temple on Instagram and other social media. Many pilgrims visit the place every day, and it is a fabulous place to visit in the Uva province of Sri Lanka. The surroundings also look so beautiful, with many mountains and paddy fields. The Mahaveli River also flows near the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya. The perahera festival in Mahiyangana is also a nice cultural festival to watch in Sri Lanka.

Places to Visit in Mahiyanagana and Surrounding Areas

–Sorabora Wewa

-Dambana Weddha Village

–Rathna Ella waterfall in Hasalaka

-18 Bends Route in Udadumbara

–Wasgamuwa National Park


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(Note: Mahiyangana Temple Image Credit goes to respective Owner)

Galway’s Land National Park in Nuwara Eliya

Galway’s Land National Park

Galway’s Land National Park is another newly established national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated near Nuwara Eliya City, 2 km away from the city centre. Therefore, this is a nice place to visit during your Nuwara Eliya tour. It is also a fabulous place for those who love wildlife and nature.

Galway’s Land National Park is a small sanctuary with an area of 27 ha. Consisting of montane dense forest, it was first declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938, then became a national park in 2006. Visitors can access this site from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.

It is a place that you can’t explore with your vehicle and where you need to walk on your own two feet. There is a nice foot path that continues for almost 2km. Together with Victoria Park, the area is considered the perfect place for bird watching in Sri Lanka. It has found 10–30 endemic birds and many migratory birds here. The North East monsoon season is considered the best time to see migratory birds, which is the ideal time to visit Galway’s Land.

Apart from those birds, Galway’s Land National Park is home to other animals, including waterhogs, mouse deer, barking deer, and wild boar. You can also see many flowering plants, large trees, local plant species and a few foreign plant species. The cool and calmness are ideal for those who love to relax within an urban environment. So, we recommend not missing this place during your next Nuwara Eliya visit.

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(Cover Image Credit: Kompasuwa – කොම්පාසුව )

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