Have you thought about visiting Sri Lanka for your next holiday? Well, then you have made the right choice. This lovely tropical island has a lot to offer you. Hence, in this article, we will be exploring seven amazing things to do in Sri Lanka with your loved ones.
01. Sight see the Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya
The Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya is found in the west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Historically, it was used by the kings of the Kandy Kingdom. It is one of the prominent and most visited garden on the Island with it palatial grounds and stately surroundings.
It is home to some 4,000 species of plants, which are clearly labelled with facts about origins, scientific and medicinal information. The garden is highly renowned for its range of colourful and outlandish orchids. It is beautifully designed with architectural brilliance highlighting places to go for a walk, sightsee or to have a picnic. It is an ideal place to enjoy tranquillity and calm away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The main areas are palm avenues showing the majestic trees on either side, perfect for short walk or to sit down on the lawn area surrounded by nature and birds. There is also the spice garden, which has a collection of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg just to name a few. One of its central features is the Java Fig Tree, which stands firm with its widespread colossal branches making an impressive sight for visitors.
Google map - https://goo.gl/maps/T7wqQ54SaMvzzdJMA
02. Enjoy divine cuisine at Ella Spice Garden
The Ella Spice Garden is a family run business that offers cooking classes to inspired travellers who want to learn to cook authentic Sri Lankan food. There is a small garden where they grow most of the famous spices used in traditional dishes to give people a thorough experience of how to cook them. Visitors are taken on a journey of discovery into the garden to see the spices in its original form followed by a three hour cooking class preparing different curries including a blend of potatoes, meat and seafood. At the end, you get to eat the meals you have prepared and are given a little recipe book with details of the meals.
It is a great way to spend an evening in friendly family atmosphere learning about Sri Lankan cuisine.
Google map - https://goo.gl/maps/1MZHRA1Pz8EuUpvW9
03. Spend the day at the Galle Fort
The Galle Fort is located at the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, known for its historic fortress originally built by the Portuguese and then later widely developed by the Dutch during the colonial era.
This place is captivating because of its European influence and gives a different vibe to what you would expect to see on the Island. It is like a mini- Europe with its high walls and cobbled streets. The Fort gives a full view of the Indian Ocean making it a pleasant walk to enjoy in the afternoon. As well as appreciating the structure, there are grand mansions, museums and mosques to admire, an expression of its multi-cultural community.
The place comes alive with its collection of fine boutiques and quirky shops. There are plenty of fancy restaurants that offer European style food as well as Sri Lankan food. It is an ideal place to spend the day, collect some souvenirs and enjoy great food.
Google map - https://goo.gl/maps/sacviRFCcKpyheAk7
04. Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
This Elephant Orphanage is a nursery and a breeding ground for elephants rescued from the wild in Asia. It is in the village of Pinnawala situated between Colombo and Kandy, easily reached by a short train journey. You can enjoy the enchanting land by watching the herd of elephants swimming openly on the beautifully secluded land, which makes great memories for photographs. You can pay for a walking tour with the elephants or buy the right to feed a baby elephant. The local people and the surrounding land with its tall palm trees make it an unforgettable experience.
Google map - https://goo.gl/maps/VeA7VrBmjPsLx3ML9
05. Enjoy magnificent views at the Lipton’s Seat Tea Plantation
This is one of the must see places to explore the origins of the famous Lipton tea bag. It is one of Sri Lanka’s major exports to the UK made accessible by Sir Thomas Lipton who built a huge tea plantation to ensure mass production of tea at affordable price for ordinary people. It can be found at the Dambetenna in the Haputale mountain region.
The Lipton Seat, accompanied by a statute of the great man is where he used to sit to watch his growing empire. Perched on the edge of a huge cliff, you get a visible view of the Sri Lanka hill tops stretching seven province including Nuwara Eliya and Sabaragamuwa. The tea plantation reveals rows and rows of thick leafy green with a vast array of different shades making a stunning contrast.
The best time to admire the views is early morning, as the sun rises over the hills, sweeping away the morning mist to reveal clear views.
Google map - https://goo.gl/maps/m3arFHC3Xhy6zL9W7
06. Go Glorious Whale Watching at Mirissa
Mirissa is a lovely small tourist town on Sri Lanka’s south coast between Galle and Matara. It has become one of the favourite hotspots for whale watching in the world because of warm waters of Indian Oceans, guaranteeing whales being spotted most of the time. You can take an exciting boat trip out to the sea to watch the world largest creature; the Blue Whale, Sperm Whale, Killer Whale and Fin Whale. In addition, you get to see Dolphins species including the Bottlenose and Risso Dolphin. It is a once in a life time experience and will be a great memory to capture in a photograph for all time.
Google map - https://g.page/whalehorizon?share
07. Survey the iconic Nine Arch Bridge
The Nine Arch Bridge is a stunning piece of railway architecture in Sri Lanka found between Ella and Demodara railway stations. The attraction of the bridge lies in the fact that it was designed during the colonial era, built by local builders with the expertise of British engineers who created an absolute masterpiece.
Many tourists visit it to capture the train running over the robust bridge; combined with the surrounding greenery and forest trees, it is a little paradise and a worthwhile view to watch. You can get to the bridge by walking along the track from Ella station, which is acceptable but not encouraged for safety reasons. Those who are brave enough to do it, take pictures of the track while walking along. Alternatively, you can hire a tuk tuk to drive you to this beautiful and picturesque spot.
Google map - https://g.page/whalehorizon?share
Conclusion
This is an experience of Sri Lanka that is amazing yet relaxed and chilled; and focused on creating memories that stays with you forever. So, there are many more things to do in Sri Lanka with your loved ones. For example, the cooking class lesson, if one embarks on it, is a great way to keep a memory alive long after the holiday. You can recreate the dishes and share it with family or at least you will never forget how authentic Sri Lanka food taste like. You also get to learn about the history of the Island and how it has evolved to the amazing place that it is today