Travellers heading to Sri Lanka must make sure they visit the South. At the bottom of this teardrop isle there are many beauties to behold; cave temples, national parks, lush tea plantations, historically significant sites and other hidden treasures.
Galle has a beautiful natural harbour and lots of historical charm. Situated in the southwest, Galle is a fortified city built by the Portuguese in the 15th century but reached its height of development in the 1700’s during the Dutch Colonial period. It is a World Heritage Site that has not been modified much at all.
Nuwara Eliya, meaning ‘city of light’, with its hedges, a multitude of rose gardens, red roofs and even a Hill Club with golf course is just like a British village. It was founded by the British in the 19th century and was the main ‘retreat from the heat’ for British colonialists. The town is the main market-gardening centre of Sri Lanka and is a most important location for tea production.
Nearby is the beautiful town of Ella, a small village high in the mountains with one of the best views in Sri Lanka. Ella is small sleepy town that didn’t even receive electricity until 1984 but it has trails leading to waterfalls, temples and tea plantations.
Mulkirigala Monastery is hidden amongst a forest of coconut trees & perched at over 180m above the surrounding grasslands.These peaceful rock temples are decorated with statues and wall paintings that date back to the 2nd century BC.
The most visited national park in Sri Lanka is Yala. It is famous for it’s leopards, having the world’s highest concentration, with other animals including elephants, deer, hyena, sloth bear, crocodile, wild boar and a large variety of birds.
Mirissa Beach is a peaceful getaway, with beautiful crystal water. If you happen to tire of sun baking there are plenty of things to entertain you, like snorkelling, diving, deep-sea fishing, bird watching, and boat rides. Whale watching is the most popular pastime here though, and you may be lucky to see some dolphins too. Come for the sunrise and stay for the sunset!
Come and experience the beauty of the south with us and see all of these amazing places with your own eyes. Enhance your life and experience all that Sri Lanka has to offer. Check out details of our next tour to Sri Lanka. Contact us on 1300 722 932 or info@touchofspirittours.com.au
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