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Personal Travel Manager, Kathy Millett, shares her experience of colourful and historic Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a country with beautiful beaches, tea estates in the high country, historic monuments and vast beautiful nature.
I recently took to the road to explore some of the country’s best-loved attractions. If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, here are my recommendations of some must-visit destinations:
The city of Negombo, which is located in close proximity to Bandaranaike International Airport, is the perfect place to begin your trip and to get stuck into the Sri Lankan way of life. Negombo is a city rich in history and is strongly influenced by the Catholic Church, which is reflected in the city’s old town. The city has a narrow beach with a beautiful lagoon, making it the perfect destination for both culture and nature.
Next on the list is Dambulla, a 134 km drive from Negombo. Dambulla is the site of five well-preserved caves housing ancient status of Buddha, making it a fascinating exploration of Sri Lanka’s spiritual history. Dambulla also boasts the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia.
Next up is Sigiriya, which is an ancient palace located a short 18km drive from Dambulla. Sigiriya is a world heritage site with a 5th century “Fortress in the Sky”, also known as ‘Lion Rock’ because of the huge lion sculpted rock that once stood at the entrance to the Palace. For those interested in archaeology, it is an absolute must-see.
For Sri Lanka’s rich tea history, I recommend taking a trip to Kandy, a world heritage site which is 89km south of Sigiriya. A mountainous area populated with tropical plantations (mainly tea) and antique tea factories; Kandy is the home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic – one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world.
Finally, the port city and capital of Colombo, which is 114km south west of Kandy. Colombo is a melting pot of colour, culture and colonial history, with modern architecture, colourful markets and malls, making it the perfect destination to end your trip before you depart for your journey home.
Talk to your local, personal travel manager today to find out more about Sri Lanka http://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm-search/
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