Sri Lanka - The Southwest Beaches and 17th Century Galle
Sri Lanka has 1,330km of coastline! The Southwest in particular is home to some of the best beaches and for this reason the area has seen the largest development of coastal tourism. From Negombo 35kms north of Colombo to Unawatuna 125kms south you'll find some of the top resort properties Sri Lanka has to offer.
Negombo, is Sri Lanka's oldest beach resort and offers a long, often wide, beautiful stretch of sandy beach. 12 kms south of city centre but still a suburb, Mount Lavinia offers the nearest beach to Colombo and is home to the premier colonial heritage hotel Mount Lavinia.
42 kms south Kalutara is the first town outside metropolitan Colombo and an important spice trading centre during Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial times.
Offering calm seas, Bentota is one of the islands most popular beach resorts and Sri Lanka's water-sports centre. Beruwela, 55km south of Colombo is the starting point of 130 km long southern coast also a main fishing centre. Hikkaduwa, 99km south boasts of some of the best surfing waves in Sri Lanka, a long stretch of beach packed with restaurants serving fresh seafood. 125km south the beach at Unawatuna has been rated on the top 10 best beaches in the world. Sheltered by a double reef Unawatuna offers fabulous safe swimming and good snorkelling in crystal clear waters.
For those looking to combine both history and a beach experience then you need look no further than Galle. The 17th century Dutch fort of Galle - one of Sri Lanka's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and considered the best-preserved fortifications in South Asia, is crammed with colonial landmarks. Entre the 36-hectare Fort gates and you'll be transported back into Dutch Colonial era. Two excellent places to stay here include the 5* Jetwing Lighthouse property which sits atop a hillock overlooking the magnificent Indian Ocean and exudes a touch of history and class and the 5* Fortress Resort a exquisite property rising next to the beach fashioned in the style of a powerful fortress. Galle can also be easily reached from the beach resorts of Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna
Further south still, right on the southern tip of Sri Lanka's Indian Ocean coastline and close to the village of Tangalle, there is a very special property called Amanwella. Chic and contemporary Amanwella is situated in a mature coconut grove on a magnificent long white sand beach.
Three of the most notable properties along the Southwest include the elegant Jetwing Beach Hotel on the outskirts of Negombo, the adult-only 12 pavilions small luxury Serene Pavilions property in Wadduwa and the charming Vivanta by Taj beach and spa resort at Bentota. The perfect time to visit this part of the country being the dry season from December to March.
Cultural Triangle - Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy.
The Cultural Triangle, as it is called, is the area formed by linking the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. Anuradhapura was the finest and most renowned of all the magnificent early cities and capitals that Lanka boasted and Polonnaruwa was Lanka's medieval capital between the 11th-13th Centuries.
The 5*Heritance Kandalama, an oasis of luxury and relaxation, just a few minutes away from the ancient town of Dambulla is a great option to consider as a touring base for a few days as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are both within driving distance. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the 2,000-year-old cave temple at Dambulla and the Sigiriya rock fortress are also just minutes away from the property.
The Cultural Triangle is not just about history and the ancient cities. Here you'll also find Minneriya-Giritale National Park, home to an amazing diversity of wildlife including wild elephants, leopards, sloth bears and crocodiles. The Deer Park Hotel, which emerges in rustic splendour from the lush tropical jungle bordering Minneriya-Giritale National Park, is set within peaceful jungle scenery and is again an excellent base for exploring the local region.
129 kms from Colombo (around 2 hours by car), Kandy is the capital of the hill country, sitting on the banks of a picturesque lake. This charming city is also a perfect place to spend a few days exploring this breathtaking region with its hills, valleys, lakes, rivers and cascading waterfalls. Kandy, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, although now well developed is brimming with museums and temples and showcases Sri Lanka's rich history. The sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is housed here in its own temple. Places to stay include the 5* Mahaweli Reach Hotel, which boasts fabulous views over Sri Lanka's longest river - the Mahaweli; or the Earl's Regency with its 104 luxurious rooms offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountainous countryside. Just 14 kms kilometers away you'll come to the town of Nuwara Eliya. Surrounded by tea plantations Nuwara Eliya was a popular retreat for the British during colonial times and is often called "Little England". Here you can stay at the multi-award wining Tea Factory. The former dilapidated tea factory has been impressively converted into a luxury hotel offering 57 luxurious colonial style rooms with outstanding views of the surrounding tea plantations.
