Tag: sri lanka

Indulge in a Day at the Horse Races in Little England Nuwara Eliya

Established more than 150 years ago during the country’s colonial era, horse racing is a sporting event that is intrinsically linked with the heritage of the island’s hill station. Dating back to the wonder years of the 1860’s when European holidaymakers visited the isle they called Ceylon for racing season, the Sri Lankan Turf Club has today become the epicenter for the sport in the island nation. It manages an engaging calendar of racing events with the patronage of local and foreign visitors. Tucked away within a landscape that is often compared to the Scottish highlands, the Turf Club’s home situated in breathtaking Nuwara Eliya is the setting of the island’s most coveted horse racing events. Where the cities cool climate and the mist filled track creates an enchanted setting for one of the world’s oldest sporting activities. Joining forces with the Ministry of Sports as of 2011, racing season in Sri Lanka’s Little England kicks off during the holidays in April when racing enthusiasts from across the country and the world flock to the race course 5km from Spring Acres to witness history in the making.

2012’s exciting line-up in April included four red letter events namely the Governor’s Cup, the Sunquick Cup, the First Meet and the Final Meet while previous highlights included the Labookelle Cup, Sporting Times Trophy, the Upali Wijewardene Kandos Cup, the Sumathi Cup and the Nescafe Cup. February’s line-up includes the Independence Race Meet while events are also hosted during the months of June, August, September and December. Organized with all the pomp and pageantry of an English style racing melee, the horse races at Nuwara Eliya also include elaborate luncheons, teas and pageants where the Best Dressed Gent, Best Dressed Lady and Most Photogenic Personality are selected from among the chic crowd of attendees. Fashion shows by local designers are also a popular feature at the races which are covered extensively by local media as a high society event with who’s who in Colombo high society in attendance.

Travellers on the lookout for Sri Lanka tour packages must consult Shanti Travel Sri Lanka before making their reservations. Offering its clients some of the best holiday packages Sri Lanka has to offer this reputed name in the travel industry pulls out all the stops when it comes to unforgettable vacations in the island.

Google+

Wasgamuwa Safari

Offering a thrilling safari into the wilds of Sri Lanka, Wasgamuwa National Park provides plenty of adventure that brings you up close with some of the island’s exotic wildlife. Those wishing to visit this park, but also wanting to stay at a Sri Lanka resortclose to the coast can choose Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa. Situated by the sea in the village of Passekudah, this distinctive Sri Lanka spa resort makes an ideal East Coast base from which to make day trips to the park. Located in the Polonnaruwa and Matale districts, the Wasgamuwa National Park is home to a large herd of elephants that one can see while on a safari. Rich in biodiversity, the park has around 23 mammal species including toque macaques, water buffalos, Sri Lanka leopards and sloth bears. Wasgamuwa also has a variety of bird species, making it an ideal place for bird watchers to visit too.

Knuckles Mountain Range

Blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, Sri Lanka is home to a stunning array of natural attractions such as the Knuckles Mountain Range. One can find holiday packages Sri Lanka that let you visit this area of immense natural beauty and biodiversity such as the Sri Lanka tour packages offered by Shanti Travel. Named as such due to the fact that from a distance it looks like a closed fist, the Knuckles Mountain Range is a conserv

ation area which features a variety of forest formations along with a fascinating array of flora and fauna that are endemic to the island. Also known as the Knuckles National Heritage and Wilderness Area, this lush green getaway with its waterfalls, tea plantations, flowing rivers and dense forests is also ideal for such activities as hiking and mountain biking.

Safari Camping Holidays in Sri Lanka

Travellers while on a Sri Lanka Travel adventure can make use of the Trails & Treks tour offered by Jetwing Travels and explore the wild in Sri Lanka. This exciting Sri Lanka Tour Package will take you on an adventure of nine nights through a number of safari destinations with mystical waterfalls. Among many highlights the leopard safari at the famous Yala national park is certain to make memories for a life time. You will spot herds of Elephants throughout Yala. During the journey, the travellers will pass through small hamlets, gravel roads and past temples exploring the rural living in Sri Lanka.

Sailing in Pasikuda

Leisure traveller based at a hotel in Pasikuda such as Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa are in for a memorable holiday treat. Take a break from the comforts of the Sri Lanka resort to go sailing in Pasikuda. The pristine Pasikuda Beach has long been attracting locals and foreigners. You can opt to sunbathe, swim or indulge in more exciting activities such as boogie boarding, surfing and sailing. Hop aboard a canoe to embark on a thrilling sailing excursion taking in the sheer coastal beauty. Owing to the calm waters of the area, the activity proves to be safe for all.

Google+

Wild Life Safaris

As you drive or trek into the many hectares of the national parks in Sri Lanka that are open to the public, you will discover just why the country is such a popular place to visit amongst nature enthusiasts. Yala, one of the country’s largest national parks is probably the most popular of them all. A river gurgles and twists itself before ending in the gorgeous blue ocean waves of the eastern sea of Sri Lanka. The pearly white sands are a perfect haven to curl up, lounge and drown in the rays of the sun. Within a natural enclave created by trees that kiss the sky are elephants, leopards, wild boar, sloth bears, herons and peacocks.

A safari in Sri Lanka often includes an overnight stay within the park territory, giving you the opportunity to observe the activities of nocturnal species and occasionally elephants can be heard trumpeting as they move around after dusk. Wilpattu, Singharaja, Bundala and Udawalawe or the Kithulgala rainforest which is located closer to the country’s capital city are all well loved destinations by nature lovers.

The Sinharaja rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is bound to create a memorable experience for those who like to trek into jungles. Sinharaja is home to many Sri Lankan endemic fauna and flora and has been the centre for many studies carried out by environmentalists. The location and landscape at Udawalawe make it one of the most appropriate places to see elephants up close and to feed the friendly deer.

Sri Lanka is synonymous with tea, gems, beautiful beaches, the hill country, hospitable people and not to forget wildlife safaris. During any season that you choose to travel to the tiny island nation, there is bound to be many venues to opt for. Sri Lanka tour packages will give you a basic guide as to whether the safaris along the eastern coast are better at a particular time or whether sticking to the mid country jungles is the best option. Regardless of the choice you make, all holiday packages Sri Lanka come wrapped in all its finery. For convenience, peace of mind and an unforgettable island experience, get in touch with Shanti Travel Sri Lanka as they have great deals and itineraries.

Elephant Back Safari

The island of Sri Lanka is home to an exotic array of wildlife that can be experienced by choosing Sri Lanka tour packages that take you to the country’s national parks. Such holiday packages Sri Lanka can be organised with Shanti Travel which provides tours that lets you appreciate the island’s stunning natural biodiversity. A unique way of engaging in some distinctive sightseeing is by taking an elephant back safari which lets you ride this majestic beast into the wilds! As you ride through the jungle you will be able to see a wide range of birds and other species amidst breathtaking landscapes. Taking place in such areas as Habarana, Kaudulla and Sigiriya, some elephant back safaris also let you bathe and feed these gentle giants.

Kottawa Rainforest Reserve

Sprawled across 37 acres in the heart of the emerald isle’s southern coast, lies one of its most secluded nature reserves. Located along the road to Udugama this tranquil quarter of Galle in Sri Lanka is known as the Kottawa Rainforest Reserve and serves as one of the island’s most verdant lowland rainforests. Travellers to the region in search of luxurious Galle hotels can choose Jetwing Lighthouse for all their accommodation needs. Providing guests the best in modern amenities in the ‘Down South’ area of the island, this stylish rest is one of the finest Sri Lanka hotels on the coastal belt.

Relatively unknown to the visiting multitudes to the island, the isolated Kottawa Rainforest Reserve is well worth the visit for nature lovers in search of breathtaking natural beauty off the beaten track.

Displaying all the features of a lowland rainforest, the area’s vegetation mainly consists of wet evergreen trees that tower above the canopies of other plants that struggle to feed off the sun’s ray due to the dense foliage above. The lack of sunlight penetrating the lower reaches of the rainforest has lead to a great propagation of Dipterocarpus variety plants and other fern species which occupy the forest bed in addition to orchids that depend on large tree trunks for nourishment.

An impressive 170 species of trees are believed to inhabit the Kottawa Rainforest Reserve of which a hundred have been identified as those endemic to Sri Lanka alone. More than 80 non-endemic tree species are also found in the rainforest and have been labelled with their botanical name for easy identification. As a part of the Kottawa Kombala Conservation Forest which occupies an impressive 1,800 hectares, the Kottawa Rainforest and Arboretum is a highlight for wildlife enthusiasts touring Galle; the Kottawa Arboretum showcases well over 70 species of winged beauties from all across the world.

The endemic bird species which have been identified to number around a dozen include the spot-winged thrush, yellow-fronted barbet, grey hornbill, brown-capped babbler and the Sri Lankan spurfowl. Stunning butterflies are another attraction at the venue as Tree Nymph, Birdwing and Blue Oakleaf butterflies are abundantly found here. Giant squirrels, purple-faced leaf monkeys and toque monkeys are also frequently spotted in addition to non-venomous Sri Lankan snake varieties and lizards.

Diving in Passikudah

Located in a hidden stretch in the Eastern borders of the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, Passikudah is certainly a treat both on the surface and under. With shallow waters stretching several meters into the ocean, the Passikudah beach has come to be famously known as Natures very own shallow pool. Now the Eastern Sri Lanka is slowly blossoming with a whole new vigor that is making it on par or perhaps even better than the rest of the island.

For many the name Passikudah barely rings a bell and the reason is simple; for years this tiny little town was occupied by the rebellions. Destroyed and damaged, the many wonders of Passikudah that was once cherished by locals had become the forgotten treasure of the island. With the end of the internal conflict in the island, Sri Lanka blossomed with a whole new vigor and ardor. The many zones in the island that were neglected due to war became the primary focus of the government and private funders. Passikudah was one such town; known for its sparkling blue shallow ocean Passikudah is paradise for a long lazy splash and also quite famous for snorkeling. Of late diving has become a popular activity in this town. With perfect water, with a clear and a warm soothing temperature, the underwater world is not short of wonder in Passikudah. Schools of fish swim pass you and corals garland your way as you swim through the many wonders of the aquatic zone. Passikudah Sea is the underwater Eden in Sri Lanka that is quite interesting to explore if you are a good swimmer, you need not be a professional; the ocean in Passikudah is calm and ever so welcoming.

For all the intricate information and equipment that you need for diving choose the Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa as your hotel to come home to. This is a new and the finest resort in Passikudah. Maalu Maalu has all the information and items you need when it comes to water sports in the area. This is one Sri Lanka Spa Resort that boasts as a perfect authentic Sri Lanka resort with a touch of luxury and class.

Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.

Google+

Jungle Trekking in Sri Lanka

Blessed with a diverse natural heritage, Sri Lanka features a variety of jungles that offer some truly unforgettable trekking excursions. Those looking to explore these areas and other natural sites while on a Sri Lanka travel adventure can make use of the trekking and hiking tours offered by Jetwing Travels. These exciting Sri Lanka tours take you to areas of stunning natural beauty seemingly lost in time. The mountainous central region is one of the best places for trekking and such sites as the Knuckles Mountain Range, Belihuloya and the Horton Plains National Park provides plenty of thrilling excursions. Not to be missed is a jungle trek through the Sinharaja Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in flora and fauna.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
Google+