Travel: Sri Lanka
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN
Beautiful beaches, incredible wildlife and the best cuppa in the world – it’s a small island that packs a big holiday punch! By lizzy Dening
With a partner
The stunning Peradeniya Botanic gardens, near Kandy, are a hotspot for couples, and you’ll soon see why when you experience their beauty. If they feel regal, it’s for a good reason, as they were once reserved exclusively for local royalty. Discover orchids, a spice garden, royal palms and an incredible giant Javan fig tree that covers 2,500sq m! Take a picnic lunch to avoid the pricey café. tickets Rs1100 adults, 550 children. Call 81 238 8238 or visit www.botanicgardens.gov.lk Spend some time in quiet reflection in the stunning Royal Rock temple caves, Dambulla. High above the little village, you can explore five separate caves where you’ll see around 150 statues and paintings of Buddha, some of which date back around 2,000 years. It’s just one of the island’s eight UNESCO heritage sites.
With friends
If you and your friends love a natter over a cuppa (and let’s face it, most of us do) why not do things Sri Lankan-style, with a trip to a tea factory? Dambatenne Tea Factory, in Haputale, was built by Sir Thomas Lipton in 1890, and is still running today. Here you can watch the fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of leaves, before enjoying a drink yourself. tickets cost Rs250. Call 77 123 4567 alternatively, enjoy a brew (or a cocktail) in the wonderfully atmospheric Helga’s Folly – a slightly spooky gothic mansion with views over the city of Kandy. You’ll be following in famous footsteps, as previous guests have included Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck, Alex Guinness and even Ghandi! The Welsh band the Stereophonics also wrote a song inspired by the place, called Madame Helga. You can stay overnight too – they offer special rates if you’re a writer or an artist. Call 81 223 4571 or visit www.helgasfolly.com
Travelling solo
Have a whale of a time (sorry) on a dolphin and whale-watching trip. Mirissa is one of the best spots to catch a boat in the hope of spotting one of the island’s many passing cetaceans – including blue, Bryde’s, sperm and fin whales, common, bottlenose, spinner, Risso’s and striped dolphins. If you don’t spot anything, you can claim another trip for free! Nov-April. Rs4000, under 5s free. Call 77 637 6714 or visit www.whale-watching-mirissa.com Spend a few lazy days on the sand on some of the 1,000 miles of beaches. Highlights include Negombo, Hikkaduwa and Beruwela. Weligama, to the south-west, is a great spot for watching local fishermen who balance on stilts, and for buying locally-made lace. Mirissa is perfect for unwinding before taking a boat trip to see the whales (see above). Meanwhile, the beaches at Bentota are ideal for Head out on a whale watch snorkelling, thanks to their thriving coral reefs and numerous shipwrecks.
With the grandchildren
Sri Lanka is heaven on earth for animal lovers, and older grandchildren will adore Turtle Watch Rekawa – a non-profit company that protects native turtles. If you’re visiting April-Sept, go along on one of their special tours in the hope of seeing green, hawksbill or possibly leatherback turtles, who clamber ashore to lay their eggs at night. If you don’t spot any, you can return another night for free. From 8.30pm-midnight. Adults Rs1000, children Rs 500. Call 76 685 7380 or visit www.turtlewatchrekawa.org Outside of Africa, Sri Lanka is the best place in the world to go on safari. Big-cat fans in particular could be in for a treat, as Yala National Park has the highest number of leopards anywhere on earth. You may also spot deer, wild boar, sloth bears and more than 100 species of birds. Alternatively, if you’re crazy for elephants, Udawalawe Reservoir, near Embilitpitiya, should be your go-to wildlife park, as around 500 roam free here. Sri Lanka has the highest density of wild elephants in Asia and the relatively sparse vegetation should help you spot one. Safari tours at Yala cost $40 (around £32) for a half day for a jeep for up to six people. Call 77 046 6794 or visit www.yalasrilanka.lk Udawalawe tours, prices vary but should be around Rs3,500 for a half-day tour for up to eight people with a driver. Call 71 832 9667 or visit www.udawalawenationalpark.com