Places to Visit Near Buttala

Places To Visit In Sri Lanka That Will Take Your Breath Away (5N/6D)

Explore the art scene in the city of ColomboThe charming capital is brimming with city lights. Situated on the shore, Colombo’s beaches are its greatest asset. One of the most happening cities in Sri Lanka, Colombo’s local art scene, nightlife, food culture and sights stand uncontested.

Places To Visit In Sri Lanka That Will Take Your Breath Away (5N/6D)

Spend a day out at beachesKosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project lies an hour away from the Colombo city and makes for a perfect escape on the second day. A few kilometres away is Hikkaduwa, the surfing beach where you can indulge in other seaside activities.

Colombo To Jaffna By Road

Got up early today. The driver arrived on time around eight in the morning. I had my trip planned by the staff at the Regent Hotel. It is an eight-day road journey around the coast and northern area of Sri Lanka covering more than a dozen cities like Kandy, Trichnapali and many others. The road trip to Jaffna started smoothly. My driver, Joseph, spoke good English and was alert all the way. We stopped over at a few ancient Hindu temples on the way. The most remarkable thing I found was how distinctly different these temples and deities were from the ones I had seen in south Indian cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The colours were very bright and vibrant. The sculptures of the various Gods, Devis and Divas also varied from the ones I had seen in, say, Kanyakumari and other south Indian cities. The domes of the temples carried the images of Devis and Divas in itself. Blue, pink and gold were the predominate colours used.

By Anuj Tikku

Day 1 - ColomboOur journey started with a late night flight from Mumbai. There are many options available in flights, to make the travel as economical as it can go consider travelling from Chennai and if money isn’t the concern then go for direct flights which ply 2 a day from Mumbai.For VISA, it is suggested you apply online @(http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/) as the on arrival VISA facility has been terminated.The VISA (ETA) is issued in 24 hours post you fill in the required details and make a payment of 20 USD.We reached at around 4.30 a.m, and just FYI the airport is in Negombo and buses for Colombo ply every half an hour from in front of the airport starting 5.30 a.m.The bus ride is approximately of 45mins and it would leave you at the Pettah bus depot. We reached Pettah at around 7 and took a Tuk Tuk to our Hostel at Galle Face, Colombo.Word of Advice - ~ You should try and book your stay near Galle Face in Colombo for it’s the most happening part of the city and positions you among the posh and main highlights the city has to offer~ Ensure you take a Tuk Tuk (autorickshaw in common language) that runs by meter and not otherwise We started on our mission of discovering the city only post grabbing some sleep at the hostel. Our first destination was a local mall - ‘Crescat’ for we were famished. The mall is small and boasts of many unseen Sri Lankan local brands, the food court is at the ground floor. Do not forget to feast on some Sri Lankan delicacies which a variety of stores there offer.Our next destination was the famous ‘Gangaramaya Temple’ of Colombo which boasts of a huge Buddha inside and a small floating monastery on the lake. Post grabbing some quick pictures, National Museum of Colombo became our next stop.

Sri Lanka!

By Ishita Bhowmik

We were then outside our hotel and were busy negotiating with an Tuk-Tuk guy and I tried my luck talking in Tamil. To my surprise, the auto driver agreed to guide us the city tour with half the cost - just because I am from India and I spoke in Tamil. I was little hesitant with the generous offer and was not comfortable riding a Tuk-Tuk in an unfamiliar city fear of getting ransacked popping in my mind, after all we are all biased with prejudice and took an Uber ride (who took 200 LKR) to the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple patting myself on my back having taken a safer option.

Ayubowan And Vanakkam Sri Lanka

By Rajesh Thiagarajan

After breakfast, proceed to ColomboEnjoy the drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. On arrival, check-in to your hotel.In the afternoon, proceed on a city tour of Colombo. It is a bustling metropolis that considerably generates 50% of nation's economy. Driving along the sweeping streets bordered by the race courses and World War II airstrip, Colombo is a tourist magnet. City's historical locales are transformed into modern day metropolitan area by lavish clothing, food and tea boutiques. Pettah is known for its floating market and the offbeat shopping experience it has on offer. It is worth strolling in the upcoming offshore city of Colombo Port featuring parks, commercial complexes and an F1 track. On your way to Bauddhaloka Mawatha, it is a must to witness the Independence Square Overnight in Colombo. (B)You can stay at-

After breakfast, proceed to Colombo. Enjoy the drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. On arrival, check-in to your hotel.In the afternoon, proceed on a city tour of Colombo. It is a bustling metropolis that considerably generates 50% of nation's economy. Driving along the sweeping streets bordered by the race courses and World War II airstrip, Colombo is a tourist magnet. City's historical locales are transformed into modern day metropolitan area by lavish clothing, food and tea boutiques. Pettah is known for its floating market and the offbeat shopping experience it has on offer. It is worth strolling in the upcoming offshore city of Colombo Port featuring parks, commercial complexes and an F1 track. On your way to Bauddhaloka Mawatha, it is a must to witness the Independence Square. Overnight in Colombo. (B, L, D)Request A Call Back

After spending a few hours on the beach, and having some sea food for lunch, I went back to Colombo for my train to Ella. Unlike India, you are not allowed to stay in the Railway Station. So for the first time, I slept on a bench near the beach with my bag as my pillow. I had good sleep with air from the beach. I had dinner at the Galle Face. It is the cheapest you can get in SriLanka. You can also get breads usually as breakfast or snacks.Day 3At 5 in the morning, I woke up, freshened in the Railway Station and took a beautiful train ride to Ella. It is in the Central part of SriLanka and is a hilly ride. I met a couple in the train. They taught me their own kind of "Poker", we played, took snaps of the train ride. Slept, Enjoyed the entire trip.

Majestic Ceylon

By A Lone Wolf!!!

Galle
139 Kms from Buttala

Next morning, I got up a bit late. I was unable to bend my knee, the pain had worsened. The owner of the resort gave me some kind of ointment but it didn't provide any relief. I made my mind and thought of continuing my journey. I had breakfast which the owner's wife had cooked, it was some authentic Sri Lankan food; it was exquisite.I boarded a bus from Mirissa to Galle around 11 AM and reached Galle in an hour. It was getting really hard for me to travel. I met this English couple on the bus who gave my some painkillers by looking at my state. I wish I had clicked their picture but I was not in the right state.

Getaways · Places to Visit · Hotels · Trips

Day 11 (Mirissa - Galle)

Sri Lanka Diary - A Land Like No Other

We got off at the train station and headed to the Dutch Colony where we booked our accommodation. (If you're visiting Galle, stay in the Dutch Colony and take a stroll around the Colony and you are sure to get lost on your way back. It's worth it.) The Dutch architecture astounds you. Every street, every house, every shop and every restaurant is built keeping symmetry as a key ingredient. The beauty of the architecture is in its simplicity. A tour around the Galle Fort gives you beautiful sights of the Ocean and drains your energy out. It gets a bit crowded in the evenings. Try visiting the place early morning. A visit to Japanese Peace Pagoda and Jungle Beach is also a must. Jungle Beach has bluish-green waters. It is tucked in a tiny corner beyond the Japanese Peace Pagoda. The food is good and you'll love the view and mood with Sri Lankan music band playing in the vicinity. While Galle and Colombo greet you with the tropical climate of the Coast, you could head to Mirissa which has Whale & Dolphin watching, with a cruise ride. It's also a surfer's paradise and has surfing schools. Living in the Wild However, our itinerary included Yala National Park (known for Leopard-spotting). The tented accommodation was eco-friendly and it's something that teaches you to adjust without daily pleasures of hot water and other luxuries. We did the evening safari which lasted close to 4.5 hours. It was totally worth it as we camped the night in the National Park, amid shrill sounds in the wild. This was a magical evening as it was a full-moon night with campfire and candle-light dinner (BBQ). We woke up to a beautiful morning with birds chirping and sounds of other creatures, had a good breakfast and left Yala where we met one of the best human beings in Sri Lanka, our tour guide, our driver and a good friend - Krishna ( His Facebook page). Krishna - Our saviour in Sri Lanka My friend spotted Krishna while researching about transportation in Sri Lanka and spoke to him a couple of times. He found him as the best tour guide in Sri Lanka, as suggested by Trip Advisor. Little did we know that he will be our saviour there. Krishna provides transportation/ guide services through his company Tuk Tuk and Taxi Services. Krishna brought Kumar, his friend and colleague along while ferrying us to Nuwara Eliya. A die-hard Sangakkara and A.R. Rahman fan, Krishna is sure to entertain you with his adrenaline-pumping music (if you too are a Rahman fan) and his love for Tamil movies. Not only does Krishna give you the right plan, he will also help you save a lot of money through right advice. He is also a great storyteller who gives you snippets about his life and keeps you entertained throughout the journey, provided you reciprocate. One of his witty quotes: "I'm sometimes, Hindu. Because I have to be religious in front of my wife". An excerpt from our conversation: Me: You are God. Krishna: Yes, I'm Krishna. We loved every bit of the journey from Yala to Nuwara Eliya (hilly region), with Krishna. (During the journey from Yala, you're most likely to come across an Elephant on the road.) Like I said, our itinerary wasn't perfect. Krishna helped us re-work on it and took us to Ella which was on the way to Nuwara Eliya. According to our itinerary, Ella came after Nuwara Eliya. (so, now you know why we're thankful to Krishna). Of Rama, Sita, Rawana Falls & Hanuman Footprint

By tejaswini pagadala

Galle is the fourth largest city in Sri Lanka and an increasingly popular vacation destination. With a wide variety of landmarks, eateries and high class accommodation, Galle provides a tourist experience that you won’t soon forget. Temperatures remain at roughly 26 degrees Celsius (but can sometimes go high) and the city’s climate is tropical, with no regular dry season.

Galle – Ceylon’s Dutch city

By Sai Karthik Reddy

3. Galle

One Week in Srilanka

By Mili Savani

GALLE

Traversing Streets of Lanka

By Pritha Puri

Galle is a district that lies in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. We took the train from Kandy via Colombo and came to Galle after an early morning commute. One sees some of the most beautiful sights from lush green hills and tea plantations to sea side towns as you arrive into Galle.

Gorgeous Galle

By hopskipandfly

Galle is another small city in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It is primarily known for it's cricket and is also home to the Sri Lankan Navy's Southern Command. A fairly busy town, Galle, has quite a lot of history attached to it.

Discovering the Pearl Drop - Sri Lanka

By Archit Gupta

Galle is the laidback beach town. It is similar to Pondicherry in India. Old buildings are intact. Stone paved roads and colonial Dutch buildings give this town a certain aura.

Sri Lanka

By Abhijeet Patra

We checked out late from Mirissa and set for an overnight at Negombo as that's the closest to the airport (not Colombo as many would think). We stopped at "Galle" enroute for lunch and some photo ops. Tip - If you need a place close to the airport (or transit) I highly recommend "Neo Holiday Homes" as they are 1) close to the airport (10 mins) and 2) four star accommodation at 3 star prices.That brings me to the end of my trip. Sri Lanka is a must visit destination if you are a nature & beach lover. I was blown away by its beauty and people. I brought back with me some very fond memories and I am sure you will too.Happy travels!~Rochelle

The best of Sri Lanka in 5 days

By rochels_diaries

Nuwara Eliya
57 Kms from Buttala

Explore the wildlife around Nuwara EliyaTravel to the central highland of Sri Lanka to the Horton Plains National Park that lies an hour away from the city of Nuwara Eliya. Another great outdoor adventure could be visiting the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on the fourth day that is also a breeding ground for Asian Elephants.

Places to Visit · Getaways · Hotels · Trips

Places To Visit In Sri Lanka That Will Take Your Breath Away (5N/6D)

Places To Visit In Sri Lanka That Will Take Your Breath Away (5N/6D)

Explore the best of Sri Lankan landscapes at Nuwara EliyaNuwara Eliya lies at a five hour distance from Colombo and makes for the next stunning destination on this trip. The misty hills here are covered in tea plantations was once a favourite destination of the British colonizers, who escaped to its cool shadows in the harsh summer. The small country houses, left behind by the British pop up in its green landscape, giving it a parallel identity of “Little England,” as it is popularly called. Nuwara Eliya is where the natural beauty of Sri Lanka Tourism is highlighted and celebrated.

12Ns 13Ds escape to Sri Lanka with little over 500$

Sri Lanka!

By Ishita Bhowmik

To reach Nuwara Eliya: take LONG Distance# 1126 from Kandy – Nanu Oya

By Samantha Mascarenhas

After breakfast, proceed on an excursion to Nuwara Eliya. Situated at around 2000m above sea level and surrounded by lush tea plantations, Nuwara Eliya is the main hill resort of Sri Lanka and the heart of the tea industry. Once a pleasure retreat of the European planters, the town is still very much an English town with many English style bungalows and buildings. Nuwara Eliya is a good escape for those who miss cool breeze in tropical Sri Lanka at any time of the year. Local tourists flock to this town from March to May when it is the hottest duration for the town, April being the busiest. Nuwara Eliya offers many activities for tourists like tea plantations, golfing, horse riding, boating, hiking and of course exploring the beauty of the landscaped gardens, waterfalls and plateaus. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city. Overnight in Kandy. (B)You can stay at-

After breakfast, proceed on an excursion to Nuwara Eliya. Situated at around 2000m above sea level and surrounded by lush tea plantations, Nuwara Eliya is the main hill resort of Sri Lanka and the heart of the tea industry. Once a pleasure retreat of the European planters, the town is still very much an English town with many English style bungalows and buildings. The distance from Kandy is 75km, approx 2 hour drive.Nuwara Eliya is a good escape for those who miss cool breeze in tropical Sri Lanka at any time of the year. Local tourists flock to this town from March to May when it is the hottest duration for the town, April being the busiest. Nuwara Eliya offers many activities for tourists like tea plantations, golfing, horse riding, boating, hiking and of course exploring the beauty of the landscaped gardens, waterfalls and plateaus. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city. Overnight in Kandy. (B, L, D)

Sri Lanka Diary - A Land Like No Other

Our first day in Nuwara Eliya was spent at the Tea factory and Tea plantations, including tea tasting at the Bluefield Tea Estate (100-yr old). We then interviewed people who saw Krishna grow from a Tuk Tuk (auto) driver to a certified tour guide, apart from winning Trip Advisor's certificate of excellence for 4 consecutive years. Stories of how the British exported tea from these Tea Estates and visit of Prince Charles were described to us on our way. We also did a couple of interviews of Krishna's mentor, brother and others who supported him. Hortons Plains - The fantasy land (Must Visit)

By tejaswini pagadala

Being a hard core travel addict, i am game for any place that's new. In Dec 2016, i decided to travel to Sri Lanka. Like always, i had my homework right. Few places that was shortlisted as part of my journey includes Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla, Sigriya, Anuradhapura, Kandy & finally the capital Colombo to spend Christmas in town.I was mesmerised by the beauty of N/Eliya and decided to pen down a few words on this beautiful place that has the fresh breeze which touches every tea leaf, fresh veggies that is grown in abundance, trickling waterfall in every corner of the mountain. Wow, it was heavenly. It was hard for me to believe such a beautiful place still exist for someone who lives amidst concrete buildings and carbon mixed air.2 days is sufficient to cover the main attractions. The place is well connected from different parts of the city in lanka. It has gained its popularity through subtle tea plantation which attracts thousands of visitors, it has many water falls spread across different area, water from Lover's leap fall is used as the main source of drinking water by the locals.Temperature in December is typically between 12 -22* C, naturally it gets very chill by night, hence its advised to take warm clothing.Few places that i covered as part of this journey includes Seetha Temple, Hakgala Botanical Garden(entry fee is expensive), Mac wood tea plantation(got to taste the best tea in town here for free) Lover's leap waterfall(requires trekking of 2 kms up and down) Pedro tea estate( Entry fee is 200 LKR).I covered these places through local city bus which plies up and down with a frequency of 30 mins and decided to take leave from few other attractions which were difficult to reach as all the cabs and tuk tuk's knowingly comes with an expensive deal.If you are planning to visit Sri lanka, my advice is not to miss this beautiful place, not to forget, the locals ends their day within 8.00 PM, so remember to get back to base if you are dependent on local transport.

'Little England' is what it is popularly known as : Nuwara Eliya

By Chaitra Krishnaiah

Negombo
163 Kms from Buttala

Things to do: Negombo is a popular spot for vacationers owing to its close proximity to the airport. The town lies 10km south to the airport. Resorts towards the south side of this town provide various commercial water sports activities such as jet skiing and banana boat rides. Between Jetwing Beach and Jetwing Blue Hotels, lies the water sports and diving centre. It offers equipment for hire and guided day tours for diving, sailing, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.Best time to visit: Negombo is ideal for windsurfing throughout the year. For experienced windsurfers, January to March is the best time to challenge the waves here.

Getaways · Places to Visit · Trips · Hotels

All You Need To Know About The Thrilling Water Sports Scene In Sri Lanka

Wonder of Asia – Sri Lanka

So we landed in Colombo around afternoon and we decided to relax that day in Negombo itself and we had booked a bful Home Stay called Henderson Lake view residence. It was away from the main city therefore was a very quite place. We met the host family , had lunch and left to see Negombo beach which was around 5 kms from there. It was a nice beach and luckily the sky was extraordinarily stunning and we could capture that in out pictures. We took a speed boat ride, ate some snacks and went to the nearby market. When we came back, we met a lot of tourists from various countries who were staying in the same home stay and we decided to spend the evening listening to their travel stories . Below are few pictures of Henderson Home stay and Negombo beach

By Shruti

Day 1/31st December, 2015:Land at Bandarnaike Airport at about 9:30 P.M. and transfer to hotel in Negombo. Sea Drift, Negombo is a small house stay which is convenient to locate and is 100m from the main beach. The room was clean with mosquitoes net in place and clean bedding but the bathroom was a little cramped up. Considering the fact that the stay cost us only INR 2k (USD 30), it was not a bad deal at all. You may reach Negombo with a 20-30 min drive(pvt. taxi) from the airport or if you are travelling in the day time finding a Tuk Tuk or a local bus would not be a problem at all. Airport Taxis will charge you anywhere close to 1200-1300 LKR (600 INR/ 10 USD), a bus ticket would be way cheaper at 100 LKR (40 INR/<1 USD).We had bought 4 bottles (Malibu, Baileys, Smirnoff and Sheridan’s) for INR 6700 (100 USD) from the Airport because of which our pre-new year bash started in our room. We enjoyed new year’s party at a nearby hotel which over-looked the sea and we gate-crashed to the party, consequently paying zilch!

5 days Backpacking in Sri Lanka: For the love of a rock

By Anupama Gupta

Day 1 -Negombo: Bandaranaike International Airport is the main international airport serving Sri Lanka and one of the most back packer friendly airports even at 2:00 am. You could land at this airport without a plan and within a few hours get everything done right from a local sim and connection to meeting people planning the same leg and to mapping your next few days with ease.

Sri Lanka: With just a backpack and a plan

By maitlis

Others | 35kms north of Colombo lies Negombo, famed for its lagoon of the same name and a beach road stretch dotted with bars, cafés and many a lost hippy. Drop in to Dolce Vita (27, Poruthota Road, Ettukala.) for some tasty, hugely-sized Italian and European favourites; back in Colombo, Green Cabin (453 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo 3) is an institution, with its outdoor garden leading to fronds of swaying palms.It’s a lovely spot for some home-style Sri Lankan food, including the ever-present white hoppers and devilishly hot curries and concoctions, including Achchi’s Chicken; staying in Colombo, 41 Sugar (41 Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7 | +94 11 268 2122) is a hip rooftop café that opens in the evening, and walks fashionably towards the night with a fine cocktail selection, lovely views, reasonable tapas collection, and a grown-up vibe; finally, Curve (1 Park Street, Colombo 2) serves up some mean cocktails, a sufficient variety of tapas, and memorable ice cream liqueur shots.THE DIGS

COLOMBO-TO-GO

By Siddharth Dasgupta

Colombo to negombo and airportWe have flight in early morning so we kept our luggage at airport and went to negombo beach. Which is near to international airport. You have to exchange 2 buses to reach beach from airport. We spent last evening of our srilanka travel at negombo beach. After that we spent our night at airport to avoid room charges.

Here Is How I Went Backpacking In Sri Lanka Under 30K!!!

By Mehul Rangani

The next day sadly, we had to leave. We had gone back to Negombo for spending the night in this guest house near the airport. And an wonderful journey thus came to an end!

Amazing Lanka!

By Shweta Dongare

Negombo Beach

A Day in Colombo and Bentota, Sri Lanka!

By Tanvi S

Negombo is a Major city in Sri Lanka, on the West Coast of the Island and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon. With a stash of decent hotels and restaurants to suit all pockets, a friendly local community, an interesting old quarter and a reasonable beach.Its beaches, an old favourite with local and foreign visitors and lagoon famed for lobster harvesting. Negombo’s beach is very wide in places, but rather shabby compared to the more pristine resorts further south, although the surrounding resort area is often one of the liveliest places around the coast if you’re in search of cheap beer and late nights. A couple of miles south of the beach, Negombo Town offers an interesting introduction to coastal Sri Lankan life, with a lively fish market, a dash of old-world colonial charm of Dutch-Portuguese and hundreds of colourful wooden boats. Sprawling Negombo, is of interest mainly thanks to its proximity to the Bhandaranaike International Airport, just 10km down the road – many visitors stagger off long-haul flights straight into one of the beach hotels here, or stay here as a last stop before flying home.

Mesmerizing Sri Lanka....

By Sohita Dikshit♥♥♥(gYpsy sOul)

Anuradhapura
202 Kms from Buttala

My injury had made me weak and to some extent killed my enthusiasm. I woke up a bit late. I was running short of cash. So, I walked around few ATMs and finally found the right one. It was the Commerical Bank ATM that read international cards. Anuradhapura was different from all cities/towns I visited in Sri Lanka. Everything was pretty scattered here. So, I took a tuk-tuk and asked the driver to take me around the city.

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Day 13 (Anuradhapura)

Day 12 (Galle - Anuradhapura)

I left for Galle Railway Station after having an awesome breakfast. My knee continued to hurt. I was thankful to this doctor in the hostel who gave me few painkillers. It helped me for a while. I planned to travel the north before I leave. So, I purchased a ticket for Anuradhapura.

By Adyasha Dash (The Wandering Mind)

Anuradhapura is historically rich and is a UNESCO heritage site and is in fact one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Sri Lanka under $1000!

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is good and Sri Lanka offers amazing destinations for travelers and tourists alike. The Sri Lanka tour itinerary could be customized in line with your interests. Sri Lanka has more to offer on Diving, Cultural tourism in Anuradhapura, pristine coastal lines along Matara (a fishing hamlet), Arugam Bay and much more on eco-tourism. Experience the "Wonder of Asia".

Sri Lanka Tour Itinerary - 4 days in Sri Lanka & Top 10 things to do

By KAVI MANI KUMAR KULANDHAIVEL SAKTHIVEL

I had just gotten off a bus from Anuradhapura, with little or no clue about what I was going to do next. I was in the town of Dambulla, the sight of the famous Cave Temples.

Trip Alpha - I

By Amit Tyagi

PS: I could have taken a bus to Anuradhapura and stay there if I had not booked city hostel for 2 days at Dambulla.#Food:Local rice and curry at Ninu which is just opposite to the Dambulla main bus stand.#Places to visit:

Sri Lanka – Sun, sand, beaches and the Buddha

By Jyoti sharma

While in Anuradhapura. I cycle around with a rented bicycle to visit the archaeological sites under the wonderful sun. I would say Anuradhapura is one of my favourite places to visit in Sri Lanka. The city is well organized. Tourist friendly place. You can clearly see and feel the city, it has its own charm without much effort put into it. I wish we stayed longer here..... oh well, travel must go on !

Sri Lanka – 1 month of solo backpacking

By Prana

Ancient city with many historical sites to visit.

Sri Lanka – 1 month of solo backpacking

By Prana

Dambulla
140 Kms from Buttala

Welcome to your 'Srilanka Tropical Paradise' tour! On arrival at the airport in Colombo you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Dambulla. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Dambulla.You can stay at-

Getaways · Places to Visit · Hotels · Trips

Welcome to your 'Super Saver Sri Lanka Summer' tour! On arrival at the airport in Colombo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Dambulla. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Dambulla. (L, D) On to Dambulla- Distance, 129km approx 4 hours drive.

Trincomalee.. Calm, serene and unexplored

But keep in mind, if you travel from Dambulla, you have to take one of the buses which are going from Colombo to Malee. No bus service was available originating from Dambulla when I travelled. And most likely, you'll not get a place to sit immediately after boarding the bus. For Solo Women backpackers - I travelled in shorts and it was comfortable in the bus. I didn't face any incident where people teased me or anything. By the time I reached Malee town, it was 1 pm (I started at 8 from Dambulla and this includes a bus repair on the mid way) and I saw the small harbours with pristine blue water. They were picture perfect. I was almost thinking this is it, nothing can beat this in such a place. I took a public bus from Malee bus station to Upuveli (Neelaveli is further and apparently more expensive). It took me a while to look for the hotels but I found few. It's a cluster of 8-9 shacks/hotels/resorts in Upuveli or may be a bit more. And you'll find all options starting from $7 (for a private room with bathroom No AC) to $$$ in big resorts, along with mid ranged hotels with pool and decorated bar in $40-$50. I chose the $7 one and that place happened to be the best bar at nights! French Hostel is what I remember the name was. Now you got there, there are plenty of things to do. Long bike rides, in empty roads, drenching in short and quick rains, the mountain temples, feeding the monkeys, trip to Nilaveli, morning breakfasts in near by villages are possible with a rented bike. I paid 250 SL Rupee, I had to keep my passport with the lady as deposit. I did both scuba and snorkelling, rate varies based on time. Dolphin watching and fishing is also possible. No whale watching in Malee, it happens in Merissa. Food is amazing, in all the restaurants, I chose typical SL food, with fish costing around $1.5 every meal. I also went to Nilaveli, for one evening. It is beautiful but expensive than Upuveli. And somewhere I found Upuveli more serene, calm and less crowded. There are also small beaches here and there in the city. Take your bike and just ride. Dip in the ocean and come back. On the way get into some temple, pose with kids, get fruits as blessings and ride on.

By Sunetra Biswas

Dambulla:From the city bus stand at Trincomalee, I took a bus to Dambulla which is around 3 hours away.#Stay:Dambulla city hostel: Very nice and comfortable hostel with many guests to talk to and share information, though the hostel is expensive with 2 nights at 3600 LKR with breakfast which is mostly bread jam and butter. You can cook your own food as well. Very nice and friendly Mario who would in every possible way, help you to plan your day.

Sri Lanka – Sun, sand, beaches and the Buddha

By Jyoti sharma

Trincomalee
202 Kms from Buttala

I visited Sri Lanka in June end (pretty hot) but almost a very good season to travel across. Starting from Colombo --> Dambulla --> Sigiriya --> Polandua, we reached Trincomalee at the end of our trip. It takes almost 8 hours (a bit more or less) from Colombo, 4 hours from Dambulla. I travelled by public, non-luxury buses (definitely not with chickens) with local people, no AC and it was not horrible. They charged me almost $2 for the trip.

Getaways · Places to Visit · Hotels · Trips

Trincomalee.. Calm, serene and unexplored

By Sunetra Biswas

The next day we took another really early morning bus and headed to the Eastern province of Trincomalee, known for its pristine beaches, coral reefs, colourful ocean life and a multitude of water activities. Once you reach Trinco, you need to take another bus (or tuk-tuk if you may please) and head to Nelavelli. From Nelavelli you take a ferry to reach the Pigeon Island and that’s where all the action happens! We managed to sync up with a couple (from Turkey – United States – France – Portugal) and shared the costs of spending the day at Pigeon Island. Since I am a hydrophobe I pretty much spent the entire time there lying on the beach and soaking up the sun, but the others went snorkelling and even saw baby sharks!Shila and I came back to the mainland to look for food and as luck would have it, we got invited by one of the locals to have food at their home! So we ate our hearts’ full of some amazing Sri Lankan fare and headed back to Trino from where we were supposed to travel through the night to Nuwara Eliya for our last leg of the trip.

(Almost) Around Sri Lanka in 4 Days!

By Masala Foie Gras

From Colombo to Trincomalee I took a train for which 2nd class ticket was booked by my friend in advance for 550 LKR. This is a chair car and only 1st class has an option to sleep. There are multiple buses available too. As one of my to do things was scuba diving which during October happens on the east coast, I chose to travel to Trincomalee. I booked my dive for 75$ with Feli (0094 777648459 locally 0777 648459). For PADI course they charge 335$ with course spread across 3-4 days. http://www.srilanka-divingtours.com/. In the morning Sanju (the talking tuk tuk driver sent by Feli) picked me and dropped me at hotel aqua.For scuba diving, first I had a pool practice and then immediately actual dive at the sea. The depth was 10 meters. There were beautiful fishes , corals. Initially for the first time ear pain can be the only issue otherwise if you learn at the pool, the diving is an amazing thing. Into the world of other creatures who give a damn about you being there and on the other side you are breathing hard for your survival. Sometimes there can be gaps between your practice sessions and the actual dive so plan your next destination accordingly#Stay:I took a room for 2000 LKR next to Feli. But interestingly Feli has concrete tubes in which you can stay for 1000 LKR per night. More expensive n luxurious rooms are also available at Feli's hotel.#Food:English breakfast at Fernendo's.The hotels are spread across the beach, you can pick your choices!#Places to Visit:

Sri Lanka – Sun, sand, beaches and the Buddha

By Jyoti sharma

Trincomalee is a natural harbour on the eastern coast of the country. And, it probably is also one of the most picturesque places in the world. Devotees make a beeline for the Koneswaran temple in Trincomalee. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and situated on a hill, it offers breath-taking views of the Indian Ocean.

5 Sri Lankan Destinations To Visit Before Others Get There

By Sachin Bhandary

Stay at Nilaveli Beach and walk along the coast line to witness how the locals live.

Sri Lanka – 1 month of solo backpacking

By Prana

Bentota
145 Kms from Buttala

After all the conference and Gala night at Taj Samudra, we packed our bags and headed to Bentota on a Sunday early morning, which is touted as the best water sport destination in Sri Lanka. It was a two hour drive from Colombo. We could literally experience the changes around us - with the city madness leaving behind and the rustic country charm creeping in, I know we are all for a treat.

Getaways · Places to Visit · Hotels · Trips

Ayubowan And Vanakkam Sri Lanka

By Rajesh Thiagarajan

Things to do: This coastal town in the Southern Province is best known as the water sports hub for adventure enthusiasts visiting Sri Lanka. Some of the popular water sports activities for your Bentota vacation include water skiing, windsurfing, banana ride, wakeboarding, jet-skiing, tube rides, sea diving, snorkelling and surfing. If you're a beginner, various water sport centres operating on the beachside can provide guides and gear for your adventure.Best time to visit: The ideal time to visit Bentota for water sports is from October to April.

All You Need To Know About The Thrilling Water Sports Scene In Sri Lanka

After breakfast, drive to Bentota. On arrival, check-in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Bentota. (B)You can stay at-

After breakfast, drive to Bentota. On arrival, check-in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Bentota. (B, L, D). distance- 179km approx 4 hour drive from Kandy.