ATTRACTIONS
Suri Tours
Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is an island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean. Its diverse landscapes range from rainforest and arid plains to highlands and sandy beaches. It’s famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, including the 5th-century citadel Sigiriya, with its palace and frescoes. The city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's ancient capital, has many ruins dating back more than 2,000 years.
Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
The distance from the Colombo is 169km and is on the way to Anuradhapura or
polonnaruwa. Sigiriya was designated as a world heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is
famous for it's palace ruins on top of a massive 200 meter high rock surrounded by the
remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures.
Ella in Sri Lanka is a very well known worldwide for it’s breathtaking view and scenery, Little Adam’s Peak is just one of it. The eye catching, jaw dropping and conspicuous peak is the one not to miss, Situated in Ella, Sri Lanka, it has been attracting tourists for a long time now. The reason for its popularity is the amazing view that never fails to attract and impress the visitors.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international
significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Area : 88.64 km²
Phone : 0452 222 171
Established : April 1978
Kandy Esala Perahera
The month of Esala (July), during which period this annual pageant is usually held, had
been considered a month of celebrations and festivity, both among Indians and Sri
Lankans. Even from the lifetime of the Buddha in the 6th century BC, the Esala festival
was held to commemorate the Buddha's Conception, his Renunciation and the First
Sermon. Esala is also considered to be the beginning of the raining season (Vassana)
when the monks commence their Retreat. Also, this month is considered to be the
period when ritual performances to the protective divinities are held, (eg Pattini puja) as
recorded in the text 'Pattini-Halla'. Being considered a 'chaste' month, the period is
held sacred for the availability of water, hence prosperity.
Several records have been left behind by dignitaries and other visitors to the island such
as Robert Knox, John Davy, etc. The description of the perahara. These accounts
provide much evidence as to the constitution and organization of the present day
perahara. Yet many features seem to have been added and some changed to suit the
time and the available resources and conditions.Dalada procession and the social
traditions are linked so much together; the month of Esala has been named as the
procession month, because of the Esala feast. In the 18 th century at the time of King
Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe the four Devala Peraharas and Dalada Perahara were
amalgamated and were made series of Peraharas. The procession is a complex
procedure in which various customs are involved.
Dambulla cave temple
It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m
(520 ft) over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding.
Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings . This paintings and
statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues
of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of god and goddess. The latter 4 include two statues
of Hindu gods, Vishnu and Ganesh . The murals cover an area of 2,100 m². Depictions in the walls of
the caves include Buddha's temptation by demon Mara and Buddha's first sermon
Whale Watching
The ever smiling, mischievous dolphins will put on a show while some of the oldest and the largest sea creatures, the
humpback and the blue whales, will nonchalantly glide past you, when you embark on a whale/ dolphin watching
excursion off the Southern, Eastern or the West coast of Sri Lanka. The ideal locations for whale watching would be
Dondra Point (accessible from Galle, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa) and Trincomalee while the sea off Kalpitiya teems with
an abundance of dolphins.
Udawalawe National Park
Stretching across the southern lowlands of Sri Lanka, the Udawalawe National Park
has gained fame among travelers for its large herds of elephants that can easily be
spotted meandering through the reserve. There is a distinct lack of forest cover at the
Udawalawe Park, meaning that the landscape is rather barren during the dry season -
perfect for spotting wildlife and not just large animals like elephants. Once the rain
comes, the park undergoes a metamorphosis into an oasis of vivid green, peppered
with sparkling lagoons and waterholes. While the main draw of this park is its
elephants, a number of other animals can be found here, including buffalo, monkeys,
leopards, sambar deer and crocodiles. This park is also home to the Elephant Transit
Home, an orphanage for elephants who need to be supervised as they grow and
develop before being released back into the wild. After release, they continue to be
monitored until they have fully adapted to their new habitat
Kandy
The hill city of Kandy was the last bastion of the Sinhala Kings and is a charming place
offering a living record of a magnificent past and is set around an attractive man-made lake
in scenic hill country. It is also the site of Sri Lanka’s greatest annual spectacle, the Esala
Perahera Festival in August, also known as the Kandy Festival when thousands of people
from all parts of the country and Elephants are paraded in the courtyards of the temple
during Esala Perahera. Kandy’s star attraction is the ornate Dalada Maligawa (Temple of
the Tooth) which houses a sacred relic in well-guarded casket.
Nuwara Eliya
Sri Lanka’s cool hill country offers a welcome antidote to the heat of the coast and low-lying
plains. Situated among verdant tea plantations and at an elevation of 1990 metres, Nuwara
Eliya is one of the highest and most attractive towns in Sri Lanka’s hill region. Built by
English tea growers, it remained their favourite hill station during colonial times. Nuwara
Eliya boasts the best golf course in Sri Lanka and is home to the impressive Hakgala
Botanical Gardens.