- Ryan Pigeau
- Mar 11, 2019
- 2 min read
It’s been called “the Gem of the Indian Ocean.” Sri Lanka is a diverse, tropical island south of India. One of the more underrated and less-popular vacation destinations, this country is a strikingly beautiful place that boasts everything from long, sandy beaches to ancient Buddhist temples. When I travel here, I’ll be quite likely to find myself amidst the hustle and bustle of Colombo City (an incredible place to start or to finish off my exploration), hiking along trails through kilometers of tea plantations, or viewing some of the most exotic wildlife on safari.
Within Colombo City, a traveller can find a ton of things to see and do. One of the more notable but easier things to cross-off my bucket list is to hitch a ride in a tuk-tuk. These are the small, three-wheeled vehicles used just like taxis in the city for the transportation of travellers and locals alike.
It seems as though the Pettah district is a must-visit place for the experience alone and within this market-community, there are various buildings that feature unique historic architecture and colour schemes. Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is one of these magnificent structures. It dates back to the early 1900s and astonishingly resembles candy. I can imagine experiencing a kind of sensory overload within just a few minutes standing the in centre of the Pettah district as some extremely pleasant and otherworldly aromas would fill the air. The Buddhist temple Gangaramaya sounds like a must-see attraction to any spiritual adventurer who appreciates taking in new cultures and their ancient histories and the National Museum, a museum of Asian civilizations, is one of the oldest in the country.
Thousands of kilometers of tea plantations are spread out across Sri Lanka and some who visit here intend to spend a good chunk of their travel time hiking the scenic trails that weave and wind through these ranches. Adam’s Peak is a very common, shorter hike, on a well-maintained trail that allows one to experience a day on one of these plantations. I could see myself taking in one of these hikes.
Many travellers have at least one small, special destination within Sri Lanka on their “must-see/must-do list,” and I’m no different. Of course, I’m referring to the famous rope swing in Dalawella. It's a massive palm tree with a rope swing that has been made famous by some viral content created by social media influencers during the past number of years. It has gained recent popularity thanks to it starring in some super-viral videos. The creators of the rope swing built it as something fun for themselves and it has evolved into one of the most talked about spots in Sri Lanka – this rope swing has quickly become an attraction all on its own! The location of Dalawella beach is in South-Sri Lanka, in the town of Unawatuna.
I can certainly recommend keeping Sri Lanka as a reasonable option when drafting your next vacation plan. Most people would never think of this paradise as a vacation destination but like many other places on this planet, an open mind and an open heart will often lead you on the adventure of your dreams. After just a bit of research, I’m quite positive an experience here is likely to be a pleasant surprise.