Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
will bring you to the Ritigala Strict Nature Preserve. Deep inside this land is one of Sri
Lanka's most mysterious sites: the
Ritigala Ruins
. Your inner Indiana Jones will enjoy ex-
ploring the remains of this once vast and ancient place.
Further east the former royal capital of
Polonnaruwa
offers an inspiring collection of
Buddhist sculptures and monastery ruins dating back nearly a thousand years. Continue
east to the coast and the beaches at
Kalkudah
and
Passekudah
. The former is a deserted
and beautiful broad strip of sand. The latter is seeing much development.
Follow the coast south to
Batticaloa
, a historic port that has provided refuge to ships for
years. It has a Dutch fort, while offshore is one of Sri Lanka's most fabled dive sites: the
HMS
Hermes
, a British aircraft carrier sunk in WWII.
Going north you'll pass through nature preserves and deserted beaches until you reach
the idyllic natural harbour of
Trincomalee
. It has a colourful history going back centuries.
Continue on to the beach towns of tiny
Uppuveli
and buzzy
Nilaveli
.
Now head due west into the heart of the country. Prepare for a steep climb up the hill-
side at
Minitale
to appreciate the Buddhist history here that dates back to the 3rd century
BC. A mere 13km further west brings you to
Anuradhapura
, one of the top sights in all
of South Asia. Wander or bike around this sprawling landscape of temples, ruins and more.
