Sri Lanka Holidays:

Total Holiday Experience (THE) - Part 2

Sri Lanka Holidays: High Value, High Definition Holidays

Top ten aspects of THE: High Value, high definition Sri Lanka Holidays

By B. Upul N. Peiris (bunpeiris.com)

1. Sanctuary

The consummate combination of pristine tropical beaches, a wide range of fine accommodation at beaches & at all tourist attractions, Eco tourism, Ayurvedic medicine, Yoga & Buddhism in Sri Lanka set up an ideal sanctuary for physical & spiritual recuperation.

2. Comfort

(a) The compact island provides easy access to the main tourist attractions & off the beaten track attractions. While a network of well maintained roads provide access to all the tourist attractions, railway lines (diesel locomotive trains) too reach the main cities of plains, central highlands & western & southwestern coastal belt.

(b) For a small island, Sri Lanka has a wide range of accommodation. International class hotels, Boutique hotels & villas, Colonial-era hotels, Resort hotels, Guesthouses, Ayurvedic resorts, Government rest houses, National park accommodation, Plantation bungalows and Circuit bungalows. Among the hotels in the island are 69 classified star class hotels & 140 unclassified hotels (2005)

Eco Concept hotels: VilUyana, Elephant corridor, Heritance Kandalama, Deer Park & Bawa Hotels are prime eco-concept properties among numerous other eco-oriented accommodation options.

3. Diversity of terrain

Sri Lanka is a tropical island with diverse terrain. The compact island is home to some of the finest tropical beaches in the world. Rolling central highlands is home to verdant vegetation & waterfalls. North Central plains are home to several thousand rainwater reservoirs.

4. Diversified climate & cultivation

Tropical beaches of lowland plains are hot & humid. Central Highlands from Kandy (500m Mediterranean climate) to Nuwara Eliya (1800m salubrious climate). The diversified climate allows for trees, tropical as well as temperate. Low country: coconut plantations, rubber plantations, paddy fields & vegetables & fruits. Hill Country (Central Highlands): tea estates, vegetable & fruit cultivation

5. Diversity of Ecosystem

The major natural ecosystems of Sri Lanka are forests, grasslands, inland wetlands, & coastal & marine ecosystems, Inland wetlands, forests & grasslands. It also includes agricultural eco systems.

Forests vary from wet evergreen forests (both lowland & montane), dry mixed evergreen forests to dry thorn forests. Grasslands are found in montane & low country. Lion King (Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a world heritage site (1989).

Inland wetlands include a complex network of rivers & freshwater bodies. Marine ecosystems include sea-grass beds, coral reefs, estuaries & lagoons & mangrove swamps.

6. Biodiversity

Western Ghats of south-western India & Sri Lanka is one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world recognized by Conservation International.

Mammals, birds, Butterflies, frogs, fish, reptiles, marine turtles

Classical bio-geographic theory predicts that small islands do not have large animals. Sri Lanka defies that theory too. The largest terrestrial mammal, the elephant takes the pride of place among the 86 species of mammals. Sri Lanka’s with its abundance of bird life with over 250 resident species makes it an ornithologist’s paradise.

To the naturalist, Sri Lanka offers a tantalizing array of interesting & unique butterfly forms. No less than 244 species of butterflies occur in Sri Lanka. With 200 new species of tree frogs awaiting scientific description Sri Lanka could surpass countries like Costa Rica in the number of tree frog species, making it the frog capital of the world. This is a result of Sri Lanka being a Waterworld: Ancient Sinhalese irrigation & Modern irrigation Projects of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is one of the major nesting sites of the world for of marine turtles. Of the seven species of marine turtle in the world, five return to lay their eggs in the natal beaches of the Sri Lanka.

7. Conservation of water

Rivers & waterfalls; the island is blessed with 103 rivers radiating from central highlands, rushing down rocky precipices forming more than 400 waterfalls , all ending up loosing the momentum at the Indian Ocean.

Storage of water for agriculture

73 major irrigation reservoirs (ancient) covering an area of 70850 ha
160 Medium scale reservoirs (ancient) covering an area of 17004 ha
10000 minor irrigation reservoirs (ancient) covering an area of 39271 ha are supplemented by modern irrigation schemes which also supply hydro electric power to the island.

8. Conservation of wildlife

No less than 13% of the land of the island is designated for wildlife & nature conservation. In addition to the tourist attractions of 16 National parks reserved for wildlife, Sri Lanka has numerous strict natural reserves, nature reserves & sanctuaries.

9. Conservation of Enriching Culture

Spiritually, 2550 years of Sinhalese culture with its triple prime features of Rainwater reservoir, Buddhist Temple & Stupa enrich the minds of all visitors.

Historically & geographically, Sri Lanka today is a cultural treasure trove of intact & restored ancient monuments & preserved ruins, a living world heritage of ancient conservation of water, protection to all living beings & harmony with environment–United Biology & irrigation. Sri Lanka’s 6 World Heritages sites include two entire ancient cities.

10. Unique attractions

Adam's Peak
Kandy Esala Perahera pageant

For Part 1 click here