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I mentioned in my earlier post that train ride is one of the most important mode of transport in Sri Lanka. It is not only affordable but offers amazing views of different part of the country. I’ve previously written about the popular Kandy-Ella line that travel through the hill country, but do you know that the train that journey along the coast from Galle to Colombo offers another breath-taking view of Sri Lanka? 

For other places of attractions in Sri Lanka, read my travel guide with sample itinerary and cost breakdown ➢ 12 Days Sri Lanka In Less Than RM2.2K - Visa Application, Sample Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Before I visited Sri Lanka, I didn’t know that whale watching is a thing. Thanks to our trip to Sri Lanka, particularly Mirissa, I found out that it is one of the main attraction of the country. I’ve not even been on a dolphin watching tour before, let alone whales, so I was extremely excited when we reached Mirissa.

For other places of attractions in Sri Lanka, read my travel guide with sample itinerary and cost breakdown ➢ 12 Days Sri Lanka In Less Than RM2.2K - Visa Application, Sample Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Located in the heart of Dondra city, Dondra Temple or more appropriately known as Uthpalawanna Sri Upulvan Devalaya or Tenawaram Temple is one of the city's oldest and most famous historic complex.

A trip to a lighthouse is probably the last thing to ever cross my mind when I imagine my visit to Sri Lanka. But as soon as I found out that we were going to see a lighthouse, my interest piqued! This is because the lighthouse I’ve ever been to in Malaysia was somehow lacking aesthetically and I can’t wait to see one that is picturesque.

For other places of attractions in Sri Lanka, read my travel guide with sample itinerary and cost breakdown ➢ 12 Days Sri Lanka In Less Than RM2.2K - Visa Application, Sample Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Mirissa is one of the major beach town in southern Sri Lanka. From beautiful beaches, surf waves, whale watching to great bars and restaurants, Mirissa has a lot to offer and has become one of the most visited beach town among foreign tourists. This makes Mirissa a fun-packed hub with many activities to fill your time although it is also quite crowded. If you don’t mind the crowd, there’s a lot of things to do and see here. Otherwise, head to Tangalle for a more quiet vibe.

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26 December 2014. Sri Lanka was one of the countries struck by the tsunami. More than 30,000 people were killed and Sri Lanka’s southern coast was badly damaged. Tangalle was one of the beach town destroyed by the deadly tsunami more 10 years ago.

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Udawalawe or Yala? 

This is pretty much the question everyone would ask themselves when trying to decide on which safari to go to. These national parks are both in the Southern Province, so many people find themselves torn between the two options when selecting on to go to. 

Those who have visited or planned to visit Sri Lanka are no stranger to Adam’s Peak, a 2,243 m tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. But no, today I’m going to talk about Little Adam’s Peak which is located 130km away in Ella. Stands at only 1,141m high, Little Adam’s Peak is nowhere near its more famous big brother whether in terms of height, difficulty or religious significance. In fact, Little Adam’s Peak is not a sacred religious site. 

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The Nine Arches Bridge Built between Ella and Demodara stations, the Nine Arches Bridge is a viaduct bridge built in 1921, entirely of bricks, rocks and cement without a single piece of steel. It is one of the most iconic structure in Sri Lanka and perhaps the most photographed tourist destination. Locally known as “Ahas Namaye Palama” which means “nine skies bridge” in Sinhala, the name derives from the visual experience where one could look up from the bottom of the bridge and see the sky through the nine arches.

“Lipton”.

Perhaps the most recognisable name among all tea brands. Did you know that it all started in Sri Lanka?

In 1890, Sir Thomas Lipton saw an opportunity to market to tea to the masses instead of limiting it as something only the elite could afford. He bought miles upon miles of tea plantations in Sri Lanka, cut out middlemen, hired indentured Tamil workers from India, packaged and shipped them back to UK at low costs and sold his tea in packets with the advertising slogan: "Direct from the tea gardens to the teapot”. Selling his tea at a fraction of the price it had been, Lipton tea became an immediate success especially in the United States.

Only a few hours from Colombo, Nuwara Eliya sits in a hill country at 1868m, in eternal temperate winter, where the British once spent their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. Mist-shrouded mountains and terraced tea plantations surround the town, with abundance of local brew for their enjoyment. With many of the British settles building their holiday bungalow in this “city of light” (that’s the meaning of Nuwara Eliya, by the way) during the British colonisation era, the town transform a “Little England” with a vague British-country-village feel to it.

They say, the best way to see Sri Lanka is by taking the train, and you know what? That’s definitely true. Train travel in Sri Lanka is a beautiful and very affordable way to travel around the country, and the most scenic train ride in Sri Lanka is none other than the train that journey between Kandy and Ella. This train ride is 7-8 hours long (fret not as you can break up the journey!) and takes you through stunning landscapes of lush tea plantation, mountain valleys, lovely bridges, waterfalls and small villages.

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Kandy which its name often reminds me of candy, is the country’s second largest city after Colombo. The city is only about 3 hours away from Colombo and the train that departs from Kandy towards Ella is considered one of the most beautiful train ride in the world as it passes the lush tea plantation along the way. This makes Kandy the gateway to hill country.

Sigiriya is an attraction not to be missed while in Sri Lanka. However, a visit to the famous Lion Rock should take no more than 3-4 hours. With nothing else to do around Sigiriya, where else should travellers go for the day? Thankfully, 30 minutes away from Sigiriya in the city of Dambulla lies another UNESCO Heritage that you shouldn’t miss – Dambulla Cave Temple

A trip to Sri Lanka is never complete without a visit to Sigirya, the famous Lion Rock we have all seen on the internet. It’s the symbol of Sri Lanka, the proud Unesco Heritage site and often considered the eighth wonder of the world. It is also part of the Cultural Triangle route of Sri Lanka along with Kandy, Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, making it a popular tourist destination, and perhaps one of the most visited in Sri Lanka.  

Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are two of the five ancient cities of Sri Lanka, which forms part of the cultural triangle, along with Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy. They are Sri Lanka’s most ancient kingdoms and are both World’s UNESCO Heritage sites. However, most people do not have the time or enthusiasm to visit both ruined cities, and so do we. After much consideration, we pick Polonnaruwa although both cities have their own distinctive characteristic to call decisively in favour of either.

Being located at the south of India, I had always thought that Sri Lanka was like a mini version of India. So, when I found flight promo to Sri Lanka, I bought it without hesitation. After all, it’s always good to explore somewhere milder before I see India. "If I can survive Sri Lanka, then I can try India," so I thought.