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Seek out the
elephants at Uda Walawe game park
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Go jungle trekking at Sinharajah
rain forest |
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Loll on the beach, or swim,
surf or scuba, at one of many beautiful sandy
coves |
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Watch elephant polo on Weligama
beach
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Visit the pilgrimage site
of Kataragama |
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Explore ancient caves |
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Take a jeep safari around Yala game park |
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Go birdwatching at Bundala or
Kalametiya wetlands |
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Visit the monastic site of Mulgirigala |
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Do volunteer work after the tsunami |
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Support turtle conservation projects |
Beyond Galle and its thriving hinterland is a more peaceful
Sri Lanka, sought after by those seeking out cove-like
beaches, shimmering turquoise seas and an atmosphere of
seclusion.
Koggala, about 20 minutes south of Galle, is where the
Galle coast ends and the south coast begins. It was once
most easily identified from the main road by its small,
disused airstrip. Now its better secrets include a sprinkling
of secluded, high-class villas, including a new four-stay
hotel – the Fortess – which sits proudly on
its expansive, sandy beach and the beauties of Koggala
Lake, with its tiny islands teeming with bird life.
No beach is more magnificent than Mirissa, a largely undeveloped
paradise that is highly recommended for those willing
to sacrifice luxury for natural beauty. Here are some
of the most popular budget choices on the island.
At Ahangama and Weligama, surfers prowl the shores in
search of some of the best waves in Sri Lanka and multi-coloured
fishing boats bob on turquoise seas. Weligama beach also
stages an annual elephant polo match.
Matara is literally the end of the line - the southern
railway ends here and it is also the town where the new
southern highway is scheduled to finish. But that is an
unfair way of describing a bustling town possessing two
fine Dutch forts and a decent Rest House. Three miles
further on, Dondra Head, with its octagonal lighthouse,
marks Sri Lanka's most southerly tip.
Dickwella, Tangalle and its surrounding bays are famed
for their glorious, uninterrupted stretch of beach. Both
suffered extensive damage from the tsunami, but the area
is beautiful and the people resilient. Recovery is well
underway.
Kataragama is the most important pilgrimage site in Sri
Lanka. It is best known for its two-week Perehera in July/August.
The festival in July/August attracts thousands and, as
the full moon approaches, you will see fire walking and
the water-cutting ceremony, which symbolizes the separation
of pure from impure. The devotees’ acts of self-mutilation
can be harder to bear for Western eyes.
The dry zone, housing Bundala and Yala national parks,
is your next stop as you head East. That, though, is a
story told in our wildlife and eco section.
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