Yala National Park also called as Ruhunu National Park is the 2^nd largest national park of Sri Lanka located at the coordinates 6°22′22″ N 81°31′01″ E. It covers an area of Southern Province and Uva Province of the country and is spread over an area of 979 sq. km. Yala National Park is divided into 5 blocks and Ruhuna National Park and Kumana National Park two major sub divisions of the park. It is located about 300 kms from Colombo City, the capital city of Sri Lanka.

Yala was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1900 and later as a national park in the year 1938 along with Wilpattu National Park. It is one of the best reserves of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds. The park is in the proximity of 6 national parks and 3 wildlife sanctuaries and features a dry semi-arid climate. It tops the list of seventy Important Bird Areas of the country and is home to more than 215 bird species from the different regions of the world.

Yala National Park houses 44 different mammals and is referred as one of the greatest leopard densities in the globe. There are two sacred places such as Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara located in the vicinity of the park. Some regions of park were affected with the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and more than 250 surrounding regions peoples died at that time.

Flora of Yala National Park:

Yala National Park houses the rich mangrove species plants and species include Sonneratia caseolaris, Acanthus ilicifolius, Excoecaria agallocha, and Lumnitzera racemosa.

Other variety of plant species are Manilkara hexandra, Ceylon Satinwood, Terminalia arjuna, Limonia, Berrya cordifolia, dumetorum, Pleurostylia opposita, Gymnema sylvestre, Bell mimosa, Schleichera oleosa and Vitex pinnataand Indian blackberry.

Fauna in Yala National Park:

Yala National Park is home to 6 endemic species birds of Sri Lanka among 215 varieties of bird species. The famous bird species in the park include Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul and Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill.

Yala National Park houses 44 species of mammals including Sri Lankan Elephant. Sri Lankan Leopard, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Wild water Buffalo, Toque Macaque, Golden Palm Civet, Red Slender Loris, and Fishing Cat are the animals seen in Yala National Park along with Sri Lankan Elephant.

Tourism in Yala National Park:

With the visit of about 156,867 tourists in 2002, Yala National Park is considered as one of the most tourist visited national parks of Sri Lanka.

To eat:

There are few hotels and restaurants located near Yala National Park.

The list of other tourist attractions near Yala National Park is as follows:

• Hambantota Cricket Stadium
• Port of Hambantota
• Yudaganawa Temple
• Buduruwagala

Best time to visit Yala National Park:

Throughout the year is the best to visit Yala National Park, especially from January to March is the ideal time to travel Yala National Park to see rich flora and fauna.

Accommodation options near Yala National Park:

There are few safari camps and hotels located near Yala National Park and for best accommodation facilities, Hambantota is advised. The list of hotels near Yala National Park is as follows:

• Lake View Bungalow, Yala
• Mahoora Tented Luxury Safari Camp
• Mahoora Luxury Mobile Safari Camps
• Bandarawela Hotel
• Chaaya Wild Yala Hotel
• Hotel 4 U
• Elephant Reach Hotel
• The Safari
• Mandara Rosen
• Sunnyside Holiday Bungalow
• Peacock Beach Hotel

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Weerawila is a village located in Hambantota District in Southern Province of Sri Lanka is situated about 20 kms northeast of district capital Hambantota and about 220 kms southeast of national capital Colombo. Weerawila is well known for Weerawila Airport.

Weerawila Airport:

Weerawila Airport is a domestic military airport located just away from the village centre is placed between 06°15′15″ N latitude 81°14′02″ E longitude and about 13 kms away from Hambantota International Airport.

Geography of Weerawila:

Weerawila experiences a tropical wet and dry climate.

Economy of Weerawila:

Most of the people in Weerawila are involved in agricultural activities and few natives in industrial and administrative sectors.

Connectivity to Weerawila:

Weerawila has got good connectivity with its nearby regions and major cities of the province because of its near proximity with one of the main cities of Sri Lanka Hambantota. There are plenty of private and public buses plying between Weerawila and its nearby regions and one can board buses at Weerawila Bus Junction.

Weerawila is not well connected with railway transportation and the nearest major railway station is Diaythalawa Railway Station located at a distance of 110 kms.

Weerawila has its own airport situated few kilometers away from the village and the nearest international airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (30 kms).

Food, Culture and Shopping in Weerawila:

Weerawila is a multicultural and multiethnic village houses inhabitants of Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and Hindus. Sinhalese and Tamil are widely spoken languages in Weerawila and also some natives speak Urdu, English and other languages. The major festivals celebrated in Weerawila are Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, Deepavali Festival Day, Tamil Thai Pongal Day and Maha Sivarathri Day.

Weerawila people are the great lovers of non vegetarian cuisine. Very common and famous food in Weerawila includes Pol Sambola, Hoppers, Pittu, Lamprais, Koola’ya, Weli Thalapa, Undu Walalu, Kalu Dodol and Kokis.

Weerawila houses few star hotels and shops, due to this tourist can visit the hotels and shops of Hambantota for quality dishes and better shopping experience. Hambantota is located 20 kms away from Weerawila.

Tourist Attractions near Weerawila:

Weerawila Airport:

Weerawila Airport is located few kilometers away from Weerawila centre is a military and civilian airport located at the coordinates of 06°15′15″ N 81°14′02″ E.

Hambantota International Cricket Stadium:

Hambantota International Cricket Stadium has a capacity of 35,000 seats is well known as Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium.

Other tourist attractions near Weerawila include:

• Tele-Cinema Village
• Port of Hambantota

Ideal time to visit Weerawila:

From November to April is the best time to visit Weerawila.

Accommodation Options in Weerawila:

There are few hotels are located in Weerawila and tourist can refer hotels of Hambantota city (20 kms) for top quality hospitality services. The best hotels in and around Weerawila are as follows:

• Priyankara Hotel
• Serene Park Hotel
• The Safari
• Elephant Reach Hotel
• Hotel 4 U
• Chaaya Wild Yala Hotel
• Taprospa Tissa
• Peacock Beach Hotel
• Owin Rose Hotel
• Hotel Chandrika
• Wila Safari Hotel
• Lagoon Inn & Restaurant
• Bandagiri Village Eco Resort
• Happy Beach Hotel
• Hambantota Rest House

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Wattala is one of the suburbs of Colombo city in Western Province of Sri Lanka situated 9 kms away from the centre of Colombo City and about 110 kms southwest of Kandy City.

Geography and Climate of Wattala:

Wattala is placed on the Colombo-Negombo A3 Highway and is positioned between 6°59′ N latitude and 79°53′ E longitude.

Economy of Wattala:

Wattala is home to many professional people, traditional fisher folks and business people. Wattala is home to numerous churches, mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples and schools and colleges.

Connectivity to Wattala:

Wattala is served by Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo with flights to India, Pakistan and other Asian and Western countries is located 23 kms away from the suburb.

Wanawasala Railway Station is situated at a distance of 1.5 kms from the centre of Wattala.

Buses are easily accessible at Mattakuliya Bus station and Bastian Mawatha Bus Station at regular intervals. Choose Auto Rickshaws or Taxis to travel within the suburb and to reach other suburbs of Colombo.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Wattala:

Wattala is home to all the religion people including Hindus, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Catholics. More Sinhalese are residing in Wattala, followed by minority of Tamils and very low lower percentage of Muslims. There are cultural events organized in the temples and the cultural halls of Wattala during the festive season.

The people of Wattala are the great lovers of non vegetarian food items especially made of Chicken, fish and prawns. The hotels of Wattala offer India, China, Italy, Thailand and China along with Sri Lanka style. The famous dish includes Milk Rice, Kavum, Kokis, Asmi, Kottu, coconut sambol, Gotukola sambal, Thosai and Parippu Hodi.

To purchase special handicraft products visit the shops of Wattala or one can reach Colombo City Complex located 9 kms away from Wattala. The best shops located near Wattala include:

• Crescat Boulevard
• Barefoot Handicraft Store
• Lakmedura
• Lakpahana
• Liberty Plaza
• Majestic City

Places to see near Wattala:

The Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Center:

The Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Center is located in Colombo City is open from 9 AM-1 PM and from 2 PM-4 PM. This art centre organizes various stage shows and exhibitions. Visitors are allowed to buy different traditional handicrafts, paintings and artworks.

Colombo Zoological Garden:

Colombo Zoological Garden houses numerous rare species of animals, birds, and reptiles. Elephant show is organized at 5:15 PM daily in the park.

Casa Serena Art Gallery:

Casa Serena Art Gallery has a large collection of historical photographs and sculpture. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Monday 1 PM to 6 PM.

National Museum of Colombo:

National Museum of Colombo was constructed in the year 1877 is where the throne of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last king of Kandy Kingdom is conserved.

The list of other tourist attractions near Wattala is as follows:

• The Sapumal Foundation
• The Natural History Museum
• Buddha Statues
• Royal College Colombo
• The Murugan Hindu Temple
• The Nelum Pokuna Theatre
• Galle Face Green Promenade

Best time to visit Wattala:

Between December and March is the ideal time to visit Wattala.

Accommodation Options in Wattala:

Wattala houses many hotels with rooms of deluxe and semi deluxe and several special amenities. The list of hotels in Wattala and nearby areas is as follows:

• Pegasus Reef Hotel
• Hotel Renuka
• Taj Samudra
• Hotel Clarion
• Grand Oriental Hotel
• Samara Hotel
• Cinnamon Grand Hotel
• Galle Face Hotel
• Palm Village Hotel
• Green Plaza Hotel
• Casa Colombo
• Ceylon Continental
• Hotel Galadari
• The Havelock Place Bungalow
• Hotel Ranmuthu

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Trincomalee is one of the major cities of Sri Lanka and the administrative headquarters of Trincomalee District in Eastern Province is situated about 263 km northeast of Colombo City and about 243 kms southeast of Jaffna City. Trincomalee is one of the Tamils majority cities in the country.

Etymology of Trincomalee:

The name Trincomalee derives from three Tamil language words “Thiru-kona-malai” means “Lord of the Sacred Hill”.

Geography and Climate of Trincomalee:

Trincomalee covers an area of 7.5 sq. km is placed between 8°34′0″ N latitude 81°14′0″ E longitude and experiences a tropical wet and dry climate. From March to June is the dry season in Trincomalee.

Economy of Trincomalee:

The economy of Trincomalee is based on fishing and tourism activity and also the city houses numerous famous educational institutions like Zahira College, Orr’s Hill Vivekananda College and St. Joseph Collage.

Landmarks in Trincomalee:

• Koneswaram Temple
• Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall
• Bhadrakali Amman Temple
• Trincomalee Hindu College

How to reach Trincomalee?

Trincomalee is served by its own airport located 13 kms away from the heart of the city. There are regular bus services accessible at Trincomalee City Bus Stand, placed near the market. Trincomalee Railway Station is located 2 km north of the city and one can board train of Colombo City here. Auto Rickshaw is the best option to move within the city.

Culture and Food in Trincomalee:

The population of Trincomalee is filled with greater majority of Sri Lankan Tamils and Trincomalee houses numerous Hindu Temples include The Koneswaram Temple, Bhadrakali Temple and Salli Muthumariamman Kovil and one cultural centre named as Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall. There is annual festival organized at the Koneswaram Temple with great fervor.

The hotels located near the Trincomalee beach offer varieties sea food from prawn and fish. Otherwise one can reach the North Indian food restaurant at Green Park Beach Hotel in the south of city centre. Pol Sambol, Mallum, Kottu, Kavum, Kiribath, Lentil curry, Fish Ambul Thiyal and Appa are popular dishes among the regions of Trincomalee.

To buy handicraft products of wood and cloth, visit the shops placed near Koneshwara Temple or the handicraft shops of Trincomalee City. Also the city houses branded shops of clothes, shoes, bags and mobiles.

Must see in Trincomalee:

Koneswaram Temple:

Koneswaram Temple is a very ancient Hindu temple located in Trincomalee and is one of the major pilgrim places of Sri Lankan and Indian Hindus. It was once destroyed by Portuguese in 1622 and few years later it was reconstructed with several specialties.

The Dutch Fort:

The Dutch Fort was built by Portuguese Empires during Portuguese colonial period in Sri Lanka. Later it was conquered by Dutch in the year 1639 and after 33 years, French Empires captured it from Dutch and rebuild.

Trincomalee Beach:

Trincomalee Beach is a must visit place and is one of the very clean beach of Sri Lanka attracts tourist from all around the country for its picturesque beauty.

Other tourist attractions near Trincomalee include:

• Hot springs
• Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall
• Bhadrakali Amman Temple

Ideal time to visit Trincomalee:

Between April and October is the best time to reach Trincomalee, when the weather is very cool and calm.

Accommodation Options in Trincomalee:

Famous hotels and resorts are located in Trincomalee are as follows:

• Nilaveli Beach Hotel
• Pigeon Island Beach Resort
• Chaaya Blu Resort
• Hotel Sea Lord
• Lotus Park Hotel
• Green Park Hotel
• Aqua Hotel Trincomalee
• Sunflower Hotel
• Kumar Hotel
• Rainbow Hotel
• Medway Hotel
• Trinco Village Hotel

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Sigiriya is a city situated in Matale District of Central Province of Sri Lanka, about 170 kms northeast of national capital Colombo. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites highly visited ancient site of Sri Lanka.

Sigiriya is famous for its several historical sites include The Lion Gate, Lions Paw, The Mirror Wall and Fountain Gardens and also the city houses several famous educational institutions and financial organizations.

Etymology and history of Sigiriya:

Sigiriya draws its name from lion shape rock called Sihagiri and later it changed as Sigiriya. Sigiriya served as the capital of King Kasyapa from 477 – 495 AD.

Geography of Sigiriya:

Sigiriya is placed between latitude 7°57′25″ in the north and longitude 45′35″ in the east.

Connectivity to Sigiriya:

Sigiriya is well connected Dambulla City (25 kms) through roadway by frequent general and luxury buses. Buses ply between morning 6:30 to evening 6:00. One can board buses at Sigiriya City Bus Stand.

Polonnaruwa Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Sigiriya located at a distance of 59 kms. The closest airports include Hingurakgoda Airport (45 kms) and Anuradhapura Airport (77 kms).

Cuisine, Culture and Shopping in Sigiriya:

Sigiriya has a strong historical and cultural background. The lion rock of the Sigiriya is visited by tourists from all around the country for its cultural and historical significance. The Mirror Wall, Frescoes, Lions Paw and The Lion Gate display the stories of ancient Sigiriya. Sigiriya houses the several cultural centres of music and dance and the natives of Sigiriya celebrate Tamil New Year and Independence Day with a grand manner by gathering together.

Sigiriya houses few shopping centres and food corners, due to this reason, tourists must kept water bottles and food packets along. There is one ATM located 2 km away from Sigiriya at Kibissa. One can find the hotels of Dambulla for quality food and drinks, located about 25 km away from the centre of Sigiriya City.

Tourist Attractions in Sigiriya:

Lion Rock:

Lion Rock is a must visit place in Sigiriya houses The Lion Gate, Lions Paw and The Mirror Wall. It magnetizes tourists for its several amazing facts from all around the country.

Sigiriya Museum:

Sigiriya Museum has a large collection of historical objects and ancient frescos. It exhibits the colorful photographs of Mirror Wall and Garden.

Dambulla Cave Temple:

Dambulla cave Temple is located in Dambulla houses more than 150 Buddha Statues, 3 Sri Lankan Kings statues and statues of Hindu deities Vishnu and Ganesha.

Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium:

Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium is the international cricket stadium located in Dambulla City, about 27 kms away from Sigiriya City.

The list of other tourist attractions near Sigiriya is as follows:

• The Boulder Gardens
• The Water Gardens
• The Terraced Gardens
• Garden Complex
• Fountain Gardens

Best time to visit Sigiriya:

Between June and September is the ideal time to visit Sigiriya.

Accommodation Options in Sigiriya:

The specialties available in the hotels of Sigiriya include 24 hour electricity, internet connectivity, cable TV with international channels, hot water bath, air ticket booking, pick up an drop facility to airport and fitness centre. The average cost for double rooms is 2000 LKR. The list of best hotels and guest houses in Sigiriya and Dambulla (25 kms) is as follows:

• The Elephant Corridor Hotel
• Sigiriya Hotels
• Lion Lodge
• Sigiriya Village
• Jetwing Vil Uyana
• Sinhagiri Villa
• Amaya Lake Hotel
• Heritance Kandalama Hotel
• Brook Boutique Hotel & Spa
• Thilanka Resort And Spa
• Regalia Hotel
• Hotel Suwahasa
• Nice Place Hotel
• Chanara Kandalama Hotel

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Negombo is the 4^th largest city of Sri Lanka located in Western Province at the coordinates 7°12′40″ N 79°50′19″ E. It is the administrative centre of Negombo Division situated about 36 kms away from the national capital Colombo. The Postal Code of Negombo is 11500.

Economy of Negombo:

Negombo is one of the industrial hubs of the country well known for its ancient fishing industry and houses numerous royal hotels, departmental stores, big super markets, comfort pubs and restaurants.

Geography and Climate of Negombo:

Negombo is placed at an altitude of 2 meters and the total area of Negombo is around 60 sq. km. Negombo experiences a tropical monsoon climate.

Etymology and history of Negombo:

Portuguese was first used the name “Negombo”. Portuguese rulers constructed a fort in Negombo during the colonial period and later Dutch conquered Negombo from Portuguese in the year 1646. Dutch Empire built a fort in 1672 and even today remains good in condition.

Landmarks in Negombo:

• Harischandra National College
• Sebastian’s Church
• Dutch Fort
• Negombo Lagoon

Connectivity to Negombo:

The Bus Terminal Complex at Negombo is considered as one of the best bus terminals of the country and the buses to major cities like Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Kegalle, Balangoda and Chilaw are accessible with good frequency from here.

Negombo is served by three railway stations situated in Negombo downtown, Kattuwa and Kurana. Negombo Central Railway Station is located 1 km away from the city.

The nearest airport to Negombo is Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo located at a distance of 9 kms.

Culture and Food in Negombo:

Negombo is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic city is home to Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians. Sinhalese are higher in majority in Negombo. The worship places of different religions include Kali Amman Temple, Negombo Grand Jumma Masjid, St. Sebastian’s Church and Agurukaramulla Raja Maha Viharaya.

Negombo is a city with full of clothes, shoes, handicrafts and ornaments shops. Also houses plenty of different food corners with Sri Lankan, Indian and Western cuisine. Sea Joy is one of the famous food corner offers delicious food at different prices. The Peacock is the bar located in the centre of the city.

Must see in Negombo:

Dutch Fort:

Dutch Fort is the must see place in Negombo, constructed during Dutch colonial period in Sri Lanka in the year 1672.

Lellama:

Lellama is country’s 2^nd largest fish market located towards the north side of the town.

Negombo Beach:

Negombo Beach is the prime attraction of Negombo visited by more than lakhs of tourists every year for its stunning beauty.

Muthurajawela Marshland:

Muthurajawela Marshland covers an area of 6,000-hectares.

St. Sebastian’s Church:

St. Sebastian’s Church is the beautifully constructed worship place located in Negombo. The outer structure of the church is really great treat for the eyes of tourists.

Other tourist attractions near Negombo are:

• Mora Wala
• Beach Park
• Agurukaramulla Raja Maha Viharaya
• Katuwapitiya Church
• Sea Street Church
• Grand Street Church
• Ganapathi Temple
• Muththumari Amman Temple
• Negombo Grand Jumma Masjid
• Karumari Amman Temple

Ideal time to visit Negombo:

November to March is the ideal time to holiday Negombo.

Accommodation Options in Negombo:

Well facilitated famous hotels in Negombo City are as follows:

• Dions Guest House
• Star Beach Hotel
• Lachlan Hotel & Suites
• Marine Tourist Guest House
• Silal Fernando Homestay
• Windmill Hotel
• Suriya Arana
• Hostel Negombo Beach
• Blue Horizon Guest House
• Villa Flywing Guesthouse
• Dorset Guest House
• Sha Residence

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Mahaweli is the longest river in Sri Lanka geographically positioned between latitude 8°28′ in the north and longitude 81°14′ in the east measures a length of 335 kms is also the largest drainage basin in the country. Mahaweli occupies around one-fifth of the total area of Sri Lanka.

Mahaweli and its tributaries are used for irrigation purpose in several regions of the island. The hydroelectricity produced from the six dams constructed on Mahaweli serves 40% of electricity needs of Sri Lanka. The river convenes Bay of Bengal on southwestern part of Bay of Trincomalee.

Tributaries of Mahaweli River:

• Hulu Ganga
• Uma Oya
• Loggal Oya
• Amban ganga
• Badulu Oya
• Kotmale Oya
• Hatton Oya

Connectivity to Mahaweli:

Mahaweli River flows through major regions of Central Province of Sri Lanka including Kandy and Trincomalee. Tourists can enjoy the beauty of Mahaweli River by reaching Trincomalee City.

Trincomalee is well connected with Kandy, Colombo and Galle by all the major transport facilities like road, railway and airway.

There are regular buses departing from Trincomalee City to Colombo and Kandy City and one can board buses from Trincomalee City Bus Stand located in the vicinity of the market.

Trincomalee is served by Trincomalee Airport situated 13 kms away from the midpoint of the city with daily flights to Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

Trincomalee Railway Station is sited 2 km north of the city centre and from Trincomalee City, tourists can reach the banks of Mahaweli River by hiring Auto Rickshaws or Minivans.

Other tourist attractions near Mahaweli:

Koneswaram Temple:

Koneswaram Temple is considered as one of the holy places of Sri Lankan and Indian Hindus, located in Trincomalee of Central province in Sri Lanka. It was once damaged from Portuguese attack and later was reconstructed with marvelous architecture by the local king.

Trincomalee Beach:

Trincomalee Beach is one of the top tourist destinations and very calm, clean and cool beach of Sri Lanka. It is visited by higher majority of foreign tourists from western countries annually for its eye-boarding beauty.

The Dutch Fort:

The Dutch Fort is very ancient historical fort and constructed during Portuguese regime in Sri Lanka. Dutch Empires captured it from Portuguese in 1639 and in 1672 the fort was conquered by the French Empires from Dutch.

The list of other tourist attractions near Mahaweli is:

• Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall
• Bhadrakali Amman Temple
• Hot springs

Ideal time to visit Mahaweli:

During the ending months of monsoon season and the beginning months of winter season will be the best time to visit beautiful Mahaweli River.

Accommodation Options near Mahaweli (in Trincomalee City):

It is very easy to board the beauty of Mahaweli River from Trincomalee. So tourists can find hotels at Trincomalee for better accommodation. The hotels of Trincomalee are well known for their grand hospitality services with different facilities include hot water bath, cable TV, laundry, doctor on call, vehicle parking, garden area, fitness centre, swimming pool, tennis court, doctor on call, free WiFi, air ticket bookings and serves Sri Lanka, India, China and Western countries cuisine. The best hotels in Trincomalee are as follows:

• Pigeon Island Beach Resort
• Nilaveli Beach Hotel
• Chaaya Blu Resort
• Hotel Sea Lord
• Lotus Park Hotel
• Green Park Hotel
• Aqua Hotel Trincomalee
• Sunflower Hotel
• Kumar Hotel
• Rainbow Hotel
• Trinco Village Hotel
• Medway Hotel
• Seaway Hotel
• Sudu Gala Beach Resorts, Nilaweli
• Sea View Hotel
• Welcombe Hotel
• Chaaya Hotels & Resorts

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Koggala is a town located in Galle District in Southern Province of Sri Lanka, about 14 kms from Galle city and about 130 kms from national capital Colombo. Koggala is an ecstasy of tourist destinations houses a beautiful lake, a folk museum centre and a famous Buddhist temple.

SLAF Koggala:

SLAF Koggala is an airport as well as the major identity of Koggala was earlier known as Royal Air Force (RAF) and is served by Cinnamon Air and Millennium Airlines with regular air services to Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo.

Nearby towns of Koggala:

• Bentota
• Udugama
• Kahawa
• Boossa
• Iduruwa

Landmarks in Koggala:

• Koggala Lake
• Spice Garden
• Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum
• Koggala Beach Hotel

Economy of Koggala:

The economy of Koggala is highly based on the tourism activities and most of the people are involved in hotel business and few in administrative offices as clerks, officers and guards.

Connectivity to Koggala:

Koggala has its own airport located 2 kms away from the town centre with flights to Colombo city.

People can access buses at Koggala Town Bus Stand and other local bus junctions to reach tourist destinations and nearby cities.

Koggala Railway Station is situated 2 kms away from the heart of the town with trains to Colombo and Galle City. Kathaluwa Railway Station in Galle is the other nearest and major railway station accessible to Koggala.

Food and Shopping in Koggala:

Koggala is the place with full of tourist attractions and religious sites. Also the town houses numerous Sri Lankan traditional food corners and Indian and Western countries restaurants to fulfill the purpose of foreign tourists. Other than food corners, Koggala hosts various handicraft product centres and cloth and shoe outlets.

Places to see in Koggala:

Koggala Lake:

Koggala Lake is considered as the largest lake in Sri Lanka situated nearby Koggala Beach Resort is a popular bird watching site and attracts numerous bird lovers during weekends.

Handunugoda Tea factory:

Handunugoda plantation and Tea centre is a best place to have knowledge about tea production houses varieties of spices and herbs. Tourists can visit this plantation only with prior permission.

Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum:

Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum is one of the must visit places in Koggala is named in the honor of Sri Lanka’s most famous 20^th century Sinhalese writer Martin Wickramasinghe. This museum displays the Sri Lanka’s traditional culture and has a great collection of photographs & memorabilia of Martin Wickramasinghe and some information about the history of Koggala.

The list of other tourist attractions near Koggala is as follows:

• Turtle Hatchery
• Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya
• Kottawa Reserve
• Unawatuna Beach
• Hiyare Rain Forest
• Galle Fort
• Murugan Kovil
• Sinharaja Forest Reserve
• Kanneliya Forest Reserve
• Kirala Kelle Estuary
• Udawalawe National Park
• Bundala National Wildlife Park

Best time to visit Koggala:

From October to February is the ideal time to visit Koggala to enjoy the beauty of lake, beach and garden.

Accommodation options in Koggala:

Koggala is home to numerous royal hotels, guest houses and resorts. The main facilities available in the hotels include cable TV, Free Wi Fi, doctor on call, air ticket booking and pick up and drop to airport. The list of hotels in and around Koggala is as follows:

• The Fortress
• Koggala Beach Hotel
• Galle Fort Hotel
• Cantaloupe Aqua
• Unawatuna Beach Resort
• Sri Mathie Villa & Boutique Eco Hotel
• Hotel Kabalana Beach
• Jetwing Lighthouse Galle
• The Long Beach Resort
• Villa Modarawattha
• Tisara Villas
• Ceilao Villas

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Kelaniya is a suburb of Colombo City in Western Province of Sri Lanka placed between latitude 06°57′24″ in the north and longitude 79°55′14″ in the east. Kelaniya is famous for its Kelaniya Temple located on the banks of Kelani River and houses the University of Kelaniya.

History of Kelaniya:

Kelaniya was earlier known as Kalyani. According to Buddhist Mythology, Gautama Buddha visited Kelaniya during 5^th century BC and to mark the event, Kelaniya Temple was constructed. Kelaniya also served as the capital of a regional King Kelani Tissa’s kingdom. An ancient sculpture of Kelaniya Temple is still good in condition and looks really amazing.

How to reach Kelaniya?

A1 Colombo- Kandy highway passes through Kelaniya connects it with Colombo and Kandy cities. One can board buses from Kelaniya Bus Stand located few kilometers away from the railway station.

The Kelaniya Railway Station is placed in the vicinity of Colombo Kandy Road, 5 kms away from Kelaniya Centre and the trains to Kandy and Galle city are accessible from here.

Ratmalana Airport is the nearest domestic airport and Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo is the closest international airport to Kelaniya placed 24 kms and 29 kms away from the Kelaniya respectively.

Food, Culture and Shopping in Kelaniya:

Kelaniya houses the population of higher majority of Buddhists citizens. The natives speak Sinhalese along with Tamil and these two are the national languages of Sri Lanka. Duruthu Maha Perahera is the very famous religious festival celebrated on November or December annually. Also the locals celebrate Tamil Thai Pongal Day, National Day, Maha Sivarathri Day and Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day with great enthusiasm and splendor.

The people of Kelaniya like both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. The popular eateries of Kelaniya natives include Aappa, kiribath, Lamprais, Koola’ya, Pittu, Roti, Wattalapan and Undu Walalu. Also Kelaniya houses numerous hotels with traditional Sri Lankan, Indian and Chinese cuisine.

Kelaniya houses jewelry, handicraft, medicine, clothes, shoes and gadgets shops. One can find the shops of Colombo City located 11 km away for better purchase.

Places to see in Kelaniya:

Kelaniya Temple:

Kelaniya Temple also called as Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is a famous Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, known for Lord Buddha wall paintings and the beautiful sculptures. It is believed that, this temple was built to mark the visit of Gautama Buddha to Kelaniya.

The National Museum of Colombo:

The National Museum of Colombo is located in Colombo City, about 11 kms from Kelaniya was built in 1877 and has great information about the history of Sri Lanka. The museum is open from morning 9 to evening 5.

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque:

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is a holy place of Muslims and the famous tourist destination in Colombo located in second Cross Street in Pettah.

Other tourist attractions near Kelaniya include:

• The Natural History Museum
• Town Hall
• The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
• The World Trade Centre towers
• Royal College Colombo
• The Murugan Hindu temple
• The Nelum Pokuna Theatre
• The Dutch Period Museum

Best time to visit Kelaniya:

The months of November, December and January are ideal to visit while the grand cultural events are held in Kelaniya Temple.

Accommodation Options in Kelaniya:

The hotels in Kelaniya and Colombo City are listed below:

• Hotel Clarion
• Pegasus Reef Hotel
• Taj Samudra
• Hilton Colombo Residences
• Hotel Ramada Colombo
• Grand Oriental Hotel
• Cinnamon Grand Hotel
• Galle Face Hotel
• Lake Lodge
• Hotel Ranmuthu
• Hotel Sansu
• Galle Face Hotel
• Garden Guest House
• Palm Village Hotel
• Ceylon Continental
• Hotel Galadari

The post Kelaniya Tourist Places to Visit in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Asia appeared first on MustVisitPlace.com.

Katukurunda is a village situated near Kalutara Town in Western Province of Sri Lanka is well known for SLAF Katukurunda, Sri Lanka Air Force base, located 2 km away from the village centre. Katukurunda is situated 2.5 kms from district main town Kalutara and about 65 kms from the national capital Colombo.

SLAF Katukurunda:

SLAF Katukurunda is a Sri Lanka Air Force base. It was initially constructed as a Royal Naval Air Station HMS Ukussa and redeveloped by Sri Lanka Air Force in the year 1984. It witnessed several motor races organized by Air Force Sports Board with the help of Sports Ministry. Now it is also acting as a flight training centre for few local civil flying schools.

SLAF Katukurunda is served by Millennium Airlines      with flights to Ratmalana Airport and Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo.

Connectivity to Katukurunda:

Katukurunda is village located 2.5 kms from the nearest town Kalutara. People can board buses of nearby regions at Katukurunda Bus Junction and major cities at Kalutara Town Bus Stand.

Katukurunda Railway Station is placed few kilometers away from the centre of the village.

Katukurunda has an air base located in the vicinity of the village centre and other closest domestic airport is Ratmalana Airport (32 kms). The nearest international airport to Katukurunda is Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo (94 kms).

Food, Culture and Shopping in Katukurunda:

Katukurunda houses the population of different religions and various communities. The natives of Katukurunda celebrate both national and religious festivals with equal interest and enthusiasm.

Undu Walalu, Weli Thalapa, Bibikkan, Kokis and Ulundu Vade are famous dishes in the homes and the hotels of Katukurunda. Also the village houses few handicraft stores and general stores as well. The nearest major town Kalutara (5 kms) is best to purchase quality products and delicious food.

Must see places in Katukurunda:

SLAF Katukurunda:

SLAF Katukurunda is a Sri Lanka Air Force base placed in Katukurunda near Kalutara Town. It is a venue for many motor races and flight training.

Kalutara Bridge:

Kalutara Bridge is 38 meters long bridge placed on River Kalu Ganga of Kalutara. It acts as the major connection between western and southern regions of Sri Lanka.

Kalutara Vihara:

Kalutara Vihara is a prominent Buddhist temple situated near Kalutara Bridge was built in the year 1960.

Calido Beach:

Calido Beach is one of the must visit tourist destinations in Kalutara near Katukurunda visited by higher majority of foreign tourists.

Kalutara Bodiya:

Kalutara Bodiya is one of the most important religious places in Sri Lanka sited in the town of Kalutara.

The list of other tourist attractions in Katukurunda is as follows:

• Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque
• The Murugan Hindu Temple
• The Nelum Pokuna Theatre
• The Beira Lake
• National Museum of Colombo

Best time to visit Katukurunda:

Between November and March is the ideal time to plan a holiday to Katukurunda to visit historical temples.

Accommodation Options in Katukurunda:

The facilities available in the hotels of Katukurunda offer laundry, dry cleaning and the food from the different regions of the world. The hotels, resorts and home stays in Katukurunda and Kalutara Town (5 kms from Katukurunda) are as follows:

• Mermaid Hotel & Club
• Royal Palms Beach
• Aitken Spence Hotels
• Roy Villa Beach Hotel
• Royal Palms Beach Hotel
• Salgado Hotel
• Hotel De Gulf
• Tangerine Beach Hotel
• Golden Sun Resort
• Global Towers Hotel
• Hotel Janaki
• Hotel Sansu
• Kamvelta Holiday Resort
• Parisare Home stay
• Hotel Ranmuthu

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