1. Ravana Waterfall
Would you like to swim in a waterfall? There will be such an opportunity in Sri Lanka. In the heart of the mountainous landscape of Sri Lanka is the Ravana waterfall with a height of 25 meters. The waterfall is surrounded by mountains from all sides: it looks majestic. There are local cafes and restaurants everywhere, so you definitely won’t starve. In general, it is almost impossible to die of hunger in Sri Lanka: coconut trees are everywhere, which will be glad if a couple of pieces are removed from them and thereby make their lives easier. It remains a small matter – to learn how to climb coconut trunks, the height of which is only five or six floors. Any Lankan will say that this is a trivial matter: it is enough to use only a belt.
How to get there? The waterfall is located near the town of Ella. You can get here by taking a local tuk-tuk transport or by booking an excursion from the Lankans. You need to take warm clothes with you, since the waterfall is located in the mountains and the temperature here is much lower than on the coast of the island. At the highest points, it can reach only +18 degrees.
2. Tea plantations
Tea lovers are definitely here. There are hectares of tea plantations on the island. There is so much of it that wherever you look in the highlands of Sri Lanka, you will see a tea plantation everywhere. All this good is in private hands, not public. Tea is collected every day and exclusively by women – 10 kilograms of tea before lunch and 10 kilograms after. The colorfulness and scale of tea plantations and mountain ranges will be remembered for a lifetime.
How to get there? Take the train to Nuwara Eliya in the central part of Sri Lanka. The ticket price is $2-10.
3. Tea factory
When you look at the beauty of tea, you probably want to try the drink itself. Then you go to the tea factory. Here you can learn all about the technique of making tea, as well as buy yourself a couple of bags of green, black or white.
While you are going around the factory and thinking about what kind of tea to buy, the Lankans are diligently sorting tea leaves in huge containers, helping them get rid of moisture faster, and the guide will tell you what strong tea and weak tea are, how to distinguish them, from which leaves white tea is made, and why green tea is better than black.
How to get there? The tea factory is also located in Nuwara Eliya, surrounded by mountains with tea plantations. Book a tour from the locals.
4. Nine-arch bridge
In the small village of Gotuvala, at an altitude of 945 meters above sea level, a 30-meter nine-arch bridge rises, which is also called the “Bridge to the Sky”. Construction began in the twentieth century, when Sri Lanka was a British colony. The bridge is unique in that it consists entirely of dense rocks, bricks and cement. The bridge was built without the use of iron, and therefore the cost of such construction was so low that the British were not sure of the reliability of the structure. The locals tell a legend that after the bridge was completely built, the British forced the builders to stand under it before the first start of the train over the bridge. The train started moving, but the bridge remained in place.
How to get there? The bridge is located in the village of Gotuvala. You can get here from the city of Demodara by tuk-tuk or by train from Ella to Demodara, and from there walk to the bridge.
5. Adam’s Little Peak
Alina, [07/21/2023 17:41]
The peak is named after the sacred Adam Peak (the mountain where the imprint of the Buddha is preserved) because of the external similarity. The height of the mountain is 1141 meters above sea level. You can just admire the mountain, or you can climb it. On many websites you can find information that it is absolutely easy to climb the mountain, but take into account the 30 degrees of heat, the burning sun and humidity. It’s worth taking a liter or two of drinking water with you and getting ready for the fact that the climb will take a couple of hours. There is a Buddha figure at the top and guards the small Adam peak, and a breathtaking view of waterfalls and mountains opens up to the eye – so small inconveniences with the local climate are worth this climb. For thrill seekers on the mountain there is a small boulder on the edge of the cliff, a favorite place for photos. You can get up, sit down, lie down or jump on it – whatever the spirit is enough.
How to get there? The mountain is located near the Nine-Arch Bridge in the small village of Ella. The small Adam Peak can be reached on foot from the Nine-Arch Bridge, by tuk-tuk or book an excursion.
6. Sigiriya
Another great place to climb is the Sigiriya rock plateau. The height of the mountain is 370 meters above sea level.
In the V century AD, King Kassapa built a fortress on the mountain. Lion paws, which have survived to the present day, led to the top. There was a whole complex of pools and gardens around the mountain, where almost the first fountains in the world beat out of the ground. Some of them are still working.
Before the ascent, you will be able to see all the pools, fountains and structures that have survived to this day. From the information plate at the entrance you will find out what animals you can meet here: crocodiles, monkeys and monitor lizards. Don’t go near monkeys if you have things with you or if you wear glasses.
After you walk around the entire complex, built under the leadership of King Kassap, you will have to climb Sigiriya itself. It is carried out by a metal staircase and leads through the famous lion paws. Previously, there was also a lion’s head on the mountain, whose open mouth served as the main entrance to the tsar’s palace. The ascent lasts about 2 hours, after which an incredible panorama of Sri Lanka opens up to the conqueror of the mountain. The throne of King Kassap is also preserved on the top of the mountain. In general, the ascent is also difficult due to the local climate – do not forget to take enough water with you.
How to get there? To visit Sigiriya, you can book an excursion with local guides. It is most profitable to buy an excursion with a visit to several attractions at once, for example, Dambulla, the Royal Botanical Garden, the small Adam peak and Sigiriya. But if you travel on your own, you can stay at any hotel in Dambulla and get from there to Sigiriya by bus or on a rented scooter. The entrance ticket for an adult foreigner is $ 30, for a child $ 15.