Galle & Unawatuna
Often referred to as jewel of the Indian Ocean and the teardrop-shaped nation, Sri Lanka has for years drawn travellers to its shores with white sandy beaches, beautiful ruins and fascinating cultures. But when civil war broke out this country was devastated by conflict and political violence, keeping tourists at bay for decades. Today with conflict now resolved, Sri Lanka and its Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim residents are welcoming tourists back with pride - encouraging you to wander along deserted beaches, relax in quaint towns and unearth relics within ancient cities.
POLONNARUWA
When Sri Lanka was a monarchical country Polonnaruwa was the royal capital. Today, this ancient city invites you to explore its many ruins.
Sights: The Northern Ruins are a must-visit because of their expansive archaeological sites. Don't miss Gal Vihara - a collection of beautiful gigantic Buddha stone statues, Rankot Vihara and Kiri Vihara dome monastery and the Lankatilaka and Buddha Seema Prasada temple ruins.
A short distance away is the Quadrangle - another collection of ruins made up of terraces, bound by a wall. Expect to find old temples, shrines, monuments, Buddha images and statues - including the Hatadage and Atadage tooth relic chamber, the Latha-Mandapaya structure, the Satmahal Prasada and Thuparama Gedige temples, the colossal Gal Pota stone structure and the Bodhisattva and Bodhi tree shrine. To view the best maintained ruins, head to the Royal Palace Group. Dating back many centuries, this group of relics reveal magnificent halls with friezes, moldings, reliefs, bathing pools and classic structures - reminding you of an era gone by.
Eat: Polonnaruwa Rest House Dining Room (Potgul Mawatha, Old Town. Tel: +9427 222 2299), Manel Guest House Dining Room (New Town Road, south of Old Town. Tel: +9427 222 2481) and Devi Tourist Home Dining Room (Lake View Watte. Tel: +9427 222 3181) offer mouth-watering, authentic Sri Lankan curry and rice meals, plus western fare.
Stay
$: The Royal Lotus (www.theroyallotus.com) offers value-for-money accommodation.
$$: Cheaper housing can be found at The Village Polonnaruwa (www.vilapol.com).
$$$: Deer Park Hotel (www.angsana.com) boasts luxurious, clean accommodation.
Getting There: Polonnaruwa is easily accessible by bus or train from Colombo, where most international flights land. Emirates (www.emirates.com), SriLankan Airlines (www.srilankan.lk) Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) and Cathay Pacific (www.cathaypacific.com) fly direct to Colombo from Singapore. Flight time is around four hours.
Tagged the Lion Rock, the town of Sigiriya has a flat-top rock formation, scattered with archaeological ruins - reminiscent of Machu Picchu, Peru. Dating back to the third century, when this site was used by monks, Sigiriya has become one of Sri Lanka's most recognisable sites. With dry pools, stone seats, palace ruins and weathered stone-wall drawings, Sigiriya easily brings out the adventurous "Indiana Jones" in all of us. Sigiriya is a popular day trip spot for those visiting Dambulla, situated 148 kilometres north-east of Colombo.
Getting there: Travel by bus or car to Dambulla from Colombo or Kandy. From Dambulla, take one of the many buses to Sigiriya, or drive there yourself.
GALLE
Sri Lanka has several quaint towns worthy of exploration including the sleepy fishing village of Ella, the cultural city hub of Kandy, Jaffna - the once stronghold of the Tamil resistance - and Nuwara Eliya, which plays to the famous Horton Plains National Park. Galle stands out for its Dutch inspired architecture and symbols, built by the Dutch in 1633.
Sights: Don't miss Galle Fort - a lighthouse, bastions, gates and walls worthy of exploration. Keep an eye out for the Old Gate made from British Coat of Arms, imprinted with the letters VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) - which translates to the Dutch East India Company. Also noteworthy is the Zwart Bastion, the oldest bastion at Galle Fort.
Interestingly, this heritage site is still a working community - courts and offices occupy certain buildings and rooms. So don't be surprised to see people dressed in corporate attire hurrying down the corridors! Other places to visit include the Dutch Reformed Church - especially during its Sunday services and the Historical Mansion, a restored Dutch house displaying and selling antiques and artefacts gathered during Galle's Dutch colonial period.
Eat: Amal Restaurant (Beach Access Road, Robolgoda, Bentota. Tel: +94 3422 70746,
Email: info@amal-villa.com), Restaurant Diya Sisila (Tel: +94 777 402138) and Golden Grill (Bentota Bridge, Bentota. Tel: +94 4934 227 5455) serve an alluring combination of traditional Sri Lankan seafood, meat and rice dishes.
Stay:
$: A very popular tourist town, Galle is never short of places to stay. Luxurious digs include the Asian Jewel Boutique Hotel (www.asian-jewel.com)Kahanda Kanda (www.kahandakanda.com) and Aditya (www.aditya-resort.com).
$$: If you're on a budget, consider Villa Gaetano (www.villagaetano.com) or Wunderbar Beach Club (www.hotel-wunderbar.com).
Getting There: Galle is a three-hour bus ride from Colombo.
A short 10 minute drive from Galle sits Unawatuna, one of Sri Lanka's most stunning beach towns. Unawatuna was severely damaged during the 2004 Asian tsunami, but thanks to international contributions and hard work, it has now been returned to its former glory. With its turquoise waters, soft sand and a scattering of charming cafes, Unawatuna provides welcome respite from the Galle heat and is an ideal day trip.
As Sri Lanka has only just recently stepped out of internal conflict, check with your local consulate and embassies before making travel plans.
TRAVEL ALERT
As Sri Lanka has only just recently stepped out of internal
conflict, check with your local consulate and embassies
before making travel plans.
Posted Sep 2010
