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Travelling in Sri Lanka, how to get there and some best places to visit :
The sites and sounds of Sri Lanka are enchanting. Its many island destinations offer golden sandy beaches, hilly retreats and forests in a tasteful blend of history, colours and culture. One such place is Dambulla where Adventure Travel and Ecotourism Conference was held in February 2001 at the Kandalama Hotel, which hosted professionals from the industry with expertise in ecological and adventure segments of tourism. The main attraction there is the ancient Golden Rock Temple that has been standing there since 100 BC and its caves, where the exiled people from the Ancient City of Anuradhapura took refuge.

Located amidst lush forests and on the shores of the Kandalama Tank (a seasonal lake) is Kandalama Hotel. This Eco-friendly venue has been the first recipient of the Green Globe Certification and recently received ISO14001 Certification. On the other side of the lake is the bird-friendly Culture Club.  Here at the club, tastefully laid out trees along the detached cottages attach birds right onto the doorway of the cottages. Of the 435 recorded bird species, at least 23 are native of the island and the area round the culture club is home to many.

Beside bird watching, one has the facility to go elephant trekking, horse riding, canoeing and mountain biking.

Guided tours are also available to see the flora and fauna of the area, specially of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka (the area around the culture club).

The Club is also equipped with the Ayurvedic health centre. Ayurvedic treatment - the ancient form of medication in Sri Lanka, cures a number of ailments caused during day to day living. This therapeutic remedy is now in vogue and a lot of people follow it to maintain healthier bodies or to refresh themselves of routine fatigue.

The Kandalama Lake area rewarded some of the most brilliantly lit skies at dusk that my eyes ever feasted upon during my many sojourns around the world.  Nearby one can venture out and see the Palace Gardens. Across the Palace Gardens, one can take a steep climb up the Sigiriya Rock - an ancient Citadel, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and also proposed as the 8th wonder of the world.

Once it was the magnificent Fortress of Kind Kasyapa where the main palace was built atop the rock, looking down serene rock gardens and the thick lush jungle of the Dry Zone. From Dambulla a pleasant drive through the Dry Zone of the island took me to Nuwara Eliya via Kandly. On the way to Matale, one can visit the Royal Spice Garden. The owner, famous for some of his curative oils the world over, will enlighten you with some of the endemic plants and trees of Lanka. Marvellously landscaped on the hills, there is a beautiful sight of the tea gardens stretched out, dotted with south Indian tea-pluckers busy in their chores.

The winding road journey lead to the conceptual Tea Factory Hotel, an old tea factory transformed into a fine Hotel. Here, one will be informed about the various processes of how tea is made ready for packing. At the height of some 4000 feet, the nights and early morns here are chilly and require woollies. Further on one can journey towards the Ella Adventure Park. Many waterfalls splashing over the lush slopes of the hills, for instance. Ella Adventure Park is yet another concept lodge. Visitors are given hands-on training in Outward Bound techniques way of survival in the wilderness.

The friendly stall and guides make the training an easy and fulfilling experience. The Park also offer Para-Gliding, Canoeing and Jungle Walks. The Cabana accommodation amidst thick forest canopy is tastefully matched with its exterior. From Ella Adventure Park, during a five-hour journey, one can see some of the great scenic vistas of Sri Lanka displaying the beauty of St. Claire Waterfalls, Adams Peak and acres of Tea Gardens.

The Rafters Retreat is a private mansion turned into accommodation for visitors keen on experiencing the thrills of White Water Rafting. The mansion is owned by the second generation of the ex-governor of the Kithulgala region. There are some challenging rapids and falls for rafters to try their skill and team spirit.

Getting There:

Airlines have a worldwide connection into Colombo the international arrival terminal. Tourists attractions around the island have a network of roads and railways. There are no domestic air connections from Colombo to the places in the Dry Zone, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.

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The Names of Sri Lanka:

In recent history (from 1796 until 1970) the island was known as "Ceylon", after that, "Sri Lanka", although the Singhalese people speak about their "Lanka", the Tamils about "i-Lankai".

A little bit of history :

The aboriginal people were the Veddas. Only a few small groups are still inhabiting in the east of Sri Lanka. People who came from North India presumably in the 5th or 6th century dominated the autochthons (kingdoms). The real origin is hidden in legends especially in the most important Asiatic love story, the Ramayanam (Which is a heroic poem from the 4^th century BC by Valmiki written in rhyme and that is known in whole Southeast Asia. The leading role is for Ravana, king of  the demons of Lanka (Sri Lanka). He kidnaps the beautiful princess Sita out of  India to Lanka. In the end her beloved Rama, with the help of Hanuman, chief of a monkey army, can  save her.) 

The history of Sri Lanka knew several independent kingdoms:

• Anuradhapura: beginning 4th century BC in the north. Buddhism was introduced in the 3rd century BC by the great Indian emperor Ashoka and his son Mahinda. Until today Sri Lanka is mainly a Buddhist country. (as against India which is predominantly Hindu).
  A sapling of the sacred bo-tree was planted Anuradhapura  and can still be seen flourishing today.  Repeatedly the kingdom was conquered by South Indians. In the 11th century AC 
  king Vijayabahu I decided to leave Anuradhapura to found a new kingdom in Polonnaruwa, more to the east.

• Polonnaruwa: survived for 2 centuries (11th and 12th century AC) with as most important king Parakramabahu. Cause to internal quarrels and again by an invasion from South India soon that town was also abandoned. 

• 5 Singhalese capitals: between 1253 and 1400 AC five successive capitals ruled in the centre of Sri Lanka. But also here several invasions by Chinese, Malaysians and in between also by South Indians took place. 

• Portuguese period: the Portuguese arrived by 1505 AC. At that time 3 kingdoms ruled over the island: Jaffna with the Tamil (from South India), in the  centre Kandy and in the southwest the mighty Kotte.  The Portuguese predominated the whole island apart from Kandy which was hidden in the central high plains. That period was distinguished by Portuguese cruelty. 

• Dutch period: as from 1658 the Dutch controlled the island and they did it for about 140 years, again with the exception Kandy. The Dutch were mainly interested  to do business. 

• British period: as from 1796 the English ruled, and this time also over Kandy as from 1815. They set up plantations for coffee, cinnamon and coconut. Also the extended a network of roads and railway lines. As from 1870 they introduced the cultivation of tea by which Sri Lanka is now the world's second largest tea exporter. Nevertheless Singhalese people didn't like the work on the plantations and therefore  the English  imported  Tamils from South India. 

• Independence: as from 1948 Sri Lanka became an independence member of the British Commonwealth. Still 10 years after the independence English remained the official language. The island was ruled by an English speaking Christian majority.  That way troubles couldn't stay out, all the more the Tamils formed a big group.   In the end the Singhalese language became the official language, and the Tamil language was "forgotten". As from here violence started. And also in times of bad economic climate the Tamils were the first victims.  Furthermore the Hindi people is trapped between the great majority of the Buddhists and the Christian community.
  
  And the call for an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka still exists. Until now violence in Sri Lanka cannot set aside. Unfortunate from time to time also the tourists are in great danger.

General information:

Surface : Almost 66.000 sq km (its area is about the same as Belgium and The Netherlands together, or the same as Ireland)

Population : Around 18 million: 74% is Singhalese (mainly Buddhist, a small part is Christian), 18% Tamils (mainly Hindu, also a small part is Christian ), 7% Muslims, rest Burghers (descendants of the Portuguese or Dutch) and a very small group of aboriginal people, the Veddah (or  Weddah). 

Population density : 260 people per sq km

Capital city : Colombo

Languages : Singhalese, Tamil and English

Best time to visit Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka knows 2 monsoons:

1. From May until August in the south and the west (known as the YALA-season)

2. Northeast monsoon from October until January (known as the MAHA-season) with rain in the north and the east (Tamil territory).

Dry season is from December until March with highest temperatures from March until June, but rarely no more than 35°C

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