NILAVELI

An importent beach resort just 14kms. from Trincomalee. It is an ideal site for sun bathing, sea bathing and driving. A few metres off shore is a small rocky island. Good for snorkelling.

SIGIRIYA

The ancient town of Sigiriya or the 'Lion Rock' has an antiquity of over 500 years. It lies 169kms. from Colombo and 22kms. from Dambulla. It was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 and is a major attraction of Sri Lanka.The spectacular rock fortress here was built in the 5th century by king Ksyapa fearing an invasion by his half-brother. The fort is famous for fine frescoes of the 'heavenly maidens' halfway up the rock in a sheltered gallery. Other attraction are the - 'mirror wall', the colossal plan of the royal palace, water gardens fortifications.

NUWARA ELYA

The charming town 180kms. From Colombo is set in the heart of the tee country. The British devoloped it like an English countryside, whith homes in style from Georgian to Queen Anne. It prowides you an ideal holiday away from the hutle-bustle of Colombo. The beauty of well-kept lawns whith hedges, an Anglican church, a femous golfe course and beautiful parks is to be experienced. Perched at a height of 1,890 meters above see level, the air is cool and fresh and reguvanates visitors.

Colombo

Captivating Colombo,the commecial capital of Sri Lanka is a fine blend of antiquity and modernity. It was a small port and a way station for sea trade between East and the West during 5th sentury. The Arab traders settled near the port in the 8th century. The Portuguese arrived here in 1505 and bult a small fort, which was taken over by the Dutch during the mid-17th century. The Dutch contributed to the growth of the city, but after the arrival of the British in1815, the sity witnessed grete progress and declared the capital of Ceylon.

Nachchaduwa Reservoir

Mahagallaka reservoir (today known as Nachchaduwa reservoir) is considered to be one of the sixteen large reservoirs built by King Mahasen (276-303). Nachchaduwa lies just outside the city of Anuradhapura . Centuries later King Dhatusena (459-477) built a canal (Jayaganga) to bring water to this reservoir from Kalawewa. This reservoir is considered to be a bold scheme since huge flood water with very high velocity could come down the valley. The great chronicle Mahavamsa probably makes another reference to this reservoir during the time of King Moggallana II (535-555). It is said that King Moggallana II, who lived 300 years later built Passapatanavapi reservoir by damming the Kadamba river (Malwathu Oya). This description matches well with Nachchaduwa. It is possible that Moggallana II could have expanded the work of Mahasen.

Nachchaduwa tank has three sluices to control its water levels. The main sluice is located near the southern end of the bund and releases water mainly to Tissa Wewa . The other two sluices release water to Nuwara Wewa .

Accrding to H. Parker, Ancient Ceylon, “It was a bold scheme as floods estimated to amount to 11,000 cu ft per second were to be expected and there was no suitable rock over which they could be allowed to flow, but it was carried out successfully”

Specifications of Nachchaduwa Wewa

Catchment 623 Sq. Km.
Length of Dam 1,646 m
Height of Dam 11 m
Capacity 55.7 millions cu. m

Sri Pada Mountain (Adams Peak)

The mountain of Sri Pada is one of the rare places that people of four major religions in the world worship. The mountain is situated in the Rathnapura district with a height of 7,360 feet (2,243 meters).

Although this is only the second highest mountains, It rises alone majestically with a conical shape and offers an unobstructed view over land and sea. It is said that the mountain was the landmark of the ancient sea-faring Arabs, who came to Sri Lanka, to trade in gems, spices, ivory etc., and they, having sighted the conical mountain miles off shore, prayed to God for having brought them safely to the island.

According to the Sri Lanka's great chronicle, Mahawamsa, Buddha visited Sri Lanka three times. The last time he traveled from Kelaniya to Sri Pada, and then to Digavaphi. It is said that Buddha left his foot print on the rock at top of the mountain at the invitation of the Deity Saman (Saman Deviyo).

Deity Saman is recorded as having met the Buddha on his first visit to the island when he visited Mahiyangana to drive away the Tribe of Yakkas. Saman became a stream-entrant (sotapanna) after listening to the Buddha. Deity Saman then requested a object of worship , and Buddha gave him a handful of hairs with which he enshrined on a dagaba at Mahiyangana.

The Mystery Ussangoda

On the great Southern road just before you reach Ambalanthota the name board Ussangoda will no doubt attract your attention. The road turns seawards and after a few minutes drive and a climb uphill you reach a peculiar landscape shrouded in mystery and yet to be properly explored.

The landscape that greets you is weird and wonderful. The vast land that extends on all sides has hardly any tall trees and is covered by a short grass or moss. In some places well defined circular islands of vegetation can be seen But these do not include any tall trees. The earth is of a dark red colour, giving the landscape a Martian look and the area is popularly believed to be bestowed with strange and mystical powers. Many are the legends and stories told of it.

It is believed by some that anciently a meteoroid had fallen here, which explains the barren nature of the soil and the peculiar vegetation growth patterns.

According to a man living in the vicinity this peculiar land attracts many small wild animals and a variety of birds and is also a refuge for rare medicinal plants

He told us that it was only in areas where experiments were carried out or for some other reason digging and disturbance of the soil had taken place that the growth of vegetation had taken place.

From here a track also leads to the sea coast and suddenly you find yourself standing at the edge of a cliff of red earth looking down over miles of beach and the sea with its deep turquoise waters, boisterous blue waves and frothy white foam. A charming picture of freedom that is nature at its best.