The Stunning Beauty of the Sri Lanka Mountains

Kandy is an ancient hill capital and the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings before the island was finally ceded to the British in 1815. It bears strong influence of the influence of Buddhism in the country and is revered by Buddhists as a sacred city because of the ‘Dalada Maligawa” Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Kandy is the venue of the annual glittering pageant each August where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic in a golden casket is paraded on a majestic elephant accompanied by over 100 elephants, fire dancers, and ceremonial whip crackers, dancers and drummers.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – Commonly known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Glorious Tooth Temple), is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an ‘Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.

Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya is 06 kms from Kandy, the magnificent river girdled 57 hectares laid out in 1832 are among the finest in the world. Its treasures of tropical flora include fine collections of orchids, aromatic spices, medicinal herbs, palms and rare endangered plant species. These gardens were the naturally camouflaged operations headquarters of SEAC Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten during the 2nd World War.

Tea Plantation & Factory – Proceed to a tea plantation and factory in the mountains where you will have the unusual opportunity of joining tea pluckers in picking the signature ‘two leaves and a bud’ which are later processed as tea for export around the world. This is a fine art and you will have the chance to learn it from the experts as they pluck these tender buds with precision and speed. Make your way to the factory where you will observe the process that transforms the raw green leaf in to the familiar brown particles of made tea. After experiencing tea production participate in a tea tasting session to sample some of the various grades of tea produced at the estate’s factory.

Ramboda falls (Puna Ella) double fall is unique in the ‘Y’ form where two waterfalls with two water sources merge in to one at the bottom. The water in the fall on the left is from the Puna Oya, A canal which comes through the forest reserve above. The fall on the right-hand side is made up from water from Pundalu Oya which flows through cultivated land above. Most of the year the fall flowing through the Pandalu Oya carry more volume but during periods of long drought the role is reversed. The water on flowing on the left fall remains more or less the same while the water on the other fall reduces significantly.

Horton Plains National Park – is a national park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka that was designated in 1988. It is located at an elevation of 2,100–2,300 m and encompasses montane grassland and cloud forest. It is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. It is also a popular tourist destination and is situated 6 km from the world-famous Ohiya Gap and 32 km from Nuwara Eliya. The plains’ vegetation is grasslands interspersed with montane forest and includes many endemic woody plants. Large herds of Sri Lankan sambar deer feature as typical mammals and the park is also an Important Bird Area with many species not only endemic to Sri Lanka but restricted to the Horton Plains. The sheer precipice of World’s End and Baker’s Falls are among the tourist attractions of the park.

Nuwara Eliya – “The City of Light” was the favorite hill station of the British, a scenic town 2500 m above sea level surrounded by misty mountain ranges, pine forests and tea cultivations. Nuwara Eliya has a much cooler climate, which is in stark contrast to the tropical climate experienced in other parts of the island. This is probably why Nuwara Eliya is also known as ‘Little England’. The areas around Nuwara Eliya also provide the main output of tea in Sri Lanka. A trip to the highlands of Sri Lanka is never complete without witnessing the age-old traditional tea plucking and sipping a cup of “Ceylon Tea”. Nuwara Eliya has a fair assortment of British Country style houses and an 18-hole Golf Course, which is a real beauty with its scenic location considered to be one of the finest in Asia and a picturesque Race Course where horse races are held.

Train Journey – Enjoy a scenic train journey through lush mountains carpeted with tea bushes interspersed with the occasional gushing waterfall. One way to experience the mountainous landscape of Sri Lanka is to take a 3-hour train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella.

Little Adam’s Peak is another name for this peak. It is 1141 m in height. Little Adam’s Peak attracts many travelers who come to Sri Lanka. Gradually with an easy hike up to the mountain of Little Adams Peak you can consummation a worth panoramic view. You have to walk through lush green tea plantations, waterfalls and paddy fields while enjoying the sceneries. It will be priceless if you could visit the place in the morning when the clouds roll in. Further places like Little Adams Peak deliberates ‘How far Sri Lanka is worth and rich with beautiful natural destinations of Sri Lankan tourism’

Nine Arch Bridge – The Nine Arch Bridge is built by British rulers at the time of colonial era. With its beautiful nine arches located between Ella and Demodara station is one of places that you surely want to visit when in Ella. The train ride in the highlands with the Kandy to Ella train is named as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The bridge itself located between dense jungle and agricultural setting and very picturesque and is made out of entirely by rocks bricks and cement no metal at all.

Rawana Falls which is about 82ft (25m) high and cascade from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. Forming part of the Rawana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, the source of the fall is the Bandarawela Hill Oya Reservoir, and it flows to the Kirindi Oya Reservoir. Rawana caves are near Rawana Falls: According to legend, it is said that King Rawana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Seetha, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Rawana Ella (Rawana falls) Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. There is small pool which consider as queen Seetha bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall