Bentota Sri Lanka

Bentota, offers a superb swathe of golden sand and a string of resort hotels – although development here has been more muted than at Beruwala, with hotels laid out at discreet intervals along the beach and a far more relaxed and hassle-free atmosphere. As the water sports capital of Sri Lanka, a holiday in Bentota offers the calm waters of the Bentota Lagoon and river which make for an ideal setting for myriad activities. Further inland up the Bentota River lies the magical country estate of Lunuganga.  The gardens ramble over two small hills, flanked by the waters of Dedduwa Lake, with artfully contrived terraces dotted with strategically placed artworks, opening up at moments to reveal carefully planned vistas over the surrounding countryside. Ambalangoda is most famous as the centre of the island’s mask carvers, those responsible for the luridly painted images of demons and other figures which were originally used in performances of southern kolam and exorcism dances, and have now found new life as tourist souvenirs.

Holidays to Sri Lanka are filled with adventures through the diverse range of habitats available on the island. Explore the open plains of Uda Walawe National Park to view wandering elephants and the occasional sneaking leopard. Sri Lankan holidays offer endless opportunities to watch schools of brightly coloured fish swimming through the clear blue waters, nesting turtles, rock pigeons, dozens of species of vibrantly coloured birds, breaching whales and even elephants. While on holiday in Sri Lanka, be sure to visit the Sinharaja Forest Reserve to see the last spread of undisturbed forest in the country. There are 22 villages located on the outskirts of the trees and there’s a wide range of flora and fauna to explore in the greenery of the Sri Lankan forest. While exploring the countryside, you may even run into a scenic waterfall.

If you’re looking for an adventure that exhilarates your palate as well as your eyes, holidays in Sri Lanka are the way to go. Sri Lankan cuisine is known for being heavily endowed with aromatic, exotic spices. Once a stop on the spice-trading route, Sri Lanka holds true to its roots, making your holiday an experience for your taste buds. The main ingredients you’ll find while eating on your Sri Lankan holiday are rice, curry and coconut. You will never taste better or fresher coconut than what is on offer while on holiday in Sri Lanka. Be sure to also try some of the short eats which are snacks that can be purchased from street vendors. The island has been heavily influenced by the colonial powers that once ruled its shores. The countryside was previously covered in heavy jungle until the British cleared it away to plant tea crops. If you want to learn more about the history of tea on the island and how it’s produced, be sure to visit the Ceylon Tea Museum or take a tour at the Dambatenne Tea Factory and then enjoy a cup of locally produced tea. Your Sri Lanka holiday won’t be complete without a tour to the all-female run Euphoria Spice and Herbal farm.

Sri Lanka holidays provide the perfect opportunity to relax and find a little serenity on one of the many beaches along the wide range of coastline offered by the small island state. One of the benefits of the climate in Sri Lanka is that there’s always sun somewhere on the island. You can find the perfect beach during your Sri Lankan holiday regardless of whether you’re looking to relax, to surf massive waves or to enjoy a drink, some dancing and music. Some of the famed Sri Lankan beaches are Arugum Bay, Mirissa beach, Hikkaduwa beach and Nilaveli beach. You might also want to visit the Galle Face Green, which is a long stretch of lawn that faces the ocean and was once used by the Dutch so that they could shoot their cannons with a clear view of the enemy. Whether your holiday to Sri Lanka is for a romantic getaway, a honeymoon, an adventure for exploring a new place or a beachside escape to catch some waves, you rest assured that you will not be disappointed. Sri Lanka offers a range of accommodation, from the humblest hostel to resort-style hotels with all the amenities included.

Sri Lanka is also a great place to explore the extended history of religion and culture. Your holidays to Sri Lanka can include tours to any of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, explorations of religious ruins and temples, or to see the colonial architecture of the buildings left from the rule of the Dutch and the British. The Anuradhapura Ruins are full of crumbling temples, old brick towers and ancient pools which make it an archaeological and architectural wonder. The ruins are not completely dead as some of the temples are still considered holy and have devotees who keep them alive. If you’re interested in seeing some colonial architecture on your Sri Lankan holidays, be sure to visit the Old City Hall which was built by the British in 1865 and is now outfitted with ghoulishly lit wax figurines of the original councillors of 1906.

Depending on when you plan to holiday in Sri Lanka, the weather will be different on each coastline. No matter when you visit, your Sri Lankan holidays will offer fantastic weather for exploring the rich countryside and relaxing on the beach.

Sri Lanka is unique in the fact that it has two monsoon seasons. It’s important to understand that the south-western part of the country has monsoon season from May to September while the north-eastern part of the island’s monsoon season is from October to January. Which part of the island you visit is dependent upon which time of the year you’re visiting.

Sunshine and Clear Skies

The best time of year to visit for holidays in Sri Lanka if you want to see the entire country is April and September. These two months offer the best weather throughout the entire country. Throughout Sri Lanka you can expect humidity to be above 50 per cent year-round, reaching 90 per cent during the monsoon seasons. Peak season in Sri Lanka is considered to be from December to mid-April when the weather will average 30 degrees. This is the best time of the year to discover the beaches of Sri Lanka. Keep in mind that travel expenses and room rates will be highest at this peak time of year. If you’re holiday takes you to Sri Lanka in March or April, be sure to find out when the New Year will be. The celebrations include elephant races, coconut games and pillow fights.

Rain or Shine

Though Sri Lanka does have monsoon seasons, the weather is often unpredictable. You can expect rains during the dry season and days with clear blue skies during the rainy season. The rains in Sri Lanka normally fall sharp and fast, often dropping a number of inches in just a few minutes. Even while traveling during the monsoon season, showers will not last all day. With rainfalls coming down so quickly, it’s important to be aware of localized flooding. Local floods can derail travel plans so try to be flexible if traveling during the monsoon seasons. The benefit of holidays in Sri Lanka during the non-peak season is that you can enjoy the benefit of lower travel costs and cheaper hotel costs.