REGIONS OF SRI LANKA Here are the regions of Sri Lanka we feature in a nutshell . More information can be found on the individual regional pages .
WESTERN SRI LANKA Negombo , an interesting coastal fishing town and tourist beach resort with significant Dutch heritage , and Colombo , the island ’ s commercial capital , are often used as 1 or 2 night stopovers at the beginning or end of a holiday in Sri Lanka as they are close to Colombo International airport . Stay longer in Negombo to enjoy the luxuries of the Jetwing Beach hotel . Colombo is great for culture , shopping and the magnificent Galle Face Hotel ( guest list reads Mountbatten , Hirohito , Nixon …)
TROPICAL BEACHES AND RAINFOREST OF SOUTH WEST SRI LANKA A string of fabulous beaches run all the way along the south-west coast . A variety of hotels blend in with fishing villages and coastal towns . Fly and flop at Wadduwa , a sleepy village with two exquisite boutique hotels . Bentota and Beruwela together form Sri Lanka ’ s principal beach resort . Lush tropical landscapes abound inland , including Sinharaja Rainforest , Sri Lanka ’ s only surviving virgin rainforest , and also a World Heritage Site .
HERITAGE , BEACHES AND WILDLIFE OF SOUTHERN SRI LANKA The town of Galle lies on Sri Lanka ’ s south-west tip , with its incomparable Dutch Fort ( a UNESCO World Heritage Site ). The fabulous beaches continue along the south coast , becoming quieter and more remote the further east you go . Towards the south-east in the dry zone are three of Sri Lanka ’ s most important national parks , Yala , Bundala and Uda Walawe , a chance to see elephants in the wild , possibly also leopard and sloth bear .
HIGH TEA COUNTRY AND MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CENTRAL SRI LANKA High tea country in the southern central highlands is a maze of hill stations and tea plantations linked by impossibly twisting roads , dramatic mountain scenery , fresh air , and rolling mists . The market town of Nuwara Eliya , ‘ Little England ,’ is a journey back in time , with a racecourse , tea rooms , planters club and quirky shops . Walk on the geologically unique plateau of Horton Plains National Park , or make the arduous climb up Sri Pada , Adam ’ s Peak .
KANDY AND THE KANDY HILLS SRI LANKA ’ S HEART Kandy is the royal and cultural capital of Sri Lanka , and home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Skirting the mighty Mahaweli river and surrounded by majestic hills , it is Sri Lanka ’ s heart , the gateway to the high tea country to the south , to the Cultural Triangle in the north and to the wild Knuckles mountain range . To the east lies the Victoria Dam and the breathtakingly scenic Victoria Golf course .
THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE SRI LANKA ’ S CENTRAL DRY ZONE The dry central plains reveal a world of wildlife and nature , rice paddies and lilies , wild elephants and reservoirs . This area between Kandy and Anuradhapura boasts three ancient capitals and a history spanning 2,500 years . Little wonder there are 4 UNESCO World
Heritage Sites . Don ’ t miss Sigiriya , a 5th century fortress built on a 600ft high granite rock , and the Dambulla cave temples . If you have time , visit the ruined medieval city of Polonnaruwa and ancient Anuradhapura , the spiritual home of Buddhism in Sri Lanka , with its dagobas , ruins and sacred fig tree , believed to have been brought from India as a sapling in the 3rd century BC .
NORTH AND NORTH EAST Strewn with Hindu temples and colonial gems , with long white beaches , mangrove lagoons and spectacular snorkelling , Sri Lanka ’ s far north and eastern coast has been denied to tourists by years of unrest , but with peace restored and hotels reopening , the region now welcomes visitors with a warmth and enthusiasm kindled by decades of isolation .
SHOPPING IN SRI LANKA Popular purchases include tea , gems , jewellery , wooden carvings , ornaments and furniture , spices , batik paintings and clothes , handloom fabrics , bags and purses made from rush and reed , and painted masks used for dances and drama . Laksala are the government-run craft shops that are meant to guarantee a fair price to the producer . The National Craft Council of Sri Lanka has centres in Sigiriya , Battaramulla ( near Colombo ) and Galle , where you can see craftsmen and craftswomen at work and buy handicrafts . You will find many simple craft stalls by the roadside , though you cannot always be sure where the items were made . The local markets are fascinating but don ’ t tend to sell handicrafts .
Kandy also has workshops and sales centres for brassware , lacquerware and musical instruments , whilst most of the lace is made in the South between Galle and Dickwella . Ambalangoda ( between Bentota and Galle ) is the centre for mask-making .
Colombo is the mecca for smart shopping malls and Sri Lankan designer shops , where Sri Lankans and foreign visitors love to shop . Sri Lanka ’ s thriving garment industry means that you can find the latest international designs at cheap prices . There are also some good quality handicraft shops . Outlets to watch out for :
Paradise Road in a 19th-century mansion on Dharmapala Mawatha ( and some branches ), has stylish home and table ware and locally-made crafts . Paradise Road is famous for the distinctive designs of its owner Shanth Fernando , with its bold lines and colours , particularly black , silver and gold . Barefoot 704 Galle Road , has an extensive range of richly coloured clothes , textiles and crafts . The designer Barbara Sansoni follows a fair trade policy and this is a great place to find a gift ; you may find yourself wishing you had more space in your suitcase for some of the textiles . Odel is where visitors go to find western-style clothes ; also knick-knacks and gifts and homeware . Several outlets now , but 5 Alexandra Place is the HQ .
A few trendy , designer boutiques have opened in the streets of the Fort in Galle , including Barefoot and KK .
Ratnapura has been the main source of gems for many centuries and most of the country ' s gem dealers are located in this town . The Gem Exchange in Colombo houses gem dealers and a government valuation service .
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Tea trails
Buddhist temple
Plucking tea leaves
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