sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

Fabulous

Ga lle For t

9

Man and nature have

joined forces in Galle

Fort (p 105 ) to produce

an architectural work of

art. The Dutch built the

streets and buildings, the

Sri Lankans added the

colour and style, and then

nature got busy covering it

in a gentle layer of tropical

vegetation, humidity and

salty air. The result is an

enchanting old town that

is home to dozens of art

galleries, quirky shops,

boutique cafes and guest-

houses, plus some splen-

did hotels. For tourists it’s,

without doubt, the number

one urban attraction in the

country. Clock tower and fort

walls (p110)

Bundala

National Park

10

With all the crowds

heading to nearby

Yala National Park, the

Ramsar-recognised

Bundala National Park

(p 134 ) often gets over-

looked. But with the park’s

huge sheets of shimmering

wetlands singing to the

sound of birdsong, skip-

ping it is a big mistake.

Bundala has a beauty that

other parks can only dream

of, and is one of the finest

birding destinations in the

country. Oh, and in case

herons and egrets aren’t

glam enough for you, the

crocodiles and resident el-

ephant herd will put a smile

on your face. Monitor lizard

Feel the Healing:

Ay ur veda

11

If you start to feel

the burden of the

centuries while in Sri

Lanka, you might appreci-

ate an irony while you feel

the tensions melt out of

your body in an Ayurvedic

sauna (p 96 ): the design

is more than 2500 years

old. Ayurveda is an ancient

practice and its devotees

claim enormous benefits

from its therapies and

treatments. Herbs, spices,

oils and more are used on

and in the body to produce

balance. Some people go

on multiweek regimens

in clinics, others enjoy

a pampering afternoon

at a luxury spa. Ayurvedic

medicines

IDRIS AHMED / GETTY IMAGES ©

MARGIE POLITZER / GETTY IMAGES ©

GREG ELMS / GETTY IMAGES ©

9 10

11

PLAN YOUR TRIP

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Sri Lanka’

S

Top 20