Hambantota, the Candidate City for Commonwealth Games in 2018

Such is the historical significance of Sithulpawwa rock temple that it is identified as one of the greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. It is located in Hambantota district. The modern name Sithulpawwa is derived from the ancient 'Cittalpabbata', 'The hill of the quiet mind'. The legend has it that in the 1st century AD as many as 12,000 Arahants lived here (Arahants are the monks who have achieved the highest state of wisdom in Buddhism). Unlike the great monasteries in Anuradhapura and other towns, life at Sithulpawwa was difficult and a monk or a nun lived there only if they were looking for quiet and solitude. Located in front of the Maha Sithulpawwa rock, 400 feet (122m) in height, is a cave temple. This cave temple, which is 67 feet high and 30 feet long, is part of the intricate cave-complex at Sithulpawwa. The Dagoba of Sithulpawwa can be seen on the top of the rock. The popular belief is that it was built by King Kawantissa (100-140AD). A number of caves have inscriptions in early Brahmi script and from these inscriptions it was learned that a number of villages donated money to this temple for its upkeep. Ancient literary works give interesting information about this shrine. The image house at Sithulpawwa still contains some fragments of paintings. In the eastern precinct of Sithulpawwa, the remnant of an ancient preaching house can be seen, where a cluster of 10 feet high pillars rises from the earth.

Bundala National Park is one of the famous attractions in Sri Lanka for watching migratory birds. It is famous for its aquatic bird-life which feeds on the rich harvests provided by the numerous lagoons throughout the park. Bundala provides shelter for over 197 species of Birds, including the Greater Flamingo, which migrate in large flocks. The ecological areas of the national park contain seven terrestrial habitat types and six wetland types. The number of plant species documented in the area totals to 383 with dry thorny shrubs and herbs being the most abundant plant life. This includes 6 endemic species and 7 nationally threatened species. Bundala also contains a small patch of mangrove in the Bundala lagoon area. 324 species of vertebrates are recorded to have been found in the national park, which include 32 species of fish, 15 species of amphibians, 48 species of reptiles, 197 species of birds and 32 species of mammals. 5 of these mammals are classified as threatened. 52 species of butterflies are among the invertebrates. They include the biggest butterfly in Sri Lanka.

The forest is an important habitat for the endangered Sri Lankan Elephant, the largest sub-species of Asian Elephant.Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Sri Lankan Leopard, Wild boar, Indian Gray Mongoose, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Sri Lankan Axis Deer, Small Indian Civet, Golden Jackal, and Indian Crested Porcupine are the other mammals found in the park.

Sri Lanka's southern coastal city, Hambantota, famed for its wildlife, historical sites and beach stretching up to 150 kilometres has launched a new drive to draw more visitors in.

The key objective of the development drive is to promote Hambantota district as a highly desirable tourist destination from an environmental, historical, social and an economic perspective.

The promotion drive, labeled 'Deep South', is run by the Hambantota Chamber of Commerce in partnership with UK's Manchester Solutions UK and Mercy Corps of USA.

The Chamber says Hambantota district has the potential of becoming a bigger tourist draw amidst the rapidly developing infrastructure projects in the area.

In today's context, Hambantota is very important. Work has already begun on a port, and plans are afoot to build an international airport and expressway and a southern railway line.

The area already has Yala national park, a part of which is believed to have the highest concentration of leopard in the world, and Bundala, a sanctuary recognized by the international Ramsar wetland convention.

Bundala, Yala and Kumana parks and other wetlands lie at the tip of an Asian bird migratory route and play host to vast flocks of water and forest birds from August to March of every year.

Hambantota, some 200 kilometers south of Colombo, borders the sacred city of Kataragama and the Udawalawe national park and extends from Dikwella to Kataragama towns along the coastal belt.

Hambantota has a mixed climate, many tourist attractions and accommodation facilities.A blowhole locally popular as the 'Hummanaya' in Dikwella, wildlife sanctuaries, corals reefs, the Situlpawwa rock, Mulkiriyagama rock temple and Kirinda are some of the main attractions in Hambatota district. Both local and foreign tourists love its natural locations, historical sites, ruins and cultural heritage alike.

The district has 100 hotels and rest houses with over 1000 rooms to accommodate guests. Many more branded hotels are coming up in Hambantota which will be a complete tourist city within a few years.

After the tsunami hotels were rebuilt or upgraded in Hambantota district. And there are quite a few boutique hotels and villas in Tangalle, like Amanawella, the Colony, Lancia and the Hide.

Situated some 228 kilometers ESE of the Capital Colombo, Kataragama is a place where Sinhala and Hindu cultures harmoniously blend together. For Buddhists, Kataragama is one of the sixteen most sacred places of worship, sanctified by the presence of the Lord Buddha on his three advents in Sri Lanka. Buddhist pilgrims frequently visit Kirivehera, Maha Bodhi, Sellakataragama, and Wadasitikanda, situated in Kataragama. For the Tamil Hindus, Kataragama is the domain of Lord Skanda, a god depicted with six faces and twelve hands.

The local river namely Manik Ganga or Manika Gangai (River of Gems) serves as a place of ablution where pilgrims take a bath to purge themselves. The miraculous healing powers of Manik river are attributed both to its high gem content and to the medicinal properties of the roots of various trees that border the river through the jungle.

In Kataragama pilgrims can both witness and take part in many cultural and religious festivals perform various rituals. In sum, Kataragama is a multi-cultural heritage fostering ethnic and religious harmony among Sri Lankans.

Jungle River Safari provides opportunities to see wildlife in an area known for its rich bio diversity. Boat rides on Walawe river are popular among tourists and locals will take you through an area of rich bio-diversity (with six varieties of mangroves, 52 fish species, 72 bird species, 38 plant varieties and 28 animal species).

Mulkirigala, a prime attraction in Hambantota district has a long history dating as far back as the second century B.C. The Mahawamsa records that King Saddatissa (137 BC-118 BC) built the stupa on the summit and enshrined relics of Lord Buddha.

This is the most significant rock temple in the south of the island on a rock 210m high, rising almost vertically from the surrounding forest. There are 533 steps to the summit presenting a unique feature to the temple. The archaeologists say that the painting style is unique to Mulkirigala and differ from the Kandyan style. They also contain images that are more real than Kandyan paintings and contain more colours.

The panoramic view from the top of the rock is fascinating. The hills of the Sinharaja Forest can be seen in the far distance while to the south there is the coastal plain, beyond which the Indian Ocean stretches over the horizon.

The "Hummanaya – Blow Hole" is a natural fountain, occurring as sea water rushes through a submerged cavern and is pushed upwards. Hummanaya is located in Sri Lanka`s southern coastal fishing village called "Kudawella", in between Dikwella & Tangalle. It is regarded as an extraordinary mystery that fascinates the tourists.

Tissamaharama is one of the loveliest towns in the southern coast. In the ancient times, Sinhalese patriots sought refuge in Tissa from where they drummed up support against plundering Dravidian invaders from Southern India. Mahagama (the great town), as Tissa was called then, was one of the main settlements in the Southern province of Ruhuna. Founded by the King Devanampiya Tissa in the third century BC, it rose to fame under the rule of King Kavantissa, the father of King Dutugamunu, the great warrior who liberated the country from the clutch of Tamil tyrant Elara.

The panoramic view from the top of the rock is fascinating. The hills of the Sinharaja Forest can be seen in the far distance while to the south there is the coastal plain, beyond which the Indian Ocean stretches over the horizon.

Today, Tissa is a bustling city where the main street is lined with banks, shops, little cafes and kiosks. Always swept by a balmy breeze from the reservoir nearby, the town is bordered by a vast stretch of paddy fields, a green abundance. The sanctified Tissamaharama stupa standing amidst the lush paddy-fields and the two giant tanks nearby lends it an aura of history.

Built by King Kavantissa in the second century BC, the immense Tissa Wewa lies to the North of the modern town. The shore nearest to the town is often busy with crowds of people bathing & flocks of aquatic birds including bitterns, herons & egrets skimming across the waters.

Tissa Maha stupa, built by King Kavantissa in the third century BC is located between Tissa town centre and the tank. Today, for Buddhist pilgrims, it is one of the sixteen most sacred sites (Solosmasthana) in the country. The dagoba is believed to be enshrined with sacred tooth relic & forehead bone relic of Buddha. Pilgrims also visit Sandagiri dagoba, Yatala dagoba and Menik dagoba in the vicinity.

Kirivehera is among the sixteen most sacred places of worship for Buddhists, hallowed by the presence of Lord Buddha himself. It is located close to the Hindu temple erected by the King Mahasena. On his third and last advent in Sri Lanka, Lord Buddha met the King Mahasena who ruled the area of Kataragama at the time (in 580 BC). The King listened to the Buddha's sermon and, as a token of gratitude, he had the Dagoba built on the same spot as it stands today.

The small fishing village of Kirinda is gifted with a pretty beach, picturesque views and a great history; yet, most visitors are known to bypass it. There is a rocky outcrop which commands some magnificent views of the desolate coast with its long stretch of sand dunes and the ocean beyond. On a clear day the lighthouse on the Great Basses Reef appears like a needle in the far distance. That's not all, for if you reverse your gaze you can see a panorama of Tissamaharama, especially the glistening dome of the Tissamaharama Dagoba.

The legend has it that Wiharamahadevi, a peerless heroine in Sri Lanka`s history, was prepared to sacrifice herself to appease the angry gods and get them to control the tsunami. She started to sail across the swollen Kelani river. However, her life was saved and she managed to make it to land at Kirinda. The local ruler, King Kavantissa and his retinue received her in Kirinda. Later on, he married the brave princess.

Their elder son, King Dutugemunnu, perhaps the greatest warrior in Sri Lanka`s history, conquered the Tamil King Elara and ruled Sri Lanka from 161 to 137 BC. He was such a great ruler that even today, he is regarded as the saviour of Sinhalese people and the great protector of Buddhism. Their younger son, King Saddatissa too rendered a great service to Sri Lanka. The chronicles say that he was a deeply religious king.

This romantic legend has popularized Kirinda among the local pilgrims. They visit Kirinda to see a modern statue of Viharamaha Devi on a rocky outcrop and make offerings at a stupa built on the ruins of an ancient monument erected to mark the safe ending of the princess's voyage. King Kavantissa's royal coat of arms - featuring the sun and the moon -can be found carved on a boulder nearby to mark the landing place.

Ussangoda is the legendary landing place of Ravana, the evil king of Hindu mythology who winged his special peacock chariot across the skies. Ussangoda commands a panoramic view of the beach and the sea. This place covers roughly 20 acres with very little growth on the barren red earth. Scrub jungle encircles Ussangoda from the land side and on the sea side the plateau drops a sheer 60 feet over a rocky escarpment out to the open sea below. It is believed that a meteorite hit the place which made the soil so barren and the landscape so unusual.

The most-visited tourist attraction around Hambantota is Yala National Park. Yala and Udawalawe national parks are situated close to Hambantota. Yala is a great place for all those tourists who love to savour the beauty of Nature. Yala West (Ruhuna) National Park is hailed as one of the best national parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards.

There is also a large population of elephants with spotted deer, sambar, wild buffalo, sloth bear, jackal, mongoose, pangolins and crocodiles. The birds cover over 115 species such as lesser flamingos to Paradise Flycatchers, Crested Hawk Eagles, and Black Bitterns. There are several other bird-watching locations outside the park, including the ancient hermitage of Sithulpahuwa, Debarawewa wetland and Palatupana saltpans. The coastline forms a major nesting ground for marine turtles.

Sri Lanka, a beautiful island encircled by the blue waters of the Indian Ocean is gifted with miles and miles of attractive sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms. Most of Sri Lankan hotels and resorts are found along the coastal-belt of the Island.

Sri Lanka boasts a beautiful coast line. And it is a paradise that enjoys a great variance of scenarios, from beaches to dry planes to hills to wildlife to nature attractions. To add to the natural beauty, Sri Lanka has a great history too.

Sri Lanka, a beautiful island encircled by the blue waters of the Indian Ocean is gifted with miles and miles of attractive sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms. Most of Sri Lankan hotels and resorts are found along the coastal-belt of the Island.

Sri Lanka boasts a beautiful coast line. And it is a paradise that enjoys a great variance of scenarios, from beaches to dry planes to hills to wildlife to nature attractions. To add to the natural beauty, Sri Lanka has a great history too.

The Pinnawela and Udawalawe Elephant Orphanages are sanctuaries for the rescued, injured or abused elephants and attract visitors from all over the world to view these magnificent animals. Around 80 elephants have found home at Pinnawala, including some baby elephants who have been born into the herd.

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage presents a rare opportunity for the tourists to watch all the happenings in a elephant orphanage from feeding to bathing. The orphanage ensures that the orphaned elephants are given a happy and healthy life.The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed.

Udawalawe elephant Transit Home

The coral reefs of Sri Lanka provide a vibrant landscape among her picturesque ecological assets. While they add colour to its aquatic environs, corals also have a variety of scientific uses.There are two of Sri Lanka's premier coral reefs - HIKKADUWA and the BARRIER REEF, north of Kalpitiya, which have been declared as Marine Sanctuaries.

Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary is located in the southern part of Sri Lanka, 96 kms south west of Colombo. Hikkaduwa is a tourist city with a 1.5 km stretch of beach protected by beautiful coral reefs running parallel to the coast line just 100 metres from the shore. The reef offers fascinatingly beautiful corals and fish, in addition to emerging as a popular bathing and swimming area. A high degree of bio-diversity is characteristic of this reef with over 200 species of reef fish and 80 species of corals. Sea turtles too have been found in this coral reef.

Sri Lanka is one of the best places to watch whales, becoming a global hot spot to watch blue and sperm whales. Increased opportunities to see both blue whales and sperm whales off the southern coast of the island have now opened up the opportunity for whale watching in the island's Deep South.

Sri Lanka has been launching whale and dolphin watching tours in the island's Western and Southern waters in an effort to exploit a growing trend in eco-tourism. During December, January and April, there is 98% chance of spotting Sperm Whales and great chance of spotting Blue Whales as their migration path is just off Dondra Point. Mirissa too is a whale-watching hot spot.

Kalpitiya is perhaps the best place to spot Dolphins in Sri Lanka. November to March is the best season to go Dolphin Watching off Kalpitiya. Around 1000 to 1500 Dolphins can be seen in certain times.

Sri Lanka is one of the best places to watch whales, becoming a global hot spot to watch blue and sperm whales. Increased opportunities to see both blue whales and sperm whales off the southern coast of the island have now opened up the opportunity for whale watching in the island's Deep South.

Sigiriya - one of the UNESCO world heritage sites, is an ancient rock fortress. Sigiriya is home to the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures and is a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka. It is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescoes), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The palatial fortress on Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa (AD 477 – 495).

Sri Pada, also known as Adam's Peak, Samanalakanda - "butterfly mountain" in Sinhala, and called Sivanolipatha Malai In Tamil is a highly sacred mountain whose peak is as tall as 2,243 metres (7,359 ft). It is located in Sabaragamuva province of Sri Lanka. It is well-known for the Sri Pada "sacred footprint", believed to be the footprint of the Buddha in the Buddhist legend. In Hindu tradition, it is believed to be the foot print of god shiva while Christians believe it to be the footprint of Adam. The Muslim, however, believe it as the footprint of their Prophet Thus, Sri Pada is considered as a place of worship by the four dominant faiths in Sri Lanka - Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian.

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, Kandy

The Peradeniya Botanical Garden is gracefully landscaped over 145 hectares. The garden is home to more than 400 species of indigenous tropical flora and exotic plants. Mahaveli Ganga, the longest river of Sri Lanka, flows by the Peradeniya Botanical Garden.

• Hakgala Botanical Garden
• Henarathgoda Botanical Garden

Sri Lanka, beyond doubt, is a paradise for birds and one of the best attractions in the world to watch birds. Beautiful birds of various types visit the island during different seasons following the air currents. There are over 420 varieties of birds in Sri Lanka because of the tropical climate and the wide range of natural habitats available in the country.

• Sinharaja Rain forest
• Kalmateiya Bird Sanctuary
• Horton Plains National Park
• Udawattekele Bird Sanctuary
• Kandalama Sanctuary - Dambulla
• Knuckles Range/Corbet's Gap
• Kithulgala Forest Reserve
• Bodhinagala (Dombagaskanda)
• Kumana - Yala Sanctuary
• Lahugala - Bundala
• Kalametiya
• Uda Walawe

Sri Lanka boasts a grand legacy of architecture, of sculpture, and of murals and frescoes etc. They bear witness to the fact that Sri Lankans have been developing fine arts for centuries. Its strategic location on the ancient Silk Route made Sri Lanka a crossroad of cultural and trade exchange of the West and the East.

• Handicrafts
• Batiks
• Masks
• Jewelry
• Brassware

Sri Lanka produces the finest tea in the world. It is produced mainly in plantations grow above 4,000 feet. Sri Lanka has six main tea-producing areas. Galle, Ratnapura, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, and Uva. Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka has a worldwide reputation for its unique taste. The climate of the plantation influences flavor and aroma of tea and determines its quality.

Since the introduction of tea to Sri Lanka in mid 19th century, Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of the tea industry. In tea producing areas, you will find acres and acres of tea plantations. There are many factories open for visitors which also have outlets selling tea.

Anuradhapura is an ancient kingdom which had remained the royal capital of 119 successive Singhalese kings from 380BC till the year 1000 AD. Anuradhapura boasts a proud history with the tallest dagoba of Sri Lanka, remains from the palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths and the temple of the sacred Bo-tree - Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya. This tree was grown from a sapling of the very tree under which more than 2500 years ago the Buddha had found enlightenment. Anuradhapura has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Southeast of Anuradhapura is Polonnaruwa which is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms of Sri Lanka. Declared as a World Heritage, today Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned Archeological relic sites in the country, giving testimony to the splendour of the city during the ancient times.

The reign of King Parakramabahu 1 is considered the Golden Age of Polonnaruwa, when trade and agriculture flourished under the patronage of the King, who was adamant that no drop of water was to be wasted, and each be used towards the development of the land; hence, superior irrigation systems were constructed during his reign. Even today, these irrigation systems supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation. The greatest of these systems of course is the Parakrama Samudraya. It is so vast a tank that it is often mistaken for the ocean.

The hill country city, Kandy, historically known as "Senkadagalapura" or "Kanda Uda Rata" is today a world heritage site declared by UNESCO. Kandy had remained the capital of Sri Lanka from 1592 to 1815. It was the last capital of the last generation of Sri Lankan Kings which finally fell under British rule in 1815.

Kandy is located in the heart of Sri Lanka at an elevation of about 485 metres above sea level and about 116 Kms from Colombo. Until the 19th century, Kandy was the capital city and thus the home of the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Dalada Maligawa.

The tooth relic was brought to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the year 310 AD. The Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, the temple which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of The Buddha is by far the most sacred Buddhist shrine in the world. It is venerated not only by Buddhists in Sri Lanka but by Buddhists all over the world. The Temple was built within the royal palace complex which houses one of the two surviving relic of the tooth of Buddha, an object of veneration for Buddhists. The other tooth relic is believed to be enshrined in a stupa called Somawathi Chethiya, also in Sri Lanka.

Kandy Esala Perahera is perhaps the grandest pageant held in Sri Lanka. This is a very important event for Buddhists and tourist calendar. A large number of tourists visit Sri Lanka to witness this grand procession every year. Held in July or August in Kandy, it attracts swarms of local and foreign tourists. This ritual is performed by carrying the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha on the back of a tusker through the city streets with pomp and pageantry.