Have a long weekend? Here’re places to explore in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka may be a small island but is a travellers’ paradise. From biodiversity
hotspots to romantic beaches to world heritage sites to exciting water sports, the
country will persuade you to pack your bags every weekend and explore more.
The best part is if you’re based in Colombo you can access these places quite
easily, more so if you choose to travel by Uber Intercity.

Here’s our edit of where you can head for your next short vacation in Sri Lanka.

KANDY (120 kilometres from Colombo, approx. 4 hours Uber ride)

Situated in the hills of Central Sri Lanka, Kandy is a UNESCO world heritage site,
famous for housing a sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha in the Temple of The Tooth Relic. The
city was the capital of the ancient kings of the island and offers lush tea gardens,
religious sites, scenic lakes and museums to familiarise one with the island
country’s culture and history. If you have time, make a pit stop at Pinnawala
Elephant Orphanage where you can feed elephants and also see them bathing.

GALLE (130 kilometres from Colombo, approx. 2 1/2  hours Uber ride)

Galle is a charming seaside town where European summer meets the
tropics. Here you can walk down the picture perfect alleys dotted with stunning
classical Portuguese and Dutch-style buildings located within the ancient Galle Fort. Many of these buildings have been
converted into cafes, hotels and boutiques. Next, take your pick of beaches to
take a dip in the sea and see the skies turn into a myriad of colours at sunset: Mirissa (20 mins
away), Unawatuna (1 hour away) or Jungle (20 minutes away) can be accessed
by tuk-tuks. The top must-dos in Galle are whale watching, canoeing and if it’s
up your alley, deep sea diving.

HIKKADUWA (120 kilometres from Colombo, approx. 2 hours)

A water baby’s paradise, Hikkaduwa has the knack for winning everyone’s heart
with its pristine beaches and plentiful things to do. Go there to snorkel around
Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary and you might bump into a turtle or two if you are
lucky! You can also visit the Turtle Farm and Hatchery nearby. Hikkaduwa is
known for its surfing waves, so if that’s what you’re into, you are in for some
treat! Do make the time to visit the Hikkaduwa Lake to spot various lizards and
Seenigama Vihara Temple that miraculously survived the tsunami of 2004. At
night put on your dancing shoes and party away at its many bars and clubs.

ELLA (200 kilometres approx. 5 1/2 hours Uber ride)

Ella nestled in the Central Highlands gives the impression that it’s caught in a
time warp. In this lush land, you will find tall waterfalls creating natural water
pools (Diyaluma Falls), trains chugging on a British-era bridge surrounded by
emerald green hills (Nine Arch Bridge), tea gardens where Sir Lipton planted the
first tea seed of Lipton Tea, caves where Ravana supposedly hid Sita after
abducting her (Ravana Cave) and more if keep digging. Ella will intoxicate you
with its idyllic landscapes.

SIGIRIYA (180 kilometres from Colombo, approx. 4 hours Uber ride)

If you’re into cultural history Sigiriya is your homie. Take a trek to The Lion Rock, an ancient fortress, which is also a UNESCO heritage site. Sigiriya’s natural beauty is breathtaking, especially in its national parks: Minnieriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park. These are just a short drive away from Sigiriya. Ancient Cave temple of Dambulla is also another place you should visit during your trip to Sigiriya. Then you could head out to Anuradhapura, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world or check out the ruins of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa. There are many archeological sites with Buddhist monuments in both of these cities.