10 Ways to see Sri Lanka Nature
So we return from yet another glorious trip! Sri Lanka, one of the upcoming destinations for a lot of travelers to Asia, did not disappoint. Although we saw many things on our trip, here we will outline 10 ways to see the beautiful Sri Lanka nature.
Filled with greenery, mountains, beautiful views, and stunning backdrops, every step you take in Sri Lanka offers a picture perfect moment.
1. Watch the sunset in Pidurangala
Taking the long and winding path up to this viewpoint can be strenuous as the climb is steep. At the end of the walk there is no path and you need to clamber over boulders to make the last ascent. However, as you do, and your head rises above the rock and you see the view taking place before you, you realize it has all been worth it.
It’s easy to stay in the first place you come to, but be aware that you can go higher still. Even if it is not very much, up at the top of Pidurangala the countryside is in full view below you. Looking over to Lion’s Rock and at the surrounding mountain ranges is breathtaking.
Once the sun sets and it’s all over, you need to make your way back down. This can be more perilous than getting up as the darkness has now started to creep in. If you leave it too late and you don’t have a torch you could be in trouble. Try to time it properly, and make sure to bring a light of some kind so you don’t get stranded.
2. Admire the waterfalls the country has to offer
Waterfalls, a powerful symbol of the beauty of nature. Often a photographers dream when in full flow. Luckily, Sri Lanka has quite a few of these. We stopped off at two prominent ones on our trip.
Ramboda Falls is 109m high and is situated in Pussellawa. It has two drops making up the falls. To get here you need to go through the hotel and walk the path down through the greenery. The riverbed below, the surrounding jungle, and the beauty of the waterfall is a joy to behold.
Ravana Falls in Ella, technically has a height of 25m, but is made up of many beautiful cascades making it appear much higher. Situated right beside the road to Ella, it is easy to spot and is worth stopping and admiring.
3. Take the train and pass through the tea plantations and the mountains
The infamous Sri Lankan train journey. Most people have probably seen the pictures of packed trains with people hanging out of them. If you fear this, don’t. The train you will likely be getting will be full of tourists also and is not overcrowded at all. You will pass the tea plantations, the jungles, the mountains, the local villages, and get to see a large portion of the beauty of Sri Lanka in one trip.
For those who like the thrill of adventure, you can sit in the open carriage door and get to feel the wind in your face as you breeze through the countryside. It has a certain romance about it and feels like the stories about train journeys in the early 20th century when exploring was taking off.
Just take care to watch out ahead of you for upcoming tunnels or any other obstructions which may hit you as you go past. Also for people walking along the track as you don’t want to be hitting them while swinging your leg!
4. Climb Little Adam’s Peak and look at it’s larger brother
Going into Ella town is like being in a different world to Sri Lanka. Coming off the train we were thirsty and stopped in a juice bar to get a drink. The guys working there looked like they were from the Caribbean bars with dreadlocks, tattoos and piercings. We didn’t see a trendier bunch anywhere we went! However, what does that have to do with nature? Nothing, you’re right. But it does lead us to Ella, and onto Adam’s Peak. There is Adam’s Peak, and Little Adam’s Peak. After our long day, and as evening was approaching, we elected to walk up Little Adam’s Peak. It was a nice gentle walk up the hill where you have views over the valley and its brother Adam’s Peak.
On the way up, as it’s a popular tourist spot, you will meet lots of walkers. Also, you will meet lots of old women who work in the tea plantation. You may want to stop and take a picture with them, but make sure to give them a little something as they will expect it. The fog closes in fast on the mountains here, so watch and see if it’s coming in as you ascend. If it is, you may see nothing from the top but a white blanket. But this in itself is a spectacle as it closes in on the mountainside.
5. Have a safari in Yalla National Park
Out of the two major national parks in Sri Lanka, we choose to take the safari in Yalla National Park. While we did see a lot of wildlife, we were disappointed we didn’t see more of the larger animals. We saw lots of spotted deer, a few crocodiles, and lots of wild pigs. But as for elephants we saw only two, a brief glimpse of a leopard, and no sloth bears.
Of course safari is not like going to a zoo, and the animals may not be where the guides think they are as they are free to roam around. But we were still hoping to see more of the large wildlife. Our guide did explain to us that as we only did a half day safari, (which was by the way only three hours), it lessened our chances. Doing the full day safari would have increased our odds at seeing everything.
Be aware it’s an early start, the road is extremely bumpy, and there are few toilet stops! You may spend more time looking for a washroom than for the elusive leopard!
6. Go whale watching from Mirissa Harbour
This was another of those trips where we had heard about how great they were and we came away disappointed. Again, not the fault of anyone but it was just bad timing. We spent around five hours cruising on the ocean waves trying to source the whales. It started out lovely, an enjoyable sea breeze and relaxing waves. However after about four hours you could see people getting cranky and frustrated as they had other plans booked and didn’t know if they would make it back in time. However, eventually, the great giants of the ocean decided to turn up, at least two of them. Well, a mother and baby. As our time was limited, we got to see them breach, and a few seconds later, with a wave of the tail they were gone. And so we returned to shore, happy at least that we had seen something.
On the way back, a friendly pod of dolphins decided to show their cheeky faces and put on a bit of a show. Being the intelligent, and attention seeking creatures they are, the more cheering was done, the more they played and jumped and swam alongside the boat. Therefore cheering everybody up and putting a more positive reflection on the trip.
Now don’t get us wrong, we have heard many great stories about the whale watching trips from others, like we mentioned before, it was just our bad luck and bad timing that we didn’t get to see more.
7. See the turtle hatchery in Hikkaduwa
This little hatchery in Hikkaduwa was on the beach, and we learned about the necessity of it from the owner. According to him, some Sri Lankans believe they get strength from eating sea turtle eggs. So what he does is buys them from the locals at a higher price, or finds them in the sand and relocates them to the hatchery before the locals get there. An interesting fact is that the sex of the turtle is determined by the temperature of the egg. So the turtles at the top of the pile, being the warmest, are female, and the ones at the bottom are male. Once the little turtles hatch, they are released into the ocean.
This place also takes in disabled turtles that have lost flippers from shark attacks, or from fishermen’s nets. Here they are taught how to swim and dive again in a variety of pools with varying depths. Once they can fully maneuver properly, they too are released back to their natural habitat.
8. Visit the tsunami museum in Hikkaduwa
Out of all the beautiful sights we saw, it was time to see not the beauty of nature, but the effects of the destructive power of it. We were taken to a museum that a local woman had made in the ruins of her house that was destroyed in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. All of the pictures were gathered by her, and all the signs were handwritten by her. There were no fancy displays or electronic screens here. And we have to say that this place had a hugely powerful effect on us. We remember the tsunami, but to see and hear about it from someone who had lost so much in it was hard to imagine.
The Tsunami Train
One of the stories was about what is called the tsunami train. This was a train derailed by the waves in Hikkaduwa. What was so frightening was that the train had stopped due to the first wave and everybody who was running from the wave thought they could take refuge inside, behind, or on top. Then the second wave hit. The power of it turned the train into a mangled mess of metal, crushing the people behind and on top. Anyone who was still alive inside were trapped and drowned as the waters filled the interior. It was a horrific story, but one which is necessary to tell so that we know that no matter how beautiful something is, it can still be extremely deadly.
When we looked at the area afterwards as we made our way back to the hotel, and we saw the regeneration the people had done. How they had picked themselves up again and rebuilt their town and their lives from the mangled remains of what the tsunami left them, it gave us a respect for them that will never be taken away. If other nations could show the resilience these people did, and could learn how to pick themselves up again instead of blaming something or someone else for everything that goes wrong in their lives, the world would be a different place.
9. Stop in a herbal garden and see the healing power of nature
We have talked about the beauty of nature, of the destructive power of nature, but there is another aspect to nature. The healing power of nature. If you want to learn about how natural medicine works, then stop off at a herbal garden. Here you will get a tour of the plants and shown what medicines they become, and what they can do for you. It’s very educational and is nice to see what some of the remedies we already use are made from.
We stopped at the Old Village Spice and Herbal Garden in Koholanwala. At the end of our tour we got a 15 minute massage using natural oils, which was quite relaxing. Before you leave, you will need to visit the shop, as most of these places do, and even though you don’t have to buy anything, we always think it’s nice to get something. The problem is that with a good salesperson it’s easy to want to buy everything!
10. Take a stroll on the beaches during sunset
On the south of the island, in places like Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa, lie the white sands of the Indian Ocean beaches. A far cry from the green jungles and tea plantations on the mountains. However, all you have to do is take a look around, and if the beach is quiet, it’s easy to imagine yourself as a deserted sailor from centuries ago washing onto an uninhabited island.
On Unawatuna beach we spent the evening watching the sun go down while having a conversation with another backpacking couple we met. For those who wanted food and drinks there were plenty of restaurants and bars around, but the beach never felt too crowded. Sitting on the shoreline, listening to the waves lap up the beach, watching the sky go from yellow, to red, to black, is an extremely relaxing way to end the day.
And there is our 10 ways to appreciate nature in Sri Lanka. Naturally there are going to be a lot more, which unfortunately we didn’t have the time to do. Sri Lanka may be a small country, but it is vast in its natural sights and beauty. Standing on the top of one of the mountains, looking down over the land below, and seeing nothing but greenery and jungles, really makes you appreciate the beauty of our natural world.
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