SNORKELING IN HIKKADUWA

Do you want to journey to the bottom of the ocean or almost there? Hikkaduwa on the southern coast of Sri Lanka is one of the finest spots to indulge in some great snorkeling. Travel just a few hundred meters offshore in relatively calm, shallow waters; snorkel amongst living coral and hundreds of colourful reef fish; all vigilantly protected by the reef.

This magnificent underwater ecosystem now declared a Marine National Park is home to over 60 species of corals and 170 species of reef fish, a number of species of sea turtle and other marine creatures.

Snorkeling and diving in Hikkaduwa also offers visitors the opportunity to explore a number of ship wrecks, some of them still well preserved, found lying at varying depths of the ocean bed.

For those who don’t want to get their feet wet, yet wish not to miss out on this great underwater experience, a glass boat ride to view the corals and marine life is waiting you.

The best time to visit Hikkaduwa is between November and April when the seas are calm making it ideal for some great underwater photography.

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VISIT TO ANURADHAPURA SACRED CITY

Tread on sacred ground. Come to the place where one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world flourished. Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka founded in the 4th Century AD and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a historical marvel with its well preserved ruins of this ancient civilization. Amongst the masterpieces of this golden era are the many towering stupas (Dagabos), wonderful rock carvings, huge stone pillars, and ruins of royal palaces, monasteries and bathing tanks along with some of the most complex irrigation systems in the world, all of which demonstrates the architectural, engineering, hydrological and irrigational skills of this golden era. Let the shade of the ‘Sri Maha Bodhi’, (a sapling of the sacred Bo tree in Bodh Gaya in India) give you peace and solace. The ‘Sri Maha Bodhi’ is believed to be the oldest human planted tree in the world.

VISIT TO POLONNARUWA SACRED CITY

Visit a once flourishing empire, the second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms and the capital of Sri Lanka from 1017 A.D. to 1235 A.D. Travel back in time to the Golden Age of Polonnaruwa under the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great (1153A.C-1186A.C). See the remains of some of the greatest feats of the past; the gigantic Parakrama Samudra (The Sea of Parakrama) covering 2500 hectares of land, still provides water for irrigation to the surrounding areas and is believed to be one of the most greatest irrigation feats of the past. Take time to see the remains of ancient stupas, shrines, palaces, buildings, monasteries, tanks and parks, each one narrating its own story of a glorious past. Some of the ‘must see’ places include the Statue of king Parakramabahu I, the Potgul Vehera – a unique monastery, the Lotus Pond with its eight petal lotus shape built on four tiers, the Rankot Vihara – the 55m high stupa, the largest in Polonnaruwa, Galvehera – three large Buddha statue...

Whale & Dolphin Watching in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is becoming a major spot for watching Whales and Dolphins. Dondra Point of down south in Sri Lanka is the main port of Whale Watching in Sri Lanka during December to April. Out of these months December, January and April are the peak months of sightings. During these months there is 95% chances of spotting Sperm Whales and great chances of spotting Blue Whales as their migration path is just off Dondra Point. We are able to arrange Whale Watching Trips off Dondra Point in a fully insured trawler boat which will last for 3 hours. Also there are good chances of spotting Spinner Dolphins also off Dondra. Ample of accommodation options are available as Dondra point can be reach easily from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa and Tangalle which are popular beach locations in Sri Lanka. Mirissa is the closest point to Dondra Point with good accommodation options.

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