2024-09-02
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another good news! following the visa exemption for china for singapore, malaysia, thailand and the three countries of transcaucasia,sri lankaalso officially announced,starting october 1, 2024, visa-free entry will be implemented for tourists from 35 countries including china。
this national day, you can travel to sri lanka visa-free!
from mafengwo user @大力羊
many people have heard of sri lanka in international news. it was once famous for its national bankruptcy, which left people with the impression that it was backward and unsafe...
but actually heremore than 70% of the people believe in buddhism, and the people are peaceful and beautiful., known as the kingdom of smiles. wherever you look, everyone will smile at you. every visitor has felt the friendliness in sri lanka!
from mafengwo user @月儿cici
sri lanka is not a large country, but it has8 world heritage sites, 13 national parks, 52 nature reserves!lonely planet's annual list of the best countries to travel to, is the white moonlight in the hearts of many senior travelers!
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
it can be said thatsri lankait is a country that has both oriental mystery and western romance, a gem surrounded by ocean and green, and one of the most charming countries in asia!
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
sri lanka and the maldives share the same seaas an island country deep in the indian ocean, it has a long coastline, clear water and pure scenery.
not only is the sea beautiful, but walking into the mountains of sri lanka, you will see pristine natural scenery all the way.there are vast tracts of tropical rainforest, a true green kingdom!
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
along the coast, there is aa true reproduction of the sea train from "spirited away", take a train along the beach, only 1 meter away from the sea. even on the train you can feel the beautiful and surging waves, it is primitive and romantic!
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
the train going into the mountains is no less impressive, passing through large expanses of green.sail into the fantastical world of the wizard of oz!
from mafengwo user @@higotravel@hippo travel daily
sri lanka has had a tradition of not killing animals since it converted to buddhism more than 2,000 years ago. the lack of human harm and the excellent local ecological environment have made it awildlife paradise。
monitor lizards will crawl past your feet, wild elephants will suddenly appear on the road, traveling in sri lanka is like opening a blind box, you can never guess what animal you will encounter in the next second.
from mafengwo user @@higotravel@hippo travel daily
sri lanka has a long history and culture.ancient temples, castles and ruins are scattered across the country, you will definitely feel the rich historical atmosphere of sri lanka and the devout and firm faith of the local people.
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
before 19 years ago, sri lanka was also considered a paradise for budget travelers by the chinese people. however, due to national bankruptcy and inflation,domestic prices have increased compared to 2019, but after conversion with the domestic exchange rate, basic prices remain the same.
the whole country was very turbulent before the country went bankrupt, but it has now calmed down. after opening up to overseas tourism, more than 500,000 chinese tourists have entered the country.
i have also seen that in the next six months,the round-trip airfare from beijing, shanghai and guangzhou to sri lanka is around 2,000 yuan, which is cheaper than many domestic air tickets, so cool!
from mafengwo user @ photographer memerui
01
a city that has left its mark across the ages
colombo
in the 5th century, colombo was just a simple fishing village. from the early 16th century to the mid-20th century, colonists who landed in turn -the portuguese, the dutch and the british built it into an international port, giving it a mixed temperament.
a tour of colombo, starting from petaling jaya, fort and new townthe petaling district and the fortress district are the most charming heart of colombo, ancient and diverse; while the new city in the south has all the elements that a modern city should have: fashionable, prosperous, and towering.
from mafengwo user @allenl
colombo city walk
the urban beta district and the fashionable fortress district
the beta district is crowded, noisy, and vulgar, with gods of various religions living next door to each other. the fortress district is a seaport where successive colonists landed and built, and it has the elegance of medieval europe.
from mafengwo user @雪3飞who
dutch colonial museum
it was originally the official residence of the dutch governor in the 17th century, and was later used as a catholic seminary, military hospital, police station and post office. it is now a museum that showcases colonial history. the museum introduces the dutch east india company's trade in sri lanka and displays dutch colonial utensils.
from mafengwo user @情流
jami-el-alfa mosque
this mosque, which is seamlessly connected to the residential buildings on both sides, has a facade decorated with red and white stripes in candy colors. it looks very playful and is very popular with tourists.
from mafengwo user @sarah is always on the road
when you see a building with colorful images of gods and goddesses on its door, it is basically a hindu temple.new and old kasresen templeit was built in honor of the war god murugan.
during the famous hindu festival of vir, a trident-shaped chariot will set out from here and drive along the galle rd road along the coast to the bambalapitiya district in the south.
from mafengwo user @qumiss@熙蟋姨
old town hallthe city hall, built in 1865 during the british colonial period, is located at a major traffic artery. there are some old items on display on the first floor, and the old meeting room on the second floor recreates the scene of the 1906 parliament with wax figures.
from mafengwo user @熙蟋姨
small and elegantwalventara churchit was left by the dutch. before it was built, the dutch mistook the surrounding "jackals" for "wolves", hence the name (wolvendaal means "wolf valley" in dutch).
the building is a cross structure with four equal arms, and the dutch furniture inside the church is worth seeing. every sunday morning mass is preached in sinhalese, english and tamil.
from mafengwo user @凯叔jk
built by the dutch in 1677old dutch hospitalit is the oldest building in the fortress area. now it is full of restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and the teak shutters under the arcade are very charming.
there is a high-end spa within the hospital where you can experience authentic massages and ayurvedic treatments using all-natural herbs.
from mafengwo user @老实的笨笨@cissy
the modern side of colombo
southern new town
facing the sea and backed by the financial centergalle face greensit is the favorite city park of the locals. in the evening, you can come here to enjoy the sunset over the indian ocean, which is the most beautiful view of the day.
from mafengwo user @qu xiaojie
cinnamon gardenit is now the most affluent area in colombo, with various fashionable buildings, art galleries, unique shops and cafes, museums, etc. scattered on both sides of the boulevard.
national museum
located in the heart of the cinnamon gardens, the exhibits include artifacts unearthed in sri lanka, ancient artworks and colonial weapons.
"zheng he's alms monument"
it records zheng he's seven voyages to the west and his seven stops at sri lanka in the early 15th century.
from mafengwo user @薇薇
gangaramaya temple
it is the most important buddhist temple in colombo.the temple is a blend of sri lankan, thai, indian and chinese architectural styles.。
there is a museum, library and jewelry exhibition hall in the temple, and there is even an elephant tied in the courtyard.
from mafengwo user @少年心之旅
02
explore world cultural heritage
dambulla and sigiriya
sri lanka hastwo world cultural heritage sitesno matter what, i have to go.the dambulla cave temple spans three dynasties and is a epitome of sri lanka's ancient art history.，the second is the ancient architectural wonder, the heavenly palace on lion rock。
sri lankan version of dunhuang grottoes
dambulla cave temple
in 103 bc, the south indians invaded sri lanka, forcing the king to flee and take refuge in the caves of dambulla under the protection of a monk.when he regained power, he ordered the excavation of the royal grottoes. after two dynasties and two kings, the grottoes were rebuilt to their current size.。
in the five caves of different sizes, the murals extend from the ceiling to the corners of the walls, with 157 statues of sitting buddhas, standing buddhas, reclining buddhas, bodhisattvas, and indian gods.
from mafengwo user @沙@熙蟋蟀
before heading to the cave temple, you will first see a gorgeous and exaggerated temple at the foot of the mountain - the step entrance is designed as a "lion's big mouth", and a 30-meter-high golden buddha is on the lion's head. it was donated by the japanese in this century.golden templeadmission is free, and there are buddha statues from china, japan, thailand, myanmar and other countries on display in the temple.
from mafengwo user @小雪儿
a combination of natural and man-made wonders
sigiriya lion rock
in the almost flat plain, there stands a 370-meter-high rock with rugged sides, called lion rock.it was chosen by king kasyapa more than a thousand years ago, and the palace was built on the top of the rock.。
it is said that after kasyapa killed his father and usurped the throne, he was afraid that his brothers would come for revenge, so he "trapped" himself in this seemingly impregnable city. however, he was ultimately unable to stop the avengers, and the palace on the lion rock was abandoned following kasyapa's defeat.
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
the top of lion rock is where the royal palace was located. now only the foundation remains. the real charm lies in the lush scenery around it. standing on the top of lion rock and looking down, you can see the scenery at a glance.
from mafengwo user @小雪儿
regarding the origin of lion rock, it is located next to the ticket office.sigiriya museumanother interpretation is provided: it was originally a buddhist temple. the museum has an introduction to lion rock and unearthed cultural relics.
from mafengwo user @soledad
03
the mysterious holy city that attracts the whole nation
kandy
kandy was the last capital of the sinhalese empire.the second largest city after colombo, which is considered the cultural center of sri lanka because it houses the sacred tooth relic of buddha.
in addition to religious holy sites, kandy is also a beautiful city that makes people fall in love with it at first sight. the city is surrounded by mountains, the emerald green kandy lake is set against the cobalt blue sky, and the lush hillsides on the lakeside are dotted with red-tiled roofs, which is so beautiful that it makes people intoxicated!
from mafengwo user @心若芷萱
in the 4th century, an indian princess hid the tooth relic of the buddha in her hair and brought it to sri lanka. it was initially enshrined in the abhayaguru temple in anuradhapura. it was then moved to many places and finally came to kandy, where it was enshrined in the temple of the tooth relic.
temple of the tooth relicit is the most sacred place in kandy and even in the country, located on the north shore of lake kandy. sri lankans believe that only those who possess the tooth of the buddha have the right to rule the island. to this day, the first thing a new president does after taking office is to pay homage to the temple of the tooth relic.
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
the tooth relic of the buddha is enshrined in a sanctuary on the second floor.however, it is only open during worship hours, and pilgrims can only stand at the door to pay their respects. the tooth of the buddha is kept in a golden niche inside the church and cannot be seen.
in addition to the temple of the tooth relic, the entire complex also houses the temple of the tooth relic museum and the world buddhism museum, which are also worth visiting.
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
kandy's most important festival is also related to the tooth of buddha.buddha tooth festivalit is an annual buddhist carnival in sri lanka. the tooth relic of the buddha will be carried by the "elephant king" dressed in costumes and paraded around the city. the parade will include kandyan dancers, stilt artists, fire dancers, etc.
the buddha tooth festival is held in the month of yesera (july-august) and lasts for 10 days.this year's buddha tooth festival will begin on august 17 and will last until august 31.。
from mafengwo user @熙蟋姨
kandy lakelocated in the center of the city, it is an artificial lake dug by the last emperor. in the center of the lake is the former emperor's harem. walking around the lake, you can often see beautiful birds and monitor lizards enjoying the cool air.
from mafengwo user @anniestill@watermelontoofatty
peradeniya botanical gardens, which used to be the royal garden, covers an area of 60 hectares and has more than 4,000 species of plants. the garden is full of ancient trees with tangled roots, and the crown of one fig tree covers an area of 2,500 square meters. the palm tree avenue is the most photogenic place in the botanical garden.
from mafengwo user @心若芷萱
ceylon tea museum
its predecessor was the hanthana tea factory built in 1925. it contains a detailed introduction to ceylon black tea, and you can also have a free cup of good tea after the visit.
from mafengwo user @eeyore
although elephants are the king of beasts in sri lanka, poaching, civil war, and the hunting rifles of early british colonists in the last century have reduced the number of elephants in sri lanka from more than 20,000 to more than 2,000.
elephant orphanageit is about 45 km from kandy.this elephant orphanage was established in 1975 and specializes in adopting injured, sick, and out-of-group elephants. there are more than 80 elephants of different ages.。
from mafengwo user @心若芷萱
every day from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm, the elephant trainers will take the elephants to the river to bathe, which is the happiest time of the day for them. in the courtyard, you can touch the elephants, feed the baby elephants, and there are also paper made from elephant dung as souvenirs.
from mafengwo user @希琪世界@熙蟋蟀
04
take a ride on the high mountain tea garden train
explore the central mountainous region of sri lanka
if the colombo-galle coastal train recreates "spirited away", thenella-haptalthis section of the mountain train drove into "the wizard of oz".the train travels through the emerald green tea mountains throughout the journey, and every frame is as beautiful as a painting.
from mafengwo user @何俊辰
the best location for photographing mountain trains is the jiukong bridgefrom ella, walk along the railway towards badulla for an hour, through a long tunnel, and you will see a curved nine-hole stone bridge winding through the valley. almost all the shots of sri lankan mountain trains in postcards were taken here.
but please note that there are only 6 trains running here every day, and the train timetable is posted at ella railway station.
from mafengwo user @小雪儿被门过猫
a charming town in the mountains
ella
ella is small, so small that you can walk around the village in half an hour. but it is surrounded by mountains, and you can hike to enjoy the mountains and rivers. there are many good quality inns around, where you can sit and enjoy the scenery with a cup of tea at any time.
from mafengwo user @黄太joan
it is also located at the core of the mountain railway. buy a ticket from its red-tiled and white-walled train station, and you will see scenic views to the left and right.
from mafengwo user @何俊辰
there are two tea factories worth visiting around ella:newburgh green tea factoryandyuvahapewassa tea factory。
from mafengwo user @黄太joan
the former mainly produces green tea and is the world's largest tea manufacturer, while the latter is the main growing area of udawatte, the finest ceylon black tea.
from mafengwo user @黄太joan
a tea mountain town shrouded in mist
haputal
cool and humid haputale is built on a mountain ridge and is most beautiful in the early morning when the thick fog hangs over the valley.
among the surrounding tea gardens, there is a tea plantation founded by sir thomas lipton, the originator of tea bags.dhampatni tea factory, walk 7 kilometers through the tea gardens behind and go to the lipton chair observation deck, where you can see the "kingdom" of "lipton black tea".
little england
nuwara eliya
thanks to its cool climate, nuwara eliya became a summer resort for british colonists in the 19th century, which also gave it the elegance of an english small town.
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
there is a pink post office here, and its strong british style makes it a popular check-in spot., post offices can also send postcards (reference price: stamps 35 rupees, postcards 25 rupees)
from mafengwo user @天天世界地图 @不留侧角
there is also a british-style hotel in the town - the grand hotel, which not only has a beautiful garden, but also allows you to experience authentic british afternoon tea.
from mafengwo user @photographer meme rui
05
stunning sea views from the pearl of the indian ocean
galle and the south coast
the southern island with galle as its center shares the same sea area with the maldives, and is the most beautiful place in sri lanka for sea views. here you can lie down facing the sea and enjoy the sunbath, or swim at a different beach every day until the end of time, or stand on a surfboard and experience riding the wind.
from mafengwo user @xiaoxueer
in addition to the beautiful sea view, there is also a coastal train heading south from colombo, which is known as the real-life version of "spirited away".
this coastal train iscolombo to matarathere are many trains, but the colombo to galle section has the most frequent trains and the best scenery!
from mafengwo user @小雪儿
the train runs along the beach, and is only 1 meter away from the sea. every second of the scenery on the train will make you unforgettable. because the scenery is so beautiful, the train is often crowded. it is true that the body is in hell, but the eyes are in heaven!
from mafengwo user @熙蟋姨
galle fort
it is a "living" ancient city. 360 years ago, the dutch built a military fortress on the galle cape and developed it into an important trade port between europe and asia. the solid city walls withstood artillery fire and the 2004 tsunami.
from mafengwo user @摄影么么锐
there are more than 400 ancient buildings in the fortress, which are concentrated along the city walls or not far from the city walls. you can spend half a day strolling among them and experience the charm of the ancient city.
from mafengwo user @小雪儿
unawatuna is only 6 kilometers away from galle fort. there are inns and bars along the seaside. there are many ways to relax and have fun, such as swimming, diving, boating, yoga, spa, mountain climbing... it is very suitable for vacation!
from mafengwo user @小雪儿
mirissathe nearby waters are home to blue whales, which are 30 meters long and the largest creatures in the world. in addition to watching blue whales spray water, you may also see sperm whales and dolphins. the best season for whale watching is from december to april of the following year.
from mafengwo user @刀刀
matarait is also a port, and the dutch built a fort here. it is not as photogenic as galle, but it is simple and quiet.pahenapolhena beach is popular with locals and is great for snorkeling.
from mafengwo user @酷狗儿李来
5 km east of mataratang jiait is a holy place for hindus, and the lighthouse on the seashore marks the southernmost tip of sri lanka's land.
from mafengwo user @酷狗儿李来
heading east from galle, you can see thin poles inserted into the seabed on the coasts of unawatuna, koggala and midigama. fishermen will sit on them to fish in the morning and evening. this is the ancient stilt fishing unique to sri lanka.
from mafengwo user @熙蟋姨
note: nowadays, stilt fishing is mostly used as a photo-taking tool. you need to prepare rupees when taking photos (reference price 1000 rupees/person)
from mafengwo user @小雪儿
7-day detailed route
d1: arrive in colombo, admire the diverse architecture of the petta and fort areas, and experience the modernity of the new district.
d2: take a bus (5h) to dambulla to see the cave temple, and arrive at sigiriya before the sun sets to watch the sunset on the lion rock.
d3-d4 take a bus to kandy, go to the deniya botanical garden to see ancient plants, go to the temple of the tooth relic to worship buddha, and then go to the elephant orphanage to have close contact with elephants.
d5 take the train to ella, go to nine arch bridge to take pictures of the mountain train, and play around ella.
d6 take a bus to galle, experience the sea train, and arrive at galle fort.
d7: lie down on the beach in galle for half a day, then take the coastal train back to colombo for 2 hours.
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