Culture and Natural Beauty: Find the best of both in Sri Lanka

The sun has just faded on the Port of Colombo, as lights from the ships docking in the harbor shimmer through the dusk, brightening the surrounding areas and my view through from the 16th story of the Hilton Hotel reveals the landscape of the shiny port.

After an enjoyable four-hour plane ride from Jakarta, via Singapore, our group of Indonesian journalist, guests of Sri Lanka Airlines and Jetwing Tours, already convinced us we’d be busy exploring what we saw before us.

This busy and vibrant city of 700,000, located on the west coast of the island, is a mixture of modern skyscrapers, colonial buildings and ancient ruins. Besides the beautiful port, the 2,000 year-old city offers all the indulgences of modern cities as well as the exciting experiences of exploring old buildings and shopping in traditional markets.

The sparkling port is surrounded by the Fort District, home to most of the city’s landmarks which rival the blue sea and sparkling beaches for their beauty.

Standing just outside the port on that bright night, we could see Colombo’s most recognizable landmark, the two World Trade Center towers, standing among the beautifully designed Bank of Ceylon tower, the Old Parliament Building and the majestic Old Colombo Lighthouse.

A sure sign of its multi-cultural society, the white Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque serves as a landmark for the many sailors that approach the port every day – it is also a popular tourist attraction.

But beautiful old buildings and city tours are only the beginning of what Sri Lanka has to offer.
The bright mid-July nights in the capital seemed to reflect the buoyant hopes of the Sri Lankan people, free at last after the army defeated the Tamil Tigers, ending 30-years of civil war just two months earlier.

Military posts and check points scattered across the country are the only reminder of this finally resolved conflict. The years of war have not eroded the friendliness of the people, especially towards foreigners, who are free to explore the area to their heart’s content.

Everywhere we looked people were smiling. Every time we asked people questions they were happy to answer and even asked us to stop and spend some time with them.

Ancient glory: The Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu was built in the 12th century AD and is found inside the ancient city of Polannaruwa. JP/Abdul Khalik

“The people of Sri Lanka have won the war. There is nothing to worry about anymore as there will be no more attacks. Peace now prevails and it’s time for us to go on with our lives,” Mohan, who owns a shop in Colombo said, inviting The Jakarta Post to come inside.

Sri Lanka’s mountains and beaches form a wondrous backdrop to its millennia old culture, the remnants of which lay everywhere. The huge Buddhist statues serve as reminders of past powerful kingdoms and covey the magnificent legends that shaped them.

We had a chance to explore this side of the island in Polanaruwa, our next port of call after Colombo.
Located 216 kilometers northeast of Colombo, Polanaruwa was declared the capital of Sri Lanka’s second most ancient kingdom of the same name, by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola ruling dynasty in 1070 CE to reunite the island under a local leader.

The ancient remains of the kingdom, which were given UNESCO world heritage status in 1982, include a well-preserved city of ancient dagobas (stupas), moonstones, beautiful parks and stunningly beautiful statues.

The majestic King’s Council Chamber, the Lotus Bath, the Lanka Thilaka Viharaya, the Gal Viharaya (Buddha’s rock statues) and the statue of one of Polonnaruwa’s great kings, Parakramabahu, are just a few of this ancient capital’s memorable sights.

But it is the Sea of Parakrama, a vast man-made reservoir dating back to the 12th century that dominates the city. It still works, watering hectares of paddy fields in the area.

Our next destination was the royal city of Sigiriya. Dating back to the fifth century and also known as the Lion Rock, Sigiriya is considered Asia’s best preserved ancient city and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage in 1982.

It is a perfect place to visit for those who love a blend of cultural uniqueness and natural beauty.

Buddha bar: One of the huge Buddha statues along the roads of Minneriya. JP/Abdul Khalik

The only way to reach what is described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, located on the summit of a giant rock, is by climbing many flights of iron stairs.

The palace, which is the center of the royal city, juts out 200 meters above the surrounding lush green jungle.

Located some 180 kilometers south of Colombo, Sigiriya is close to many other historical sites and eco-tourist destinations, such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Paradeniya Botanical Garden in Kandy, as well as the Golden Temple and its five rock temples in Dambulla and a national park in Minneriya.

One of Buddhism’s most sacred temples, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, or the Sri Dalada Maligawa, draws Buddhists from all over the world wanting to be near the relic of the Buddha. The tooth itself is never seen as it is locked up in a series of closely guarded caskets.

The annual Esala Parahera festival, in which a replica of the tooth is paraded through the streets of Kandy, is a very colorful cause for celebration. The town is so packed with visitors at this time that many have to sleep in the surrounding towns.

The only regret of our journey was that we could not visit the country’s southern beaches, which many say are beautiful like those in the Maldives or Bali.

So, I keep saying Ayubowan (may you have a peaceful and life full of love) as I still wish to come back and enjoy the beaches someday.



Source : The Jakarta Post