Ambuluwawa Tower is also known as the photographer’s paradise. The narrow spiral staircase stands more than 3500 feet above sea level, giving you a complete 360 degrees view of the surrounding mountains and plains.
It takes less than an hour from Kandy city to visit the tower, and the trip is worth the time. The tower is part of a Buddhist temple complex built on the top of a hill, which makes it so uniquely picturesque.
This temple is located approximately 2 km away from the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This is a popular destination among tourists owing to the large white Buddha Statue which is one of the tallest in the island. This is quite popular among photographers, as the flight of stairs leading to the Buddha statue creates a wonderful backdrop for amazing pictures.
This temple is located on the top of Bahirawa Kanda; ‘Gnome Mountain’. The eerie history to this mountain too has made it a popular place of visit. There has been a superstitious belief that an evil gnome lived in the mountain which devoured humans. In an attempt to keep it calm, the villages have sacrificed a virgin girl to the mountain.
This is another off-track location to the standard tours promoted in Sri Lanka. This city has an abundance of great viewpoints, breathtaking waterfalls, and lakes that will leave you stunned in wonderstruck.
Matale is a full package which carries value of the heritage and greenery of the island. It would take one whole day to explore all the highlights of this region. One of the major highlights is the Aluvihare Rock Temple where the teachings of Lord Buddha were transferred to written texts during the reign of king Walagamba in the 1st Century BC. Historians mention that around 500 monks gathered in this temple to transcribe the teachings to books made of Ola leaves. The history behind the temple, its architecture, murals, and monuments it homes, surely will never fail to amaze you!.
Traveling further away from the city we can visit Sembuwatta Lake which is another breathtakingly beautiful place in the Mathale district. This location is often chosen by cinematographers and other professionals in the field to make their aesthetic productions more beautiful. The pine forest encircling the lake reflects itself in the water to create a small heaven before our eyes.
Leaving Sembuwatta, we travel North towards Pitawala Pathana and Reverston. These two viewpoints are not missed by anyone who visits Matale. The highlight of the journey is simply to get the best views of the mountains from an elevated angle, but it is worth the effort. The viewpoints are easily accessible and offer plenty of #insta-worthy #instagood pictures. This is one of the best places to fly a drone to completely capture the exquisiteness if you’re a professional.
Nestled at the foot of Pidurangala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka, Mandaram Nuwara is well hidden from the adjacent hills. As the village is covered by mist almost every day, the locals named it Mandaran, ‘Misty’ – Nuwara ‘city’, which cannot do more justice to this breathtakingly beautiful place.
This farming village has an abundance of rich soil and natural springs. This place isn’t stormed with tourists and it surely provides a very authentic hamlet life experience of Sri Lankans for you. The village offers homestay and camping facilities for those who like to stay overnight to embrace this beauty. Kalapathana Ella and Elamulla Falls are the main waterfalls in the village among many other natural pools which provide excellent bathing spots.
Meticulously cultivated paddy, carrots, leeks, and other vegetables add more glamor to the village that one would be so lucky to dwell in.
Majestically standing in the South West of the ancient city of Kandy, the Hanthana mountain range is one of the best hiking destinations in Sri Lanka. Neither too challenging nor too easy, the climb serves excellent views of the central highlands and the city beyond. Start your climb early in the day to avoid the scorching heat of noon.
The trek falls on many viewpoints that force you to stop by to enjoy a short photo break. Do not forget to pack your drone or go- pro camera if you would love to take some dashing snapshots in the lush greenery.
Hundreds of dancers and drummers dressed in vibrant costumes, torch bearers lighting their way, entertaining stunts of fire eaters, whip-crackers, and flamboyantly dressed elephants storm the streets of the ancient capital of Kandy with the commencement of Esala Perahera in July or August every year.
Dating back to 200 BC, this pageant could be considered one of the oldest prevailing cultural performances you can participate in. It is one of the most popular events in all of Asia which is of utmost importance to Buddhists living across the globe. Originated as a ritual to pray to gods for adequate rainfall for cultivation, this event took a turn in 300 AD, after receiving the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha from India. Since then, this pageant has displayed the Tooth Relic to the public, carried on top of a majestic tusker who most gently walks on the white carpet laid before him.
Located 20 km away from the city center of Kandy, this small village offers travelers an authentic village experience. Many acres of paddy fields and the Hulu river which meanders across the village add more hue to its beauty.
This excursion is ideal for travelers who visit Sri Lanka for a brief tour. Without staying overnight in the village, you can enjoy its wonders in a couple of hours. Do not miss a refreshing bath in one of the many natural ponds the Hulu rider creates while finding its way to join the sea.