Sri Lanka Tourism

Galle Hotels - Sri Lanka's Pride

2008-09-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Galle city is an interesting stop, during tour to Sri Lanka, for everyone from the historians, to anyone interested in learning about Sri Lanka's historical experience. The city with a colorful history is located on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, is a UNESCO declared World Heritage site for its splendid Dutch fort. It is a port town and is one of the best cases of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and Southeast Asia. Galle city still has the air of a Dutch town still, after 300 years, in its fort and the many historical buildings. Most of the old Dutch buildings and structures present invoke an old worldly charm of their past, which is a pleasant experience.

Galle city offers an all together a different experience for the tourists, with it being one of country's historic towns, a gateway to the beautiful beach of Unawatuna that is situated very close. The best time to visit the place is during the months from October through April, when the monsoon strikes the region and the place becomes beautiful with calm sea and blue skies. The city today is quite popular and a must visit during a tour to Sri Lanka. The city is close to many of major cities and is visited sometimes just for a day. However, the city has numerous other attractions besides the Dutch Fort. There is the Dutch Reformed Church, St Mary's Cathedral, the museum of folk art and Culture, Ahangama and the Koggala Lake. To add the visitor's can relax in the beautiful number of beaches in and around Galle. Galle hotels offer comfortable accommodation during the stay for the tourists.

Galle city makes you fall in love with itself and in addition the simplicity of the people of Galle add to the charm of the city. This wonderful city certainly demands more than a day and hotels Galle are the right choice for rooms. Ideally located, superb facilities and services all pave way for a memorable stay in the city. Being a major port once, Galle is a lovely city filled with colonial Dutch and Portuguese history and architecture. The city is known for its lace, filled with precious crafts and historic reserves like jewellery, ceramics, and furniture from the Dutch ages and brass work.

Nancy Eben is an associate editor of http://www.stayressrilanka.com/. The website offers exclusive information of srilanka and Srilanka hotels. We also provide online hotel reservation of hotels in srilanka. We appreciate your feedback and queries at info@stayressrilanka.com

Cheap Hotel Sri Lanka - Cheap Yet Best

2008-09-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka is a destination that never disappoints you if you land in here for accumulating a wonderful touring experience. Every destination within the country has got a lot of interesting and stunning sceneries to be observed and for that you need to stay longer. Do not worry; accommodation in this small island is no problem at all. Variety of hotels, resorts are there to serve you excellently. If budget is an issue for you, cheap hotels in Srilanka have got the solution for you. You can easily afford to stay for a long time in these hotels as they are charge you very les and yet provide you with quality amenities. Wherever you are in the country, the cheap hotels Srilanka are present there to offer you a wonderful experience.

Falling like a teardrop from the southern tip of India, this small island is a fantastic destination when you wish to enjoy both ancient and modern types of stuff, whether it is in form of monuments, wilderness, parks, museums, mountains or hills. You have much more than spending time on beaches or enjoying sunbath. Sri Lankan beaches are world famous for their resorts and brooding turtles. Hikkaduwa is one of them where you can have all these experiences. A tourist in Sri Lanka love to observe the cultural, traditional and natural assets of the country in detail for which he or she needs to spend time there. Walking up in the hills, raveling in the wilderness and being observed in beautiful monuments and temples-you need to have spared time and an accommodation where you can relax both physically and mentally without worrying about the strain on your pocket. Welcome to the cheap hotels in Srilanka!

Feast your eyes on the coconut plantation and paddy fields in Kurunegala. In Colombo, you come across the hustling bustling face of the island. This city is equipped with commercial avenues. When you move to Galle, you become familiar with glorious British forts and elegant residuals from 19th century.

Gagan is an associate editor of a1 Sri Lanka Hotels The website offers exclusive information about Bentota hotels and cheap Hotels in Srilanka We also provide hotel reservation of hotels in Sri lanka. For any feedback and query free to contact at info@a1srilankahotels.com

Sri Lanka Holidays - Excellent Tourist Destination

2008-09-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

The most scenic islands in the world - Sri Lanka, have been alluring visitors on Sri Lanka holidays not only lately but from ages. Sri Lanka is a land blessed with enormous natural wealth that has made it a much sought after destination. Located in the center of Indian Ocean, the Sri Lanka map forms a teardrop shape, right at the southern tip of India. A rich colorful country welcomes its visitors with all the warmth and an opportunity to explore the hidden treasures of this island. A small island it has around twenty million people inhabiting it. Though, the country has increasingly become a popular for beach holidays, but there is much more that interests tourists. Besides the beautiful beaches, there is this spectacular scenery, historic temples and a rich culture to experience and explore.

Sri Lanka holidays are an excellent way to explore the country's beauty, and scenic sights of the beautiful island. Most of the regions fall under the tropical zone and thus enjoy a pleasant climate with temperatures hovering around 27 degree C. A bright, sunny and warm is what a typical day in the country is like, with no off-season in particular. However, the monsoon months if avoided is best as it becomes very humid. The upper areas on the Sri Lanka map are cooler in comparison and temperatures get low as 16 degrees C. The county has many opportunities for the tourists where they can visit the tea plantations, colonial cities, and the historical traditional villages. Moreover, each Sri Lankan city has its own feel and uniqueness that play an important role in the country's tourism. While some cities occupy historical importance, then there are some cities that are popular pilgrimage centers and some strike magic with their breath taking beauty. Tourists are welcomed with open arms and a well-developed infrastructure goes hand in hand.

Of the many cities in the country, Colombo Sri Lanka is the biggest city and the commercial center of the country. Located on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, is the perfect starting point to other tourist places. The city is also one of the biggest and busiest ports of the country and over a million people reside here. It is no longer the country's political capital after it was shifted to Sri Jayawardene Pura, it still witnesses the country's hustle and bustle. The city finds travelers, which who only make a small stopover, but the city has its share of tourist places comprising of the national museum, temples, churches, and the old parliament building. Colombo is worth a stay with its tourist places and the climate that is consistently hot and humid all through the year. It does not make a difference when you decide to come; the climate is temperate all through with no major variations.

The commercial capital Colombo Sri Lanka is a lively metropolis that is a colorful and attracting city, providing a look to the country's rich and varied culture. The city has an array of accommodation choices to choose from that does not hurt the pocket. There are hotels of international standards, guesthouses, service apartments and quite popular home stay providers. The dining places and the variety of cuisines served is varied and extensive. Entertainment options abound with numerous theatres, cinemas, parks, art galleries and museums. A city that holds memorable holidays.

Nancy Eben is an associate editor of http://www.quickbooker.com The website offers exclusive information of Colombo Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka map. We also provide online hotel reservation of Sri Lanka holidays. We appreciate your feedback and queries at info@quickbooker.com

Sri Lanka is Becoming the Shopping Centre of South Asia

2008-09-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka, the navigational hub of the Orient in the ancient world, is an island in the Indian Ocean. From north to south it has a maximum length of 447 km and at its widest point it measures 219 km with a total land area of 65,610 sq km.

The Island enjoys pleasant tropical climate relatively hot in the plains and cooler in the central highlands.

The majority is Singhalese 74 percent who speak an Indo Aryan language called Sinhala. Other major ethnic groups are Tamils and Moors. Majority of the population is Buddhist.

Sri Lanka, the Isle of Serendipity is a tourist paradise with an abundance of tourist attractions like the sunny beaches, glorious ancient cities, salubrious hill country, beautiful fauna and flora, exquisite handicrafts, world renowned gems, traditional dance and drama, colourful festivals, smiling people and not forgetting the mouth watering cuisine.

Sri Lanka is fast becoming the shopping centre of South Asia. It is also the ideal venue for Meetings, Incentive travel, Conferences and Exhibitions in this part of the world. It is the Mother Natures gift to eco tourism enthusiasts.

Over one thousand kilometres of palm fringed sandy beaches encircle the Island. Sri Lanka is never out of season for a beach holiday. There is always some part of the beach that has friendly and warm waters. The beach resorts in the West Coast, South Coast and the East Coast are popular among the tourists who enjoy taking a dip in the warm waters and relaxing on the sandy beach.

Fauna and flora are protected and preserved in several national parks and nature reserves offering the visitor an opportunity to taste the natural beauty. There are eleven such National Parks in the Island but the most popular for viewing animals are the Ruhuna. From the safety of a park bungalow or a covered jeep, visitors can watch several species of animals and birds roaming freely in these extensive reserves

Most Sri Lankan towns, except the larger cities like Colombo and Kandy, are rather low on entertainment. In large hotels, there will often be nightclubs; some hotels, clubs and other venues also offer cultural performances by traditional artistes.

It is fast becoming the shopping centre of South Asia. Several new shopping Malls are opened up in the City offering international brands of mens and womens wear. Garments manufactured in Sri Lanka are of the highest quality which is in great demand in most countries including USA and UK.

Souvenir hunters will find the Handicraft shops including the government handicraft emporium very interesting with a large and wide array of local handicrafts on offer. Tourist shops approved by the Ceylon Tourist Board are found in all tourist resorts.

Joe Davidson writes travel guides for Sri Lanka at the Fly.co.uk blog.

Traveling And Recording In Sri lanka Ice Cold Beers For The First Time In Months

2008-09-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

I could write a book (and I will one day) on what took place in India, a hilarious experience. We really did have a fantastic time creating the complete freedom to write and record whatever came into our heads. We traveled all over Tamil Nadu and Kerela looking for another crazy experience to write about. Our house in Mamallapuram, which had become a community of European travelers, had started to feel the pressure of having foreigners reside there.

Things started to go missing, PC's and electrical gear started to breakdown etc. We had nothing left to steal and we had played in every venue possible, including South India's oldest Dance festival. We were the first Foreigners ever to play on that stage. It was quite an experience! But now time to move on! We spent many months in India then all of a sudden new visa’s were required, it was either 'leave the country'...or erhh...'leave the country' We had forgotten about the Visa thing, we were having such a great time. Anyway, it was time to leave India, it was getting hot, the monsoon rains were coming soon, and to be honest, India does get up your goat after a while!! Thus, a well deserved break in beautiful Sri Lanka was Imminent, with Sri Lanka being the nearest country, it was our only choice really, apart from dragging all the gear in a train all the way to Nepal.....and 'shift' sleeping on a Indian train for four days, keeping one eye open and on our gear, was not an option. We packed what we could carry, guitars, Violins and one Laptop and headed off to Madras Airport. We locked all the rest of the stuff up in the house and had a friend stay there acting as security guard. To be honest, we didn't really know if we would see all our gear again, it was a big chance leaving it in India....we had little choice.......but a lot of faith......a certain requirement when traveling in India.

It was great arriving in Colombo, another world away from India...well, it seemed that way at first, they DID have ice cold beer....something incredibly hard to get in India. We had been given an address of a cheap and nasty Hotel in Mount Lavinia, just outside of Colombo, but it was full. A taxi driver said he knew of another cheap place to stay, we went with him; the place seemed ok so we booked in for Two weeks. It took us that long to find out we were living in a brothel...lol. I remember saying to Will one day "Have you noticed that no one booking into this so called Hotel, has any bags with them"?

We caused quite a storm in Sri Lanka, we got involved with a Colombo night club owner who organized a few gigs for us. This was really great because we had very little money left. We actually played a couple of classy Gigs, one at the National Cricket club, where just by coincidence England were playing Sri Lanka, another gig was at the Hilton Hotel In Colombo, were we found ourselves playing for the extremely rich and boring 'High Society' of Colombo. It all went to our heads a bit, not having earned ONE CENT in India and also not really trying too hard to do that. In fact our lives had picked up so much, we decided to stay in Sri Lanka and see what happens. We had jobs, money and we had rented a really nice apartment off a guy named Jude, a Bible bashing Christian Buddhist with a severe attitude.

We later found out that he had rented the apartment without the owner, who lived in the states, knowing anything about it. When she finally found out he was renting HER apartment to strangers, he tried his best to evict us, although we had a contract for three months. His secretly turned off the water supply, it was June and 45 degree's and without water it was unbearable.....I actually ended up fighting with him once after coming home one day and finding all my stuff evicted from my room!

Things were good for both of us. We were getting paid for playing at various gigs, parties etc. We made friends, mixed it large with the rich and famous of Colombo, and regularly seen staggering out of the Hilton Hotel's 'Blue Elephant Disco' at 5 O'clock in the morning totally pissed out of our heads...lol. Jesus, what a contrast from India! Watching the locals shit in a field next to our house in Mamallapuram.....to working in the Hilton Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka......and eating’ Steak' everyday, not the done thing in 'Vegetarian Tamil Nadu'....the cows weren’t so sacred in Sri Lanka...and for the blood thirsty KB members.....that wasn't really a problem. Life was good at that moment.

A couple of months went by....so did the jobs, money and food.....things started to take a turn for the worse. We had no ticket home and no money to buy one, we had exhausted all our (?) family/friends resources....to the point that most thought we were taking the p**s. We thought that we would earn enough to pay for tickets home, don't forget, it wasn't just us that needed to get back, but also all our recording gear, computers, instruments etc....we had like 250 Kilo's of equipment in four huge boxes and the only way to get that back to Europe was DHL or FEDEX it....and those who know....it isn’t cheap!!

To make matters even worst, war had broken out with the Tamil Tigers in the north of Sri Lanka, It was time to leave Colombo.....we didn't do wars!! The Airport in Colombo had been attacked, with many people being killed. A state of emergency was called out for on Television by the prime minister. There were soldiers on every street corner and a sense of paranoia I had never experienced. That was it for both of us, enough is enough. We borrowed the money with one last bullshit story (there was only one person who believed the' we were in a war zone story') and bought tickets to Milan, Italy, where a good friend of mine had offered us her home to compile and finish the music, as long as we left Sri Lanka.......and went to Italy.

I traveled to Milan alone, Will stayed on in Colombo to organize shipping all the gear back to Europe. It was a long and tiring trip, full of reflection. I don't think I spoke a word to another passenger. A friend of mine picked me up from Malpensa Airport and drove me to Agra, on the Italian/Swiss border overlooking 'Lago Majorie' an absolutely beautiful part of the world. This was to be home for the unforeseeable future.

We spent about six months mixing, arranging and re-writing everything we had recorded in India and Sri Lanka. We were missing just one thing......the 'Voice' to front the music.

We both envisaged a Female singer. I proposed Mattanja as Lead Vocalist and left by train for Holland to talk with her about taking the lead role with Karma Bonita. She agreed and we started work straight away. Will followed on a few months later. The team was now complete.

Mattanja, Will and Kevin locked themselves away for another Six Months in an old Farmhouse in South Holland. All three of them worked 24 hours a day at different intervals recording, writing and re-arranging the music. It was a difficult time, money had gone from scarce to completely invisible, and relationships with others were abandoned due to the stress of finally completing this project.

In the end and after nearly three years of traveling and recording….....we did finally finish the project...we called it........Karma Bonita

Kevin Kearney

Link to original story including photos 'Click Here'

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Kearney

Boutique Hotels - Attracting Every Segment Of Travelers

2008-09-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

By Bjorn Olav Jonsson

For some years now, it has been witnessed that the boutique hotels have become the ultimate choice among some well-to-do tourists. But the interesting fact is that not only are the well-to-do tourists getting attracted to these boutique hotels, but even the budget traveler is getting lured by the charm and exclusive services provided by these hotels. The reason is very simple.

Contrasting from the very formal and straight forward services given to guests by other forms of hotels, these boutique hotels are always willing and ready to provide you with very personalized service just to meet the clients interests and likings. Also, for those travelers who want to feel the soothe and loved atmosphere of home in a hotel, boutique hotels are made for them. These hotels are very famous among those who want to take a break from noisy and rouse atmosphere of the city.

According to records, the reservation income of small boutique hotels of the world has increased by surprising twenty five percent in the year 2006 and it is presented that in the year 2007, 70 more boutique hotels will be constructed in America in 2007. Many companies are converting their normal hotels into boutique hotels all across the globe whether it's America, Australia or Iceland.

Many companies are showing their interest in Asian markets as well. Market in Asia is huge and has got a huge potential. Many boutique hotels are already operating in countries like Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. An Australian boutique hotel chain has decided to open 50 boutique hotels in entire Asia and some of them are already opened in very popular international tourist destinations of Asia like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tahiti and Maldives. According to the spokesperson of that company the region of Asia especially South-East Asia is a very huge market and the company is enjoying its presence there as it is getting huge acclamation. So, overall, it can be said that the industry of boutique hotels is on the right path to success.

Besides all these facts, the other reason why boutique hotels are gaining popularity among tourists and travelers is the fact that demands for expanded conveniences, services and high-class luxury is increasing among the people. Boutique hotels are ready to provide anything and everything requested by the guests. A hotel in Maldives has crossed all barriers as it consists only 6 suites and every suite has its own courtyard and a swimming pool. They also provide a personal yacht with a captain. Such are the limits that any boutique hotel can cross to meet the demands of their guests and to see them happy and contented. These boutique hotels also provide basic requirements like stocked mini-bar, refrigerator, work desk, internet, fax, satellite T.V for free. Remember that these services are given to you in any other hotel for cost. However, boutique hotels are famous for the calmness and peace they provide and that is simply beyond price before all other services and facilities.

Internet has played the most significant responsibility in increasing the popularity and fame of the boutique hotels. There are countless websites on the net that work in accordance with many big brand boutique hotels and also many small-scale boutique hotels. These websites are always offering cheap and luxurious service to the guests and customers also find these websites very effective because on only one website they can reserve any room in any hotel in any part of the world. This has become possible by universal reservation system. This system allows you to book any room in a boutique hotel of your choice any where in the world.

All said and done, boutique hotels have started attracting tourists of all kinds, luxury travelers or budget travelers, travelers on their honeymoon or family vacation or even business travelers. Things are only looking up for all boutique hotels all over the world.

Bjorn Olav Jonsson is a freelance writer. For further information visit the website, http://www.101hotel.is

Travelling Smart Overseas With Your Cellphone By Ted Anders

2008-09-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I was in charge of developing a business concern on the beautiful island of Sri Lanka while based in the United States. At one point, I needed to send an employee there to set up the quality control program. This employee did not have a GSM cell phone so I lent him mine to use "in case of emergency only". The employee spent time each night chatting with family on the cell phone and came back with a $3,000 phone bill in two short weeks.

If you have a US GSM cell phone and service account, you may find that it will cost you something in the range of $3 per minute to use your phone overseas due to international roaming. As an example, on one trip to Hamburg, I had lost my party at a very large exposition. I used my cell phone to call them and found out that instead of it being a local call, it went to the US and back via their networks thus charging me for two international calls!

A little while later I was on a plane to Sri Lanka. As we were about to land, the gentleman next to me took out a small bag and dumped the contents into his palm. They were SIM chips. I asked him what this was all about and he told me he was looking for his chip for Sri Lanka. He informed me that the chip enabled him to make calls in and from Sri Lanka without incurring the extremely high roaming charges my friend above met with. He traveled throughout Europe and Asia and had chips for each major locale.

I was intrigued by this idea and did some research on what it took to use these local chips in my cell phone. Here is what I found:

Your basic cell phone service provider places a unique serial number into your cell phone. This unique number is called an "ESN" and it is used by the service provider to identify who you are. The service provider uses this number to know where to send phone calls too when someone dials your number.

A GSM phone is a little different animal. "GSM" (Global System for Mobile Communications) is a type of digital mobile phone service. GSM is the most common standard for cell phones in the world. GSM service is common in over 210 countries around the world with over 1.5 billion users. The popularity of GSM makes international roaming very common between cell phone operators, enabling the user to successfully use their phone in many parts of the world. One of the key differences with GSM is that the phone itself is not directly linked to you. Rather, the removable "SIM" (Subscriber Information Module) chip is encoded with a unique serial number which is what now identifies you to the wireless provider.

Having your info embedded into a removable SIM chip rather than into your cell phone is what makes this all so interesting. If you place your SIM chip into a compatible cell phone, you can use that phone as your own because the service provider will recognize the SIM chip inside of it as yours. Conversely, you can buy compatible SIM chips from the country you are about to visit and use them in your phone. This is what allows you to avoid the ugly international roaming charges mentioned above.

Before you can do this, however, you will most likely need to "Unlock" your cell phone. Most wireless service providers "lock" their cell phones which means that they program them to only work with SIM chips issued by their company. Unlocking a cell phone is basically reversing this programming. The process is very easy and quick.

There are many service providers online that specialize in mobile unlocking. Once the cell phone is unlocked, it is permanently unlocked.

Now I wanted a SIM chip that would work in the country I was headed too, again, Sri Lanka. I was told that the best way was to find a cell phone store there in Colombo but this sounded difficult as my schedule would be very busy. While searching for an alternative, I was directed to www.Telestial.com as a source of chips via the internet. I found that I could buy a chip from Sri Lanka with pre-paid minutes on it. They did also offer a great variety of SIM chips from most major destinations around the world. The process was quick and painless and I found the cost to be very reasonable ($79 vs. $3,000!). The only drawback to the system was that this did give me a new phone number which I had to pass out to family and business associates prior to departure.

The trip went well as I was able to coordinate activities with local vendors and business associates without feeling like I had to hang up the phone after two sentences.

Ted Anders of ExpressUnlock, LLC has been involved in the Telecommunications industry since 2000. ExpressUnlocks patented software specializes in Nokia unlocking. We hope you find the above article informative and helpful.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Anders

Ten Spectacular Things to Do When You Visit Sri Lanka

2008-09-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka is an intriguing city to visit with its rich history and culture. Like all other countries, it would be a site to behold when one compares it to what you have been used to. There are several things you can see and do in this place to make this an enriching experience.

1.) Yala National Park

This park is also referred to as Ruhunu National Park and can be located in the southeast region of Sri Lanka. One can start enjoying the refreshing sight of the park. You can also stroll in the area while seeing leopards here from a safe distance.

2.) Temple of the Tooth

Here is the temple which houses the tooth believed to have been one of the Buddha's teeth and is a relic that they guard in the temple. It is a most sacred site to believers which you may care to visit and view. They even have a website for this in case you're interested to know more about it.

3.) Colombo

The country's capital is a nice place to be in where you can visit a few museums for a little trip to history. What you can find are the National Museum, Natural History Museum, Dutch Period Museum, and the Bandaranaike Museum. All attest to several aspects of Sri Lankan history that visitors can view and be amazed at.

4.) Art Galleries

Art lovers will find something to talk about when they go and visit the National Art Gallery. You may also find similar viewing pleasure by visiting the Sapumal Foundation and the Lionel Wendt Center. It is good to see and compare some things that may be different from your own culture with those of others and appreciate the things that we see.

5.) Zoo

The Colombo zoo is a delight for the children and their parents, and this can be found on the southern area of the city. It is indeed a fine place to be in with an aquarium and night house to view, and there are also elephant shows you can watch. Are you fond of butterflies? Then, come on and see their butterfly park and a few more animal exhibits, and it's quite large so give it at least two hours to make the entire rounds.

6.) Festivals in Jaffna

It will not surprise you to see some more temples to visit in this place. It has the Nallur, Selva Sannithi and Ninatheevu temples. Festivals that are religious in nature is something you would also expect from this place, and there's the Chariot Festival which is a considered a big event in Sri Lanka as well as the Harvest festival observed every January.

7.) Kinchigune Nature Trail

This trail starts at the Sabaragamuwa University which runs along a forest and river. By following this trail, you can get to see paddy fields, village houses and vegetables, and this is a way to get a tutorial on their agricultural system and sample simple living the Sri Lankan way. You may also come across waterfalls, a few more birds and butterflies to enjoy the hike.

8.) Canoing

If canoeing happens to be your favorite pastime, then indulge in the Samanalawewa reservoir with its still waters that make this a good activity to try. You can even paddle to the river of Belihul Oya for more adventure. Or you can simply explore the entire reservoir for a relaxing ride in the water.

9.) Bambarakada Falls

This waterfall is a sight to watch because it is found inside a basin-like valley and surrounded by steep rocks and forest filled with tropic and pine tress. It is the highest known waterfalls in Sri Lanka which tumbles down to a height of 240 meters. Waterfalls will remain a favorite spot for tourists because of its sheer beauty.

10.) Galle

You should not miss the temple Kalutara located in this city. It is considered good luck if you come over to the Seenigama temple and offer a donation after murmuring a little prayer. There's also the Fort where you can walk through especially to view the majestic sunset.

Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.destinationguide.tv/srilanka to view or share Sri Lanka travel videos.

Hotel Sri Lanka is an Additional Stuff in the Blooming Wing of Sri Lankan Tourism

2008-09-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka is a natural naval link between west Asia and south East Asia. This small island country is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts and rubber. Natural beauty of the country lies in its tropical forest, beaches and landscape as well as its rich cultural heritage. It was also remained colonized by Portugal, Netherlands and British Empire consequently. During Second World War, it was the base for allied forces. A nationalist political movement began here in early 20th century and eventually obtained freedom from the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948.

Sunny clean beaches, ancient cities, warm friendly people and beautiful landscapes and wonderful hotels Srilanka all together make it a beautiful global tourism hub. Stunning mountain scenery, tropical rainforest and amazing water falls have capability to instill ecstasy in the heart of all the visitors whether they are first timer or frequent visitors. A spiritual person can never miss the opportunity to spend time in Adam's peak. It is noted as the home of butterfly and hence also referred as Butterfly Mountain. Temple of the Tooth is another major spiritual destination. It is in Kandy city and people believe that the Lord Buddha's tooth is enshrined in this temple. Hotels in Sri Lanka are perfectly aware with the significance of this temple for ardent Buddhism followers. Hence, they are located in the near by area of the temple with the best facilities on economy rate. Now, it has been listed as UNESCO world heritage site.

Visitors can explore numerous archaeological witnesses while the visit of Galle National Museum which explore the mystery of Sri Lankan history. This museum is the home of native arts and crafts. This museum exhibits various sorts of turtle shell wares like jewelery boxes, spectacle frames, combs and bangles. Usually tourists come into the island to see Buddhist monasteries, temples and stunning marine sanctuaries. Thus, museums like Galle offer a new flavor like delicious spice which makes the trip memorable and wonderful for everyone. Sri Lanka hotels is also a leading stuff in the blooming wing of Sri Lankan tourism on the global horizon.

Nowadays, almost all sorts of Sri Lankan hotels are online available. One can easily book the accommodation through any of the foremost online hotel booking websites. Some of the websites may offer you few prominent facilities like airport transfer and tickets for various events and shows whichever would be held at the concerning destination.

The website offers exclusive information of online reservation of hotels in Sri Lanka and also provide information about Colombo Hotels

Hotels in Srilanka - Surrounded by Nature

2008-09-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

Though small, Sri Lanka is one of the most popular destinations in world that has natural scenery in abundance. Recognized as a teardrop that falls from the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka has emerged out as wonderful holiday destination because of its rich natural, cultural and traditional assets. To observe all such magnificent wealth of the country, you need to spend good time over here. And here comes another fabulous aspect about Sri Lankan destinations that makes your tour absolutely comfortable, enjoyable and rich in wonderful experience. Yes, it is nothing but hotels in Srilanka that inspire you to extend your leaves.

Excelling in sports like Cricket and several others, Sri Lankan cities have a good collection of world heritages, magnificent beaches, temples and many other ancient monuments. This small attractive island has the population of twenty million inhabitants who are responsible for the friendly atmosphere wherever you go within it. Much more than being a wonderful beach holiday destination and a nice place for sunbathing, this is land is adorned beautiful temples, wilderness and sanctuaries. Come to the place and explore the immense opportunity of being one with the nature. And the accommodations in any of the cities, be it Colombo, Anuradhapura or Kurunegala, are of various types and equipped with excellent amenities. Hikkaduwa is world famous for its Beach resorts where you can come across the excellent ambience.

The hustling bustling city of Colombo is the commercial hub of the country. British fort that dates back to 19th century is the special attractions of this place. In Galle, you can visit the world heritage fort complex. To visit all these attractions, you do have to stay in the country for a long time and hotels in Srilanka render you all good facilities to be here and enjoy your days.

Gagan is an associate editor of http://www.a1srilankahotels.com The website offers exclusive information about Bentota hotels and Hotels in Columbo . We also provide hotel reservation of hotels in Sri Lanka. For any feedback and query free to contact at info@a1srilankahotels.com

Hotels In Sri Lanka

2008-09-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka is formally known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. It an island-country located 31 kilometers to the southern coast of India. The major tourist attractions in Sri Lanka are the islands and beaches located in the southern and eastern parts of the country, primeval heritage sites located in the interior of the country and verdant green resorts located in the mountainous areas of the country. Since tourism is one of the main industries in the country, Hotels in Sri Lanka leave no stone unturned to make the best of their lodgers stay. The city hotels and resorts offer excellent ambience, service and facilities to their guest's delight.

Some of the well regions in Sri Lanka include Galle, Colombo- capital city, Kandy among many others. Kandy is listed in the world heritage site and also one of the best tourist sites in Sri Lanka. Sited 116 km from Colombo, the region is home to the Temple of Tooth which has the tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A10-day parade called the Esala Perahera is a great attraction of the city. Koggala is located in southern region of the country, at a distance of 130km from Colombo. The region boasts of one of the most excellent beach and the historical Madol Duwa. Arugam Bay is place that is high on places of interest and is famous for balmy beaches.

Sri Lanka is known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. The temple of Ridi Vihara is a beautiful structure. The world Ridi Vihara means Silver Temple and it is called so because in the 2nd century BC, silver ore was discovered here. It is believed that a king set up the complex as a sign of gratefulness for the discovery of silver which helped him complete his other construction projects. Within the cave sits a gold-plated statue of the Buddha. You must not miss the nearby Upper Temple when you visit Ridi Vihara. Panduwasnuwara is a fine tourist attraction that is overlooked most of the times. The ruin of this 12th century capital of Parakramabahu is worth a visit. A quiet and a serene place to unwind... no many visit this place. The site covers an area of about 50 acres and makes a good place for archaeological exploration. Aukana Buddha stands 12m tall and folklore has it that the sculpture was built during the reign of Dhatusena in the 5th century - however some source date it to the 12th -13th century. The best time to savor the beauty of the statue is during the dawn when the rays of the sun fall on makes it look heavenly.

An accommodation in Sri Lanka is easy to find and is available in various price brackets and categories. Sri Lanka Hotels are well equipped with the best of facilities and render world class service. Whether you are looking for a five star luxurious hotel, a mid range hotel or a low cost budget hotel... you will find it all here. Hotel Sri Lanka is well known for their hospitality and trusted for their opulent service all across the world.

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Star Hotels in Sri Lanka - An Experience of True Luxury

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Looking like a teardrop from the southern tip of India on the world map, Sri Lanka is a wonderful destination if you are a nature lover. Rich in natural assets like wilderness, national parks, mountains and hills, this country is a small island on which nature has bestowed upon its favor in abundance. Whether it is the ancient city of Anuradhapura or the modern, hustling bustling town, Colombo, you will get amazing sceneries and scope for exploring the ancient legacies. Accommodation is no problem in any of the cities in Sri Lanka. Wide range of hotels including Star hotels in Sri Lanka, are available to render you the perfect environment for staying comfortably. Your tour of Sri Lanka is filled with adventurous expeditions and natural realizations. And luxury is attached with everything that you do whether they are attractions or luxury accommodation such as Srilanka star hotels.

The capital city Colombo features magnificent accommodation facilities in form of hotels, beach resorts and inns. The small size of the Island is never a constraint for developing the modern infrastructure for the tourists who come over to Sri Lanka from far off places. Besides being beach holiday destination, Sri Lankan cities are fine examples of ancient legacies. City of Anuradhapura and several others have ancient monuments and temples which still possess impressive look and feel. In kurunegala, you can see the beautiful plantation and paddy fields which look attractive. And you would like to spend time there in which star hotels in Srilanka prove to be your best companion. Or stay in fabulous beach resorts in the country.

The northern part of the country is blessed with ancient forts. In Galle you have the world heritage fort complex to pay a visit to. There are several world heritages which have earned Sri Lank a worldwide reputation. Dense rainforests and national parks such as Ruhunnu and Wilpattu are places where you can spend hours. Even you can have a overnight stopover in the national park.

Gagan is an associate editor of http://www.a1srilankahotels.com The website offers exclusive information about star hotels in sri lanka and cheap hotels in srilanka. We also provide hotel reservation for hotels in Sri Lanka. For any feedback and query please free to contact at info@a1srilankahotels.com

Colombo--The Las Vegas of Sri Lanka

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The commercial city of Sri Lanka, Colombo possesses all the ingredients to serve as one of the fabulous destination of the country. This old city has witnessed many different eras like Portuguese, Dutch and British time in the past. Located on the southwest coast, Colombo city is a combination of hilly and marshy land. Climate is generally hot except in the monsoon when it rains heavily. Despite being a modern city of Sri Lanka, Colombo reflects the rich and traditional culture of the country. The city is full of majestic landmarks like the two World Trade Center towers, Parliament Building and Jami Ul Alfar mosque.

There are many performing art centers which have gained popularity for their eastern musical performances. Elphinstone and Tower Hall are few of them. The national Museum of Colombo also treasures the precious antiques and memories of the last king of Sri Lanka Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. However, you will not find many grand Art galleries like you find in other major cities. Surprisingly, the nightlife of the city is compared to that of Las Vegas. It features a number of casinos, pubs and bars. Cricket rules over other forms of sports in the city. Despite continuous tiff between LTTE and Sri Lankan Army, Colombo offers a safe environment to spend quality days. Colombo hotels are absolutely safe.

http://www.stayressrilanka.com/hotels-in-colombo/index.htm

Places of Interest on Your Holidays in Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka is a popular holiday destination with holiday makers staying in holiday home accommodation. When on holiday to Sri Lanka holiday makers are able to rent holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments. Sri Lanka is referred to as 'the pearl of the Indian Ocean'. It is a country full of sunny clean beaches, ancient cities, warm friendly people and beautiful landscapes.

Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with stunning mountain scenery, tropical rainforests and amazing water falls. It is a popular holiday destination with many tourists choosing to stay in holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments.
They use this holiday accommodation as a base to explore the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.

One popular location is Adam's peak. It is located in the Rathnapura district and is a 7,500ft high. It is the second highest peak on the island and is considered a sacred place by the islanders. It is a spiritual pilgrimage destination for the followers of many religions who visit the mountain each year. The mountain is also famous for its butterfly population and is sometimes referred to locally as the butterfly mountain.

The City of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth. The locals believe that the tooth of Lord Buddha is enshrined in the temple. Ardent followers of Buddhism visit the temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many tourists come from all over the world to visit this temple.

The Galle National Museum is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. The Museum is home to many native arts and crafts and helps show tourists the true history of the island. It is also famous for its turtle shell wares like jewellery boxes, spectacle frames, combs and bangles.

Sri Lanka is also referred to as the land of waterfalls. The Saint Claire waterfall is an important tourist destination and it is the widest waterfall in the country. Many holiday makers visit this water fall and then take a trek around the stunning local country side.

The Negombo Beach in Sri Lanka is another tourist destination. Negombo is a fishing town and has many buildings that were built in the Portuguese and Dutch era. It is possible to rent holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments in this part of Sri Lanka. Negombo is home to a large number of churches and is referred to as Little Rome.

Negombo Beach has some of the best food and restaurants in Sri Lanka. It is possible to rent holiday villas with swimming pools next to the clean white sandy beaches in this part of Sri Lanka. It is said that Negombo Beach is home to some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka.

Many tourists come to Sri Lanka to see the Buddhist monasteries and temples and the stunning marine sanctuaries. When in Sri Lanka they can rent holiday home accommodation and get a real feel of the local culture and food. There are some luxurious holiday villas with swimming pools and self catering holiday apartments that can used as a base to explore the wonderful island of Sri Lanka.

Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing online travel websites for booking holiday homes. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Holiday Villas.

Direct Holiday Bookings also has a great selection of Holiday Cottages and self catering holiday apartments that can be rented as holiday homes all over the world.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka has long been acknowledged as a great holiday destination. But in 2004 it fell victim to nature’s fury when the boxing-day tsunami caused mass devastation. Still the exotic island came back fighting and is once again a tourism hotspot. Here are the top five reasons to visit.

1. Beaches

If you’re ideal holiday consists of lying on a beach with a good book and a long drink then this is the place to be. Sri Lanka is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And with the tropical climate you can chill out on the sand to your hearts content.

2. Sports

Then again, if lying on a beach doing very little is anything but your ideal holiday then worry not. There are plenty of adventure sports available in Sri Lanka, including mountain biking, rafting and rock climbing. There are also a host of water sports on offer.

3. History

If you’re into history then you can’t go far wrong here. Sri Lanka is home to seven world heritage sites including the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya and the golden temple of Dambulla.

4. Sights

Kandy is the second biggest city in Sri Lanka and is known as the Royal City. It is famous for its stunning landscapes and is home to The Golden Temple. It is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations.

5. Culture

Religion is a big part of the Sri Lankan culture and the island is home to plenty of temples, mosques and churches. There are also several religious festivals which take place on the island and draw crowds form all over the world.

Russ Pooley writes for Drake & Cavendish who provide a luxury hotel research directory featuring over 5,000 luxury hotels in over 700 resort locations around the world. As a content provider we are committed to developing entertaining and informative travel related information. You can read further articles and details at http://www.drakeandcavendish.com/luxury_hotels/indian_subcontinent/sri_lanka

Budget Hotels in Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka as the teardrop from the Indian southern tip is an attractive country in Asia continent. Getting popular not only for sports but also for vast natural reserves and ancient heritages, Sri Lanka is a small island with all sources of entertainment. It is famous for the beach holidays. Fabulous beaches in Sri Lanka invite thousands of tourists from all across the globe. However, you have many more things than excellent beaches and sunbathing to see and do. And for that you need to stay here for a long time. Budget on accommodation in the country is nothing to worry about as budget hotels in Sri Lanka are take care of your pocket by providing shelters at low cost. Sri Lanka budget hotels are equipped with wonderful amenities which satisfy you completely.

The capital city Colombo has all the characteristics of a metropolis. Hustles and bustles in the city is because of it being the commercial hub of the country. Northern part adorned with forts and other historical heritages. The British Fort that dates back to 19 century is an impressive structure. You will also find some evidences of former colonial power. Galle is also one of the worth visiting cities. Do visit the world heritage complex here.

Come to Kurunegala and feast your eyes on the paddy field and coconut plantations. The Hilly central part of Sri Lanka is the perfect place for tea plantations and the towns nearby such as Nuwara Eliya. Western part is covered by the dense rainforests. If you wish to see wildlife, you can head towards the south western Sri Lanka. You can also stay over night in the national parks like Ruhunu and Wilpattu. Notwithstanding all such great attractions, the bloodshed by LTTE men ruins the reputation of Sri Lanka to some extent.

Gagan is an associate editor of a1 Sri Lanka Hotels The website offers exclusive information about Bentota hotels and Budget Hotels in Srilanka We also provide hotel reservation of hotels in Sri lanka. For any feedback and query free to contact at info@a1srilankahotels.com

Sri Lanka Hotels - Serving Everyone

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Sri Lanka is a dream destination for any tourist as everything about Sri Lanka is unique and this amazing country is truly one of the best places to visit for a holiday. Sri Lanka is a tear shaped island formerly known as Ceylon, located on the southeastern tip of Indian subcontinent. Moreover, it is a tropical paradise with mysterious beauty all around, rich history, which is a journey to re-discover oneself during a visit to the country. A travel to the country is reminiscent of a tropical land of sun-soaked beaches, exotic spices, hazy highlands, age-old temples and ancient lost cities.

Visiting this island is an unforgettable escape, for its enduring spirit and diversity. The country is world famous for its unique culture, the modest people with warm hearts and smiling hospitality. For the tourists Sri Lanka offers with miles of beautiful sandy beaches, number of ancient ruins and cultural heritages, wildlife, and tasty traditional food. A tour to Sri Lanka would certainly be exceptional and hotels in Sri Lanka add to it paving a way for some of the most memorable holidays. The excellent hotels offer with the best of services, which are truly cocoons of comfort providing the guests with all the comfort and assistance.

Pack your tour to the country with a visit to the captivating heritage sites of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, for the adventure seekers a visit to the primitive jungles of the Ruhuna National Park is a thrilling experience. Then one can just laze around on the beach, and then visit the botanical gardens, or go shopping for various arts and crafts, and enjoying the Sri Lanka's sumptuous, lip- smacking, spicy cuisines. Leave aside all your apprehensions for accommodation in Sri Lanka, and leave it to the hotels in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka hotels are classified into various categories and cater to travelers of all types. Experience the delightful attractions of Sri Lanka and stay at the exotic hotels in Sri Lanka. The country has faced situations where in terrorism played a key role and then the catastrophic tsunami made situation worse. However, the country is recovering fast and the future looks bright for the tourism industry.

Island Paradise, Sri Lanka as a Tour Destination

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Have you picked on island paradise Sri Lanka as a tour destination?

The island of Sri Lanka is shaped like a teardrop in the heart of the Indian Ocean and is the world’s famous producer of Ceylonese Tea, known for its restorative qualities and spirit-reviving ability to de-stress and detoxify. A unique blend of varied culture, crafts and cuisine makes Sri Lanka an exciting and adventurous bid for a tour destination, especially for the nature lovers that global tourists need be. Earlier referred to as Ceylon, long-remembered for being the location of the radio station belting out golden oldies and clever commentary by the host of the program, Sri Lanka is today a multicultural and metropolitan mix of modern and tradition lifestyles.

Sri Lanka as a tour destination: what it offers the modern tourist today, socially and culturally.

A unification of various cultures and languages, Sri Lanka also affords an openness and genuine acceptability to all its citizens and visitors in terms of reverence for secular beliefs. Different religions co-mingle with Buddhism and Islam, Christianity and Hinduism receive equal veneration from the state, as do the different tongues spoken here; predominant ones being Sinhalese, Tamil and English.

Sri Lanka as a tour destination: a quick guide to popular hotspots

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital affords a glimpse into the country’s evolving strength as a modern and proudly-true-to-its-culture civilization and so, is a must visit spot; while other hotspots of tourist interest include Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya, Trincomalee, Hikkaduwa, Nuwara Eliya and Jaffna!

Manoj Gursahani is the Chairman of India's first ecommerce travel portal- TravelMartIndia. Visit the blog for more travel related issues, travel tips and destinations.