EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF SRI LANKA
Heritage, culture and nature
Whether you’re planning your first trip, seek inspiration or simply have an urge to discover more about this fantastic island, Explore the Beauty of Sri Lanka – Heritage, Culture and Nature is a personal guide that takes the reader on a visual journey by rail, road and tuk-tuk through the bustling streets of Colombo, to the hills and valleys of the tea region. Filled with interesting facts, our guide, Lina Nicander, offers first-hand, local knowledge and insider insight for travelling around the capital and beyond to north and south of Colombo. Beautiful images of magnificent beaches, breathtaking nature and the finest colonial hotels complement useful addresses and travel tips for easy planning. From the country’s unique mix of architecture, including the celebrated tropical modernist style of Geoffrey Bawa, to historic and cultural highlights.
The book is divided into four parts: Colombo, north and south of Colombo and practical information. We pay a visit to four of Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO world heritage sites, including Galle Fort, the sacred city of Kandy and the ancient city of Sigiriya. We also learn about Ceylon tea, take a stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens, travel back in time on a train journey through the country’s scenic landscape and enjoy the colonial architecture of Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens. There’s also an introduction to Sri Lanka’s most renowned architect, Geoffrey Bawa, and his influential tropical modernist style, as well as a look at the country’s diverse wildlife.
PART ONE
COLOMBO
Pink sunrise over Colombo • Take a walk through Cinnamon Gardens • Visit Paradise Road The Gallery Café and discover Geoffrey Bawa • The finest colonial hotels • See the Dutch Museum • Explore Negombo’s waterways, beaches and fish markets.
Stroll through the Cinnamon Gardens, the capital’s colonial neighbourhood, then on to Paradise Road the Gallery Café, the former studio of Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Enjoy old world hospitality at Colombo’s finest colonial hotels and learn about the country’s fascinating past at the Dutch museum at Colombo Fort. Travelling on to Negombo, visit Little Rome and Negombo’s vibrant fish market before exploring its historic waterways and beautiful beaches.
PART TWO
NORTH OF COLOMBO
Take the train from Colombo to Kandy •Visit the beautiful Botanical Gardens•Temple of the Tooth • A walk by Kandy Lake • High tea at Queen’s Hotel
Head north by train to Kandy, the gateway to historical sites and Hill Country. Visit the Temple of the Tooth, a UNESCO world heritage site and explore Kandy’s beautiful Botanical Gardens before taking high tea at Queen’s Hotel. Discover Sri Lanka’s tea region and Nuwara Eliya – Little England - then head to Sigiriya to climb the ancient Lion Rock. See elephants bathing, feeding and playing at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
PART THREE
SOUTH OF COLOMBO
Visit Galle Fort, the 16th century site that withstood the 2004 tsunami • Shop for local fashion and hand crafts• Discover the island’s pristine beaches • Go on safari on land or sea
From its unique architectural mix, to shopping and boutique hotels, Galle Fort has something for everyone. Take a walk along its robust walls and enjoy five star hospitality before heading south to enjoy picture perfect beaches.
Get up close and personal with the local wildlife, with blue whale watching, crocodiles in the mangrove swamp and an early morning safari in Yala National Park.
PART FOUR
PRACTICAL ADVICE
Plan ahead with useful travel tips and information, including local taxi companies, restaurants, unique hotels and shopping, or delve deeper with useful reading sources.
INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK
From pristine beaches and outstanding architecture, to breathtaking nature and a fascinating history, Sri Lanka has something for everyone. Explore the Beauty of Sri Lanka – Heritage, Culture and Nature features beautiful photography and interesting facts, providing unparalleled insight into this pearl of the Indian Ocean.
THE FINEST COLONIAL HOTELS
Combining old world hospitality and style from bygone eras with unforgettable views, Colombo’s colonial hotels are the perfect place to relax and recharge the batteries.
ROYAL GARDENS
From Kandy’s Royal Botanical Gardens, to Viharamahadevi Park, Sri Lanka’s royal gardens are filled with a verdant array of some of the world’s most exotic and unique plants.
TROPICAL MODERNISM
Architect Geoffrey Bawa is best known as the country’s founding father of tropical modernism. Taking influences from traditional Sinhalese style, colonial architecture and European modernism, in harmony with natural surroundings, his legacy continues to influence Sri Lanka’s contemporary architecture.
WELCOME TO PARADISE
The south coast beaches are paradisiacal, with beautiful palm trees and fine white-golden sand. Relax under the palm trees and listen to the ocean or start the morning with Yoga classes on the beach. Discover some of the most unspoilt spots.
GREEN GOLD – TEA PLANTATIONS
Welcome to the green gold of Sri Lanka – Ceylon tea. Once you have witnessed the art of tea production in the heart of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon tea district, your cuppa will never taste the same again.
SCENIC VIEWS BY RAIL
As you leave Colombo on the way to Kandy, vignettes of village life flash by outside the train window. Tiny homes and gardens, clothes hanging out to dry and children playing, interspersed with tea plantations and tropical jungles, transport you to another world.
BUY IT HERE
The book is available in different formats, from a high-quality Coffee table edition to a convenient hardback or Kindle ebook.
Passionate about capturing the beauty of wonderful places and sharing stories of art, architecture, culture, nature and heritage through photography and writing.
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