Sri Lanka – A magical experience

Sri Lanka has started welcoming tourists like never before and only after visiting this gorgeous country I realized its true essence. The country boasts of culture, heritage and traditions while extending warmth through its hospitality.

An invitation by the tourism of Sri Lanka made me joyous beyond words. This country was on my bucket list since a long time and I could never say no to this invitation.

With passport, visa and documents in my hand. I boarded the Sri Lankan airways. A 3-and-a-half-hour flight seemed short as the anticipation and excitement was too high to visit the most desirable country. The crew and staff, ever smiling only added to the sheer joy that I was carrying with me. A delectable breakfast on board the flight and a few minutes later, we land in Sri Lanka.

A welcome by the tourism authority of Sri Lanka only added to the glee on our faces as we interacted with the tourism board who introduced us to their beautiful country. Sri Lankans are not only polite, but they always wear a warm smile on their face.

While destination Sri Lanka has a lot to offer like heritage, mountains and beaches, we got to experience the adventure tourism of Sri Lanka. My blogs take you through several places in Sri Lanka where we trekked through rough patches to see the most beautiful tea plantations, wild life and much more.

We checked in Taj Samudra Colombo, facing the Galle face beach. After resting for some time, we proceeded for lunch and some sight-seeing.

Our lunch was hosted by Madras Masala – a century old heritage home renovated as an authentic restaurant. The lunch comprised of a platter with the most delicious vegetables accompanied with rice and parathas.

After a nice lunch, we move towards exploring Colombo.

Colombo Lotus tower –

If you plan on visiting Sri Lanka, then this tower is a must-visit. Standing at a height of 356 meters, this tower is the tallest tower in South Asia and the19th tallest tower in the world.

There is a revolving restaurant at the top which provides a scenic view of the city. It completes one rotation every 90 minutes. This tower is one of the biggest highlights of Colombo and due to its enormous length, it can be seen from as far as 10kms from the main site.

Approximately 50 television and radio broadcasters can be accommodated in the tower, along with 20 telecommunication providers. It is open 24 hours and 365 days of the year for the tourists. On special festivals such as Pongal, Diwali, Eid, Christmas and many more the interiors of the tower are decorated accordingly. This tower is surely a gem in the busy city of Colombo and must not be missed if you are planning to tour this beautiful city.

Timings: Open all through the year.

Price: Locals normal pass: Rs. 500; Locals unlimited pass: Rs. 2,000

2. Independence Memorial Hall-

As the name indicates, Independence Day was constructed to commemorate the occasion of Sri Lankan Independence from British Rule. The construction of this memorial was completed during 1953. When you visit Colombo, you must visit the Independence Memorial Museum, which honours the people who fought for Sri Lankan Independence.

Currently, this hall is the venue where Independence Day celebrations and other national events are being held. Prior to the construction of the Sri Lankan Parliament, this memorial Hall served as the ceremonial assembly as well

Location: The hall is located in Cinnamon Gardens and was formerly known as Torrington Square.

Price: Entry into the hall is free of cost.

We also went to a casino in Sri Lanka, where we saw ardent fans of roulette playing with co-partners and enjoying their drinks.

The day ends with a blissful moment at the Galle Beach where we saw the sun spreading its beautiful vivid colours. There was a networking dinner later at the Taj where we met representatives from the tourism board and fellow travellers.

A scrumptious dinner and cocktails with an added spunk of music and dance followed as we bid farewell to a beautiful start of our tryst in Sri Lanka.

There is more to read in my following blogs as I take you to some more beautiful places in Sri Lanka. Stay tuned!

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