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Dambulla Produce Market
Even if you’re not looking to buy a truckload of bananas, this vast wholesale market south of the centre offers a fascinating look at the vast range of produce grown in Sri Lanka. What you see being carted about with manic energy (be careful and stay out of everybody’s way) will be
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Dambulla Museum
Re-creations of art from the cave temples, artefacts and detailed English-language explanations are presented in a large building some 500m south of the main caves parking area. The displays are a good primer on Sri Lankan art – from cave paintings to 18th-century frescoes. Staff a
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Religious Sights
Kali Kovil has the most impressive, eye-catching gopuram of Trinco’s many Hindu temples. Most others are outwardly rather plain, including the important Kandasamy Kovil , dedicated to Murugan. Of the churches, the 1852 Catholic St Mary’s Cathedral is particularly attractive, with a
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Euphoria Spice & Herbal
Offers very detailed tours of its spice garden and has a shop selling all kinds of creams, potions and lotions that are said to help everything from sleeplessness to low sex drive. Staff are welcoming, theres a cafe, and cooking demonstrations are also performed. Located 15km north
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Diyaluma Falls
Five kilometres east of Koslanda the road passes the 171m-high Diyaluma Falls, Sri Lanka’s third-highest waterfall. Cascading down an escarpment of the Koslanda Plateau, the stream is fairly small, but it quickly escalates after a downpour. The falls leap over a cliff face and fall
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Samadhi Buddha
This 4th-century statue, seated in the meditation pose, is regarded as one of the finest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. Pandit Nehru, a prominent leader in India’s independence movement, is said to have maintained his composure while imprisoned by the British by regular contemplation
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Ratnapura Gem Bureau, Museum & Laboratory
A reputable place to purchase gems with relatively low sales pressure is Ratnapura Gem Bureau, Museum & Laboratory. There’s a good display of local minerals and gems, as well as information on mining and polishing. A return three-wheeler trip from the centre of town should cost
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Mudu Maha Vihara
Hidden away in Pottuvil’s backstreets are the ancient ruins of Mudu Maha Vihara. This lovely little site, partly submerged in the encroaching sand dunes, features a fine 3m-high standing Buddha statue flanked by two bodhisattva figures. The beach just behind is wide, beautiful and
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Jaffna Archaeological Museum
This unkempt but interesting museum is hidden away at the end of a messy garden behind a concrete events hall. At the door are a rusty pair of Dutch cannons from the fort and a set of whale bones. Inside, the most interesting items are some 15th-century Buddha torsos found at Kanta
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Mahasenas Palace
This ruined palace northwest of the Abhayagiri is notable for having the finest carved moonstone in Sri Lanka. Photographers will be disappointed that the railing around it makes it almost impossible to achieve an unshadowed picture. This is a peaceful wooded area full of butterfli
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Jungle Beach
One of those secret spots it seems everyone knows about, Jungle Beach is indeed reached through a tropical forest at the east end of Galles bay. The sand is good and there is plenty of shade along with a very basic cafe. Most drivers know the spot; take the road to Rumassala Peace
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Museum
There is a small museum on the road leading to the stairs; however, it is shut for an interminable refurbishment. It normally has a small collection of interesting artefacts.
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Kolawenigama Temple
The Kolawenigama Temple, 3km from Pallegama (which is 3km from Deniyaya), is of modest proportions but has a unique structure that resembles Kandy’s Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It was built by King Buwanekabahu VII in recognition of the protection given to the tooth relic by
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Millennium Elephant Foundation
Two kilometres from Pinnewala, on the Karandupona–Kandy road, the Millennium Elephant Foundation houses a number of elephants rescued from various situations, such as aggressive mahouts, or elephants retired from working in temples. Volunteers are welcome at the foundation and the
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Udawattakelle Sanctuary
North of the lake, this forest has huge trees, good birdwatching and loads of cheeky monkeys. Birdwatchers can arrange guides (Rs 500) at the ticket office.Be careful if you’re visiting alone. Muggers are rare but not unknown; solo women should take extra care.Enter by turning righ
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King’s Council Chamber
This is where the king’s throne, in the shape of a stone lion, once stood (its now in Colombo’s National Museum). Inscribed into each column in the chamber is the name of the minister whose seat was once beside it. The mound nearby becomes an island when the waters of the tank are
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Ariyapala Mask Museum
The Ariyapala Mask Museum, with its dioramas and explanations in English, gives an excellent insight into Sri Lankan masks and the meanings behind them. It also sells the booklet The Ambalangoda Mask Museum, a useful publication if you want to delve into the mysterious world of dan
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World Buddhism Museum
Housed inside the former High Court buildings, the World Buddhism Museum contains lots of photographs, models and displays illustrating Buddhism around the world. Note that a large number of the statues and other exhibits are actually reproductions. The museum is within the Temple
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Newburgh Green Tea Factory
The tours at this green-tea factory are fairly rushed, but you can make interesting comparisons to those factories producing black tea. Newburgh is owned by Finlays, one of the worlds larger tea producers, and there is a notable difference in how the factory is run and organised co
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Malwatte Maha Vihara
The principal viharas (Buddhist complexes) in Kandy have considerable importance – the high priests of the two best known, Malwatte and Asgiriya, are the most important in Sri Lanka. They are the headquarters of two of the main nikayas (orders of monks). The Malwatte Maha Vihara is
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