Introduction
The lockdown has kept us all cooped up inside our homes. Staying in one place for long periods of time while following a monotonous routine can affect our minds.
So, after this quarantine ends, you might want to go somewhere for a vacation. The explorer inside you might want to find new places, and every place has its hidden gems you don’t find everywhere.
So today, we are going to talk about the top 10 cool and undiscovered places in Sri Lanka, a teardrop-shaped island nation located south of the Indian peninsula.
1. Kopi Kade
While traveling around the country, you may have a thirst for beverages. Or perhaps you may want some caffeine to give you the energy to complete the day. There is a little coffee shop on an ordinary street in Colombo that might give exactly the coffee you want, the best coffee.
You can also try their matcha lattes. Even though Colombo is famous for its different varieties of tea, this little coffee shop is something you must definitely visit when you are in Colombo.
2. Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
Sri Lankan Air Force may be the youngest armed force of the nation, but it has quite some history of its own to share. Located southeast of Colombo in Mount Lavinia, the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum has a great collection of airplanes for you to check out.
There are airplanes and helicopters set up in a park-like area, each telling a history of its own. There are walking paths and a checkered patio so that you can roam around the museum, taking your time looking at all of the aerial vehicles. This is a great place for sightseeing on a casual day. If you love airplanes, then this is a place you should definitely visit.
3. Helga’s Folly
This is one of the most underrated places in all of Sri Lanka. What can be considered as one of the most mind-blowing hotels in the world, Helga’s Folly isn’t something you will notice unless you want to. Founded by the only eccentric lady in Sri Lanka, Helga Blow, this hotel is quirky and shows something new and different than everything you have seen while traveling throughout the country.
The 40-room hotel has one of the most extraordinary collections of murals and pictures. The entrance is jungle-themed, and you can see real monkeys and wild pigs in the forest behind the hotel. All of these were designed by Helga herself, a marvelous person who filled up the hotel with her imagination.
Famous personalities like Vivian Leigh, Zandra Rhodes, William Holden have stayed there as guests over the years. In fact, British rock band Stereophonics has even written a song about her, ‘Madame Helga’ in her honor.
To see something new and unique, you must definitely visit this place when you visit Sri Lanka. There are several popular travel vloggers who have visited this place and have given a detailed review about the place. You may check them out.
4. Delft Island
A hidden paradise island located near the Sri Lankan mainland is a place the tourists rarely visit. The primary reason may be the lack of transport, but we highly recommend you to visit these places. The amazing experience you will have will be worth all your time and effort.
As you stroll around the island, you will get to see historical structures from the Portuguese, Dutch, and British Colonial periods. Some of them even date back to the Chola Dynasty. It is a quiet place that won’t be crowded with tourists, and you can enjoy the seaside and do some sightseeing without any hassles. The only downside of visiting that place is that there are no restaurants.
So you cannot get any food there despite the island being moderately populated. So, you will need to pack your own ration if you want to stay there for a while. You will need to take some luggage with you if you want to stay there for some time. Before planning on staying on this island when you visit Sri Lanka, you might want to check out some of the best travel bags we recommend.
5. Mackwoods Tea Sign
Sri Lanka has its own share of high-quality tea. And Mackwoods Tea has been one of the oldest companies to farm and provide tea. This company is so popular that Sri Lankan homes and tea shops use tea produced by this company.
In Queen Elizabeth Drive, a Sri Lankan Institution called The Tea Breeze, Mackwoods acts as a tea shop and a museum. A great attraction of this place is that you can see a sign written ‘MACKWOODS’ on a mountain that looks like the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.
6. Wewurukannala Vihara
We highly recommend you visit this pilgrim. Even though it is not much popular, Wewurukanalla Vihara has one of the unique Buddhist arts that you can find in Sri Lanka. The primary attraction of this place is its 160 feet high statue of a seated Buddha. It is the largest statue in all of Sri Lanka, and its origin can be traced back to the reign of King Rajadhi.
The temple well depicts the hell that you will go to after death if you do not follow the path of enlightenment. There are several life-sized models of demons and sinners. There are also several demonstrations of the punishments in hell. The walls have the path towards enlightenment drawn on them and can show you the correct path to follow in life in the form of comic strips. There are also stories about kings like Maha Pratap. This is a holy site that you should definitely go to if you visit Sri Lanka.
7. Richmond Castle
A royal castle with quite some historical significance. Built between 1900 to 1910, you can experience a beautiful blend of eastern and western culture in this area. This castle was owned by Padikara Mudali Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur of Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena.
8. Brief Garden
If you are a fan of botany, then you should definitely check out Brief Garden. Created by Bevis Bawa, this garden has a great collection of native trees and flowering plants. This is a great addition to the beauty of Lunuganga Estate, located inland from Bentota town. You can visit this place to get a piece of good knowledge about the flora found in Sri Lanka.
9. Lakegala Peak
If you love hiking and rock climbing, you will love this place. This rocky mountain is 1370m tall and is considered one of the hardest peaks to reach. Even if you do not want to climb, you can experience the mesmerizing scenery and rocky pointy top of Lakegala Peak.
10. Dutch Reformed Church
This is one of the best tourist attractions out there. It is located on the premises of Galle fort. Its origin can be traced back to the 18th century. There are beautiful tombs dating back to the 17th century. The gravestone markings on the floor are something worth watching.
Thus, we complete our list of the top 10 cool and undiscovered places in Sri Lanka. Make sure to check out these places, it will be worth the effort, and your trip will be memorable. Make sure that you take all the necessary items like an umbrella, waterproof case for your electronic devices, and portable water filters so that you can enjoy your journey without any complications.
About Post Author
