Visit the Blackcomb Peak

Have you ever thought of going snowboarding or skiing? Or have you already tried it out and can’t get enough of it? Either way, the best place to snowboard or ski is none other than Whistler in Canada. Here’s what to expect once you are here.

Whistler Blackcomb

This little snow destination is located in between 2 enormous mountains, one being Whistler and the other being Blackcomb. Of this area between the mountains, 8171 acres is safe skiable topography.

Creekside Village

This is the first place you should be visiting if you are staying at a Whistler hotel. Take the Creekside Gondola to the top of Whistler Mountain where you can begin your snowboarding or ski session towards Blackcomb.

Whistler Village

Skiing in whistler village|Image by Marc van der Chijs via Flickr

If you are looking for a more wholesome experience, this little village is perfect. When it comes to your skiing needs, you can hop on one of the two gondolas at the edge of Blackcomb and go right up to Whistler for a session.

Upper Village

Not far from Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Whistler is Upper Village where the new gondola to Rendezvous Lodge is available. From here you will be able to access a number of ski spots including the 7th Heave Express lift.

Why You Should Visit Kandy

Once the royal seat of the last kingdom of Sri Lanka, Kandy is a city perched on a plateau at the top of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. There are many reasons as to why you should be visiting Kandy. Here are our top 4.

It’s Perfect for Nature Lovers
The small city is surrounded by emerald mountains and plenty of forest land, estates and the famed Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. Everywhere you look, even out of the balcony of the best hotel in Kandy there is plenty of nature to adore.

It’s Home to Cultural Treasures
Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important Buddhist landmark site as the resting place of the tooth relic of Buddha which is housed in the Temple of the Tooth at the royal palace in the city centre. It’s a quick drive from mountainside hotels like Hotel Topaz.

It’s a Classic Movie Location
Kandy was famously the location for movies such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Cheng Gong, The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo and Thai Flower among others.

It’s Where You Can Find a Good Cuppa
You can also find plenty of tea estates with cafés that will serve you the most delicious cup of steaming hot Ceylon Black tea.

 

The Enchanting Sinharaja Rainforest in Sri Lanka

Featuring a rich biodiversity, the Sinharaja Rainforest is a true natural treasure home to a wealth of endemic flora and fauna. Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve the forest offers much to discover.

Sinharaja Rainforest
Sinharaja Rainforest | Image Credit : Dan Lundberg, 20160128 Sri Lanka 4087 Sinharaja Forest Reserve sRGB (25674506291), CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting There

Due to its vast size, Sinharaja can be reached from different directions; the Veddagala – Kudawa route passing Ratnapura en route to Kudawa is generally the most widely used. Another option is the Morningside Route also from Ratnapura or via Deniyaya. For convenience, it always helps to stay at a Sinharaja eco lodge in Sri Lanka, ideally by the fringes of the reserve.

Birdlife

The Sinharaja Rainforest is home to around 147 bird species, including 21endemic species; these include the Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Brown-capped Babbler and the Sri Lankan Junglefowl which are amongst the species you may see on birdwatching excursions offered by eco-friendly properties such as The Rainforest Ecolodge. Not to be missed is the chance to witness the ‘Mixed Species Feeding Bird Flocks’ featuring various bird species.

Other Wildlife

Eight endemic species of mammals have been recorded here including the torque macaque and the giant squirrel. Sinharaja also has a high number of butterfly species as well as amphibians and reptiles such as the Green Pit Viper.

Tree and Plant Life

Made up of tropical wet evergreen forest or tropical lowland rainforest, Sinharaja is a rich storehouse for plant and tree species; in fact, more than 60% of trees found here are endemic. Amongst the flora are many medicinal plants too, used in traditional medicine.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+