Category: Trekking

Sinharaja Rainforest

Century-old trees spread their bony arms overhead while the undergrowth is cushiony soft. It’s not surprising that the Sinharaja Rainforest located in South-western Sri Lanka was declared a World Heritage Site in 1989.

When & how to get to the forest

The first step in planning a trip to Sinharaja is selecting which time of the year to visit the forest reserve. The Sinharaja Forest experiences two monsoon rain seasons a year which take place between the months of November to January and then again from May to July. Visiting the park in the remaining months is, therefore, a good idea.

File:20160128 Sri Lanka 4132 Sinharaja Forest Preserve sRGB (25674474901).jpg
Dan Lundberg, 20160128 Sri Lanka 4132 Sinharaja Forest Preserve sRGB (25674474901), CC BY-SA 2.0

Border

The mesmeric nature of this popular rainforest in Sri Lanka will be the perfect way to begin your discovery of the paradise isle. Koskulana Ganga, Gin Ganga and Kudawa Ganga beautifully border the rainforest. When the rains thrash steadily, these rivers swell delightfully.

File:Sinharaja Forest waterfall4.JPG
Saqib Qayyum, Sinharaja Forest waterfall4, CC BY-SA 3.0

Highlights

There will also be those who slither away or remain camouflaged while you pass by. Keep your eyes peeled if you wish to spot the hump-nosed lizard or the green pit viper, they can be friendly too! When exploring the Sinharaja Rainforest it would become evident as to why Sri Lanka is called a paradise isle.

File:Flickr - Rainbirder - Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) male.jpg
Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, Flickr – Rainbirder – Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) male, CC BY-SA 2.0

Accommodation

There are cabins and dormitories managed by the Forest Department at the Kudawa entrance and some private eco-lodges around the forest reserve are half an hour to ten minutes away from the Kudawa entrance. Saman Villas long known as a tranquil beach retreat is a good base from which to explore the surrounding area and offers easy access to many things to do in Bentota. The Kudawa entrance to the Sinharaja nature reserve can be accessed along the Southern Expressway from Bentota.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Adam’s Peak Trekking

Shadow of the Peak
                                                    Shadow of the Adam’s Peak

The mysterious mountain known as Adam’s Peak is a well-known religious and sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. Innumerable devotees, as well as sightseers, undertake the exhausting but greatly rewarding trek up the mountain, which is sure to be a memorable experience. For convenient transportation, during your holidays in Sri Lanka a well-reputed specialist that you could consider would be Aitken Spence Travels.

Adam’s Peak is held in esteem by devotees of various religions, each claiming the famous footprint at the summit of the mountain to be a feature of their own. However, the vast majority of the pilgrims who make the climb up the mountain are members of the local Buddhist community.

sri pada, adams peak
                                                                 Climbing Adam’s Peak

Traditionally the climb up the mountain is undertaken at night, which will permit you to reach the summit before the break of dawn. If you are at the peak when dawn breaks you will have a good chance to enjoy the spectacular views without obstructing clouds, as well as an opportunity to glimpse the mountain’s mysterious shadow. Most climbers ascend Adam’s Peak during the pilgrimage season when you will be able to enjoy the experience the most.

The easiest and most popular route up the mountain is the ascent from the town of Dalhousie, which is the route taken by most climbers. An alternative would be the route from the town of Ratnapura, which is considerably longer.

The actual ascent of the mountain is likely to an exhausting experience, but will undoubtedly be a memory to treasure. You will be able to enjoy tea and refreshments at the numerous teashops found along the route. Climbers will find that the route begins with a gentle elevation, increasing to steep steps further up the mountain. On the other hand, you will find that the descent is comparatively quicker but no less arduous because by now your leg muscles are likely to be exhausted. However, this experience is unique and is sure to be a highlight of your travels in Sri Lanka.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+