Miscellaneous Adventures | The Adventure Travel Site

Koneswaram Kovil, Trincomalee

The temple of Koneswaram has been renovated over the years and brought to the status it is today. The Hindu temple crawls over the edge of a cliff which is called Swami Rock and is the reason that Trincomalee got its name.

The Temple of a Thousand Pillars

It is estimated that the original Koneswaram temple which was known as the Temple of a Thousand Pillars was constructed circa 400 B.C. The legend has it that it was the mythical King of Lanka, Ravana had it built so his mother could offer her prayers to Shiva as her illness kept her from travelling to Mount Kailash in India. The original temple was also said to feature a thousand pillars each plated in gold, but it was destroyed and pushed into the sea by Portuguese invaders.

Getting There

The ruins of the former temple were found at the bottom of the ocean by divers including stone obelisks and idols which were restored into the new temple. You can see them and the solitary pillar from the original temple. Koneswaram is at the southernmost tip of the crescent that makes up Back Bay. It is only about 20 minutes’ drive from most resorts in Trincomalee.

There’s plenty to see on the way as you must drive through Fort Frederick. The last leg of the journey must be made on foot. You can see remnants of ancient history relative to the temple. If you are staying at Trinco Blu by Cinnamon, leaving the resort around 8 or 9 in the morning would give you ample time to explore before the sun gets too unbearable.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Reasons to visit Sri Lanka for a vacation

Sri Lanka isn’t cited as the best place to visit by numerous different travel companies for no reason! Sri Lanka is your dream holiday destination, catering to every one of your likes. Here are a few reasons as to why you must visit the pearl of the Indian Ocean.

When to visit?

The busiest months are considered from December to March, this is because the sea has calmed down. It tends to get a little crowded and more expensive around this time, but in turn, you’re exposed to the liveliest atmosphere! Make sure your Sri Lanka travel package is planned during a time when you’ll feel most comfortable.

The climate

Sri Lanka is gifted with tropical climates, and the weather never really gets extreme unless it is the monsoon season. The sea maintains a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius all year round, making it ideal for swimming, diving and even snorkelling.

Why you must visit Sri Lanka

Whether you prefer the ocean or the mountains, Sri Lanka has it all! Although Sri Lanka is a fast-developing destination, it isn’t so influenced by western countries. When planning your trip with Silvertree Travel, you’ll have to choose from colourful festivals, ancient artefacts, temples, lush green hills and dense forests make this country one worth visiting!

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Thrilling Wildlife Tours & Safaris in Sri Lanka

From stealthy jungle cats and majestic marvels of the deep to gentle giants on land and feather-filled finery, Sri Lanka certainly offers some unforgettable wildlife tours & safaris!

The King of the Jungle

The Sri Lankan leopard is the island’s undisputed apex predator. Spotting this regal and elusive creature is often the highlight for those on adventure tours in Sri Lanka; the best places for leopard safaris would be the Yala and Wilpattu national parks.

The Rulers of the Sea

Sri Lanka has also become a prime destination for whale watching. Wildlife tour specialists the likes of Nature Odyssey offer safaris to Trincomalee and Mirissa where you can spot whales including the largest creature to have lived on our planet; the mighty blue whale! You also have the chance to spot sperm and killer whales along with bottlenose and spinner dolphins.

The Iconic Gentle Giants

Seeing the Sri Lankan elephant in its natural habitat is a true joy. A visit to the Minneriya National Park between June and September gives you a chance to witness “The Gathering” of elephants that can sometimes number up to 300! The Udawalawe and Wasgamuwa national parks are also prime locations for elephant safaris.

The Guardians of the Sky

Sri Lanka has over 400 recorded bird species including endemic and migratory birds some of which make their journey here from Siberia! Key sites for bird watching include the Kumana and Bundala national parks, the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Exploring the Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka

Looking to take a ride on Sri Lanka’s wild side? Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve anything dangerous, but rather a thrilling safari at the Wilpattu National Park home to some exotic wildlife!

Image credit-Thimindu Goonatillake from Sri Lanka, Gallus lafayetii -Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka-8, CC BY-SA 2.0

Making the Journey

Located about 30 km from Puttalam, Wilpattu National Park can be found on the island’s northwest coast. While you can plan a visit here by yourself, another option would be to enlist the services of tour specialists the likes of Silvertree Travel which offer visits to Wilpattu as part of their packages.

The Distinctive “Willus”

One of the key features of the park is its natural lakes or “willus” made up of rainwater. These lakes are a part of Wilpattu’s delicate ecosystem and attract a range of animal and birdlife too.

An Exciting Safari

Going on a safari in Wilpattu National Park will be a definite highlight of adventure tour packages in Sri Lanka since it lets you see such diverse wildlife. Among the highlights are the Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear and Sri Lankan elephant; but that’s not all, you may also see mugger crocodiles, Indian pythons, Sambar deer, purple-faced langurs, water buffaloes and Bengal monitors too.

Birds of a Feather

Birdlife abounds here with species such as the great egret, stork-billed kingfisher, Indian peafowl, Sri Lankan junglefowl and painted stork being spotted at the park. Due to its lakes, Wilpattu also attracts wetland birds including the whistling teal, white ibis and cattle egret. Bird lovers have much to look forward to!

Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media. Google+

Encounters with Elephants in Sri Lanka

The country’s largest land mammal, ‘Elephas maximus maximus’ or the Sri Lankan elephant is an endemic and iconic animal that is worth seeing in its natural habitat. Here are some insights into this majestic creature.

Ideal for Safaris

Featuring one of the world’s highest Asian elephant densities, the island offers plenty of opportunities to see these gentle giants up close. Most herds can be found in the dry zone national parks which are ideal for those looking to embark on an elephant safari in Sri Lanka.

The Gathering

No mention of elephants in Sri Lanka is complete without highlighting The Gathering; taking place at the Minneriya National Park, this wildlife spectacle sees 200 to 300 elephants gather in and around the Minneriya Reservoir! This generally takes place between August to mid-October and can be experienced on safaris organised by Cinnamon Nature Trails and other specialised tour operators.

Other National Parks

Of course, Minneriya is not the only national park for an elephant safari. The Udawalawe, Wasgamuwa, Yala and Kaudulla national parks, as well as the Hurulu Eco Park, also let you see these creatures in the wild.

Some Interesting Facts

• Elephants are strictly herbivorous
• They spend 16 to 18 hours per day eating
• A matriarch leads the herd
• The Sri Lankan elephant is between 7 to 10 feet in height
• From the male elephants in Sri Lanka, only around 5% have tusks
• Elephants have very good memories and can recognise humans or other elephants years or decades later; hence the phrase, “an elephant never forgets!”

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

Putrajaya Challenge Park

One of Asia’s most extensive extreme park facilities, Putrajaya Challenge Park was open to the public in 2009 and is situated in a 30-hectare park in Putrajaya’s Precinct 5, accessible from any of the hotels in Putrajaya. It has three attraction divisions:

Rock Climbing

The indoor rock-climbing complex is situated within a 2,100 sq. ft. gymnasium. It’s trapezoidal climbing walls are up to 20 metres tall. The complex is divided into 6 zones; zone A Expert Bouldering Wall, Zone B Beginners Bouldering Wall, Zone C Expert Lead Wall, Zone D Top Roping Wall, Zone E Speed Climbing Wall, and Zone F Intermediate Lead Wall. There’s also a complex for children.

Skate Park and Thrill Park

The Skate and Thrill park have been designed for skateboards, inline skating, BMX biking, stunt biking and rollerblading. You can hire a bike at the location which has a concrete contoured area, a dirt track and slop style jumping. Entrance is free.

Mountain Bike Trails

The Mountain Bike Trail is 9.1 km and customised to suit the bikes. The trail is considered “very technical and one of the best in Asia” by mountain biking enthusiasts. The trail twists through a former rubber and palm oil plantation. They rent bikes as well as have 6 courses graded from easy to moderate and difficult.

When to Go

The Putrajaya Challenge Park is an 11-minute drive from Dorsett Putrajaya on the Jalan P5. The skating track and the biking trail are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and entrance is free, while the entrance fee for the Rock-Climbing gym is fairly reasonable.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

First Timer’s Guide to Hong Kong

A place filled with urban beauty while harbouring scenic natural beauty at the same time, the description fits none other than Hong Kong! If you are a first-time traveller to Hong Kong, then read through to find out about experiences you cannot miss out on!

Dennis Tang, View of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ferry rides
The famous Star Ferry offers rides on 3 unique ferries. The fun fact is, these ferries have been given 3 wonderful names; Morning Star, Celestial Star and Twinkling Star. What makes these Stare Ferries stand out is it’s their 1920s theme that allows the traveller to experience a ride as if it were back in time.

Tsim Sha Tsui
An awesome location to visit on your travels to Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade is unquestionably one that can’t be missed! Sone of the main attractions in the area are; Clock Tower, Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong Space Museum. Places to stay include hotels like The Murray Hong Kong with excellent facilities available.

Lamma Island
This small island is just13sqkm of land is covered in rich greenery and is a popular escape with tourists and locals alike. The place is perfect to wind down away from the hubbub of the city. Even the population is just about 5000 people which makes it less crowded.

Shopping in Hong Kong
As one of the Asian countries that vaunt a rich culture, shopping in Hong Kong is more than just an agreement among the buyer and seller. Shopping here is one of the most loved leisure time activities by the locals. Therefore, you may find malls with your favourite brands and great deals. Some of the best hotels in Hong Kong offer special packages for shopaholics too.

Sri Lanka for Wildlife lovers

Sri Lanka is a country with a rich bio-diversity and many landscapes. Here is a list of the best national parks, spread across the island, giving you a taste of the different environments.

Yala National Park

Yala National Park is located 260km from Colombo. It will approximately take you 3 hours to reach Yala. There are three sanctuaries and five smaller national parks. Yala is very popular among tourists as well as local nature lovers. The location of the park, climate and the leopard population are some of the key factors that attract many travellers to the park.

Udawalawe

Udawalawe National Park is 5 hours away from Colombo. The park is in the South East part of Sri Lanka, belonging to the Uva Province. You can arrange a camping trip to Udawalawe and spend the night. Bonfires and the quiet forest will be a highlight of your vacation. A Sinharaja eco lodge in Sri Lanka the likes of Rainforest EcoLodge would be a good accommodation choice.

Wilpattu

This is one of the more scenic wildlife parks on the island. The park is located 5 hours away from Colombo and is closer to the town of Anuradhapura. October is the best month to visit Wilpattu.

Kumana

Kumana is different from the rest of the national parks. It is popular for being the home for thousands of bird species. There are many endangered species and migrant birds in the park. The wading bird and waterfowls are some of the most popular immigrant birds here. Don’t visit the park during May because that’s when the birds settle into their nests.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Elephants in Sri Lanka

The most loved mammal in Sri Lanka is the elephant, with an elephant population of around 2500 to 3000. There are several places around the country to see elephants, listed below are a few of these sanctuaries.

Yala

Located in the south-eastern corner of the island, Yala is found 309 kilometres south of Colombo. The northern part of Yala borders the Lahugala Elephant sanctuary.

Minneriya

Located 182 kilometres from Colombo, Minneriya National Park is situated in the north central plains. This is the largest known meeting place of Asian elephants in the world. Most Sri Lanka wildlife tours, the likes of Nature Odyssey, include Minneriya national park because it’s a great opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts to spot elephants in their homes.

Wasgamuwa

225 kilometres from Colombo is where you’ll find the Wasgamuwa National Park, which can be conveniently reached from several tourist attractions. Spanning over 36,900 hectares, the best time to witness the large herds of elephants is during the months of November to May.

Udawalawe

The sixth largest animal sanctuary, Udawalawe National Park is located 180 kilometres from Colombo. You can spot elephants here throughout the year as they often roam in herds of up to 100.

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

Nam Tok Phlio National Park

If you are planning on heading to the Tok Phlio National Park in Thailand, take a few minutes to read this guide first.

How to get there

From Chanthaburi city it’s about 15km, relies upon which course you remove from the city to the interstate; cycling from Tha Mai you will arrive on the edges of C city maintaining a strategic distance from the traffic, and about 27km, downplaying kms spent on Sukhumvit #3 by utilizing 3147, 3146, over the C River and 3348 which takes you to under 2km from the way to the recreation centre – can’t miss that one it has a colossal sign over the street where it meets #3.

Entrances

There are a few doorways to this national park which spreads 135 sq km, the principal passageway is on expressway Sukhumvit #3 that runs south past Chanthaburi to Trat. Many a Chanthaburi restaurant and resort the likes of Chatrium Golf Resort Soidao can be found nearby.

Walking In

Travelling south the principal sign you’re nearing the recreation centre (on #3) is an enormous Chinese sanctuary, and somewhat further on the side road to one side; 2km from here there’s a vehicle leave territory, at that point a few shops and the recreation centre doors. In case you’re cycling I’ve discovered the recreation centre security watchmen are very glad to take care of the bicycle, under spread by the watchman post.

Entrance tickets

Costs are standard for Thailand’s National Parks, 200b for outsiders and 40b for Thais and each time you have to show a Thai drivers permit to be permitted in at a less expensive rate.

Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world. Google+