5 Reasons You Must Include Sri Lanka`s Western Region In Your Travel Itinerary

Although Sri Lanka is a small islandic country, it is a nation that offers different experiences in different regions. Irrespective of its compact size, Sri Lanka is known as the ‘pearl of Indian Ocean’. Sri Lanka`s west coast is the island`s front door that will take you to a long and beautiful journey that will take you through gorgeous beaches, verdant tea plantations, incredible ancient ruins, hiking trails and spirituality.

The west coast of Sri Lanka is its most developed and populous. It is the busiest, brashest and the most urbanized region of the country. So while you are busy in making a self-curated itinerary for your holidays after applying for Sri Lanka eta visa, we unroll few more spectacular places for you to explore. Check them below:

1.       Negombo- A modest beach town which is located just 10 km from Bandaranaike International Airport is an interesting old quarter that is affordable and suits all pockets. With various decent hotels and restaurants, it’s a pocket friendly location that is often visited by the visitors.

2.       Brief Garden- Those who love surrounded by the nature, Brief Garden is a verdant garden straight out of ‘the Jungle Book’. The garden is located 10 kilometers inland from the Bentota and is an idyllic place to get lost. The house that once belonged to Bevis Bawa, the brother of renowned architect of Geoffrey Bawa, showcases an amazing range of artwork.

3.       Galapata Raja Temple- Located on the south bank of the Bentota Ganga, the temple is situated about 3 Km inland from the town. This incredibly built 12^th-century temple is adorned with lovely murals that are intricately engraved. The temple is also a home to 2500-year-old dagoba which is said to hold a tooth relic that belongs to Lord Buddha`s main disciple, Kasyapa.  If you are on a spiritual journey, you must apply for Sri Lanka ETA visa so that you can visit here.

4.       Wilpattu National Park- Sprawled across the 1317sq. km, Wilpattu is Sri Lanka`s largest national park. Concealed behind the dry and dense woodland, you can spot a rich variety of wildlife that includes leopards, spotted deer, sloth bears, wild pigs and crocodiles. Bird watchers will get plenty of opportunities as the national park has verdant dry forests, water and even coastal birds.

5.        Muthurajawela Marsh- The Muthurajawela Marsh that is interpreted as ‘Supreme Field of Pearls’, is a little known gem of a wetland, located at the southern end of the Negombo`s lagoon. The area was earlier a rice-growing basin before the Portuguese constructed a canal that flooded the fields with water. A boat ride offers sightings of some more than 70 species of birds that includes cormorants, purple herons and kingfishers.

 The western region of Sri Lanka is equally impressive and definitely worth a visit. So include the region in your travel itinerary, if you have applied for Sri Lanka ETA visa. For those who haven’t applied for visa, can simply visit our website sri-lankaeta.com!