Four places to visit in Sri Lanka with kids
We turned the corner and braked sharply. There, in the middle of the road, happily munching on a tree, was the elephant – who gave us a single look to show who was boss before striding back into the undergrowth.
It was just one memorable moment of many during my stay in Sri Lanka, along with watching elephants bathe in the river, marvelling at ancient frescos as I climbed to a palace atop a rock, watching tea being picked in the country’s colonial heart, discovering temples and Buddhas in the historic cities and revelling in long glorious sandy beaches.
Visiting around a year after the Boxing Day tsunami, the country was still recovering: now with the whole island open to tourists and improved infrastructure, I can’t wait to go back with my daughter – because there’s so much in Sri Lanka with kids too.
Sigiriya and the ancient cities
One of the most extraordinary historic sights in a country that’s full of them, even the approach to Sigiriya is impressive. Walking through the gardens, the huge rock looms in front of and above you.
Once a palace stood here, on the lion’s rock. Today only a monumental paw or two remains, along with remnants of a civilisation which had mastered the complex hydraulics of pumping water so high at the time when the UK was sunk in the Dark Ages. And who decorated the rock face approach with beautiful frescoes.
It’s close enough to explore former capital Polonnaruwa and its predecessor Anuradhapura, as well as the caves of Dambulla with their Buddha statues and monkeys.
Mirissa and the south coast
What can top a view out across the shimmering blue waves of the Indian Ocean? The chance of spotting a whale in those waters.
Sri Lanka is home to the world’s largest land and sea mammals, elephant and blue whale, and Mirissa is one of the best places to take tours to see the latter, including options if you’re visiting Sri Lanka with kids.
Nuwara Eliya and the hill country
You could almost believe you had stepped back two centuries at this hilltop location – old colonial buildings stand timelessly elegant, tea pickers still work among the rows of green bushes on historic plantations.
But there’s bustle and vibrant colours once you venture into the town, saris created from glorious fabrics too: old and new together. Plus it’s the ideal base to discover Horton Plains National Park with its leopard and langurs, Adam’s Peak and the 1,050m precipice at World’s End, or to head down to Kandy, home to the famous Temple of the Tooth.
Galle and the south west coast
A Unesco World heritage site, Galle is best known for its old city, Galle Fort, created by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later fortified further by the Dutch.
But that barely hints at the laid-back joy of wandering the streets here, stylish cafes next to restaurants serving seafood or boutiques packed with tempting creations that you’re determined to squeeze into your case.
Mosques stand tall alongside churches, old mansions neighbour museums, and just along the coast, the sweep of the idyllic golden sands at Unawatuna with its swaying palms.
PIN FOR LATER: VISITING SRI LANKA WITH KIDS
Images courtesy of Depositphotos
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