I have been planning to visit Sri Lanka for a while but somehow slipped out of my travel route. But not anymore; this time, I was determined. I had to get from New York to Bangkok and fly to Colombo by Srilankan Airlines, which was pretty cheap. My flight from Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport to Colombo, Bandaranaike International Airport, landed at 11:00 AM and was about 3.5 hours flight. My excitement started when I started planning for this trip; also, reading a lot of blogs and talking to people who had already visited this little Island went into putting together my three days itinerary. We Planned a road trip from Colombo to Adam’s Peak, Sinharaja rain forest, Ratnapura, Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park and Galle.
Visa on Arrival
Soon I arrived in Sri Lanka, and there was a visa-on-arrival counter at Bandaranaike Int’l Airport right before the immigration booths. The visa process was easy; 30 days visa fee for me was US$ 35.00, luckily, there were not too many people waiting at the desk, so it took me less than 5 minutes to complete the process.
Meeting my guide/driver
Since my itinerary was set for 4 days only, I had no other option but to pre-arrange my trips right after meeting my tour guide at the arrival hall. Mr. Koshala very polite and friendly guide/driver (from Genuine Sri Lankans), was waiting for me with a sign; he greeted me, and before heading towards the parking garage, I had to Withdraw some money from the ATM exchange rate was 1US$ = 143 LKR (Sri Lankan Rupee). A nice-looking private car with a working Air conditioner made me happy.
About Sri Lanka
Since the civil war and the 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka has struggled to keep up its tourism industry. As such, it suffered a significant drop in international visitors until recent years, especially since the 2009 peace was declared and the reconstruction of areas devastated by the tsunami.
Sinharaja Rain Forest
Ratnapura Area
On the Road
We were off to Udawalawa, 230 km southwest of Colombo; driving will take about 4.5 hours. Why Udawalawa National Park? I wanted to go on a safari there since it is popular for its many wild Asian Elephants.
We were Cruising nicely on a newly built highway until we had to get off to a narrow winding road going through small towns with no room to speed up; no wonder why it took us almost 5 hours to cover 230 km.
Indian Ocean
Our scenic route passed paddy fields, rubber plantations, and tea estates. Next, we went through Ratnapura, a city in Southwestern Sri Lanka called the ‘City of Gems.’ It lies at the foot of Adam’s Peak and close to Sinharaja Rain Forest (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It started raining a little Mr. Koshala said it was normal when we were that close to the rainforest. There were many Gem mines on both sides of the road, and interesting to see the process of digging the pits and washing the gravel containing the gems.
Saw a few Buddhist temples on our way, but unlike Myanmar or Thai temples, they are not golden but instead wholly white. I did not know that 70 percent of Sri Lankans are Buddhists; that surprised me.
The rain was pretty heavy when we arrived at the hotel. It was about 6:00 pm. I checked in and had relaxing activities for the rest of the day. A cold local beer with some nuts sitting on the front balcony next to a river was relaxing, and I called it a day ahead of the following morning’s activities. That evening it did not take long to pass out with the combined sound of the river, rain, and nocturnal wildlife nearby.
Where to stay in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
Royal Reach Safari Resort, Udawalawe
Located in Udawalawe, 13 miles from Udawalawe National Park, Royal Reach Safari Resort has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center, and a garden. In addition, the property provides a 24-hour front desk, airport transportation, a shared lounge, and free WiFi. Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is the nearest airport, 31 miles from Royal Reach Safari Resort. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with an electric tea pot. In addition, the rooms come with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV, and some rooms at Royal Reach Safari Resort have a city view.
Jungle Paradise, Udawalawe
Located in Udawalawe, 6.5 miles from Udawalawe National Park, Jungle Paradise has accommodations with free bikes, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool, and a garden. In addition, the hotel provides free WiFi and a paid airport shuttle service. At Jungle Paradise, rooms include bed linen and towels. The daily breakfast offers à la carte, continental or Asian options. Guests at the accommodation will be able to enjoy activities in and around Udawalawe, like hiking.
My Opinion and Last Word
Have you been to Udawalawe, Sri Lanka? Any cool tips to share?
loved being in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka, and want to go back again. I hope my story has motivated you to visit Sri Lanka.
Please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you to improve my knowledge.
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