The most beautiful natural sites to discover Highlands

Adam's Peak is one of the most important mountains in Sri Lanka, both geographically and religiously. Its peak is 2,243 meters high. Revered by the first inhabitants of Sri Lanka, the Veddas, who called it Samanala Kanda (Saman, one of the four guardian deities of the island), its summit has what is believed to be a footprint carved into the stone. Buddhists see it as a symbol of the third (and last) passage of Buddha in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese dedicated it in the 16th century to Saint Thomas, the evangelizer of India. The Hindus see in it the trace of the passage of Vishnu or Shiva. Finally, the Muslims have decreed that it is the imprint of Adam, who, driven out of the Garden of Eden, was sent to this peak and condemned to remain on one foot for a thousand years. The mark in the stone attracts crowds of pilgrims every year from the full moon in December to the full moon in May (the busiest period is January-February). Two main ways (north and south) allow to reach the summit where a temple is located. The northern route is the easiest and allows to reach the destination in 3 hours of walk from Nallathianniya.

Several stations, spaced 1.5 to 2 kilometers apart, allow pilgrims to rest on the 7 kilometers and 5,831 steps that separate them from the summit from Nallathianniya. Their names are Gangula Thanna, Rathu Ambalama and Idikatu Pahana. They are well supplied with shops.

Many temples(Ambalama) are also scattered along the way which becomes more and more difficult as the climb progresses.

The climb really begins once you pass the beautiful Makara Thorana stone gate, about 1.5 kilometers from the bridge over the river at the exit of Nallathianniya. However, the seven kilometers of the route are counted from Nallathianniya (Police Station) to the top.

SamaChatiya, the World Peace Pagoda, which is located a little before Gangula Thanna, the first rest station, was built in 1976 by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fuhi Thero (1885-1985).

A devotee of non-violence, he organized large marches from 1931 onwards and was responsible for the construction of about 80 Peace Pagodas around the world.

Sri Pada Maluwa. This small whitewashed temple at the top of Sri Pada is surrounded by a walkway that can accommodate a maximum of half a dozen people. Inside the sanctuary, which is relatively simple, is the sacred footprint. On a clear day, the shadow of the mountain can be discerned, straight and perfectly vertical, amidst the mist. This unexplainable natural phenomenon is said to be unique in the world.

According to the ancient Sinhalese, the distance between Ceylon and Paradise was only 40 miles and one could hear from the top of the mountain the sound of the fountains of Paradise. Sri Pada is also called "Butterfly Mountain" because in March of each year, millions of butterflies fly to its summit to die. The ascent is usually done at night to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise. It is necessary to bring adequate clothing, because the nights can be fresh. A headlamp can also be useful. Once the sun rises, the sky becomes hazy and the panorama disappears little by little.

Kandy Lake is known as Kiri Muhuda, or "the Sea of Milk". It was created at the foot of the Temple of the Tooth in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Kandy, in an area previously occupied by rice fields. Today it is part of the last vestiges of the Sri Lankan Kingdom. It is an artificial lake of 1.8 km long and 300 m wide. Initially owned by the King, it was later used by the British as a recreational base. On its northern bank and near the temple, one can see the old royal baths, transformed during the English colonization into a library and, in the center, a small island. This lake is surrounded by a wall, the construction of which has not been completed. In 1815, the King was arrested and imprisoned by the British and never finished his project. The walakulu wall (wall of theclouds) is therefore still in place.

Today, the lake is a pleasant place for everyone to come and relax and take a walk during the day or evening. The shaded path around the lake offers a beautiful view of the hills and the city. It is particularly popular with walkers and joggers. Boat trips are possible as well as shuttle transfers from one shore to the other. The place is secure because it is guarded by guards. The only drawback is that during the day, you may be solicited by a few assiduous sellers, looking for tourists.

These magnificent waterfalls, 109 m high, are partially visible from the road. They are the result of the convergence of many streams coming from Puna Oya Reservoir. They are actually made up of three falls: Ramboda Oya Ella (the highest), Ramboda Oya Meda Ella (in which you can swim), and Pahala Ramboda Oya Ella. To get there, you have to go through the Ramboda Falls Hotel and take the lift to the garden. A path leads down to an observation platform at the base of the waterfalls.

Created in 1873 during the British period, Gregory Lake covers an area of 91 hectares southeast of the city center. In 1913, the waters of the lake were directed into a tunnel that flows to a hydroelectric plant in Blackpool, which to this day continues to provide electricity to the city. The lake is probably the major attraction of Nuwara Eliya. You can fish, pedal boat, boat, walk or cycle around it. Since 2012, seaplanes land there regularly, in season, from Colombo (a 30-minute flight).

Beautiful waterfall 48 metres high on the western slope of Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve.

Located 2 km south of Ella, this cave is said to have been used by King Ravana to hide Princess Sita, the wife of Rama. The climb is not easy, you have to climb about 650 uneven steps, some of them quite high, to reach this small cave. The site is not exceptional in itself, it was even seriously damaged by the archaeological service of Sri Lanka which dug excavations there. A human skull dating back to 20,000 BC was found there. The site will however delight fans of the Ramayana, the famous Hindu epic.

Bible Rock, also called Bathalegala, owes its name to its rectangular shape, reminiscent of a bible. This huge rock, 798 m high, has a certain resemblance with Sigiriya. A path leads to the top, count about 30 minutes (easy ascent) to enjoy the splendid panorama. A small temple is located in the southern part of the hill. It is perfectly visible from Kadugannawa Pass on the A1 road between Colombo and Kandy. From Kandy, turn off at the village of Mawanella, then follow the road for 10 km.

It is a nature reserve located on the north-eastern heights of the city. The entrance is through its western flank, a 15-minute walk from the Temple of the Tooth. The forest was declared a nature reserve in 1856 before becoming a sanctuary in 1938. Well known to the local people, it is a good place to observe its flora and fauna, especially birds. More than 460 varieties of plants have been recorded, including 21 endemic ones. The canopy is home to nearly 80 different species of birds. Two circuits are available: one of 3 km and another of 5 km.

This waterfall that flows through the plantations St. Clair is of a breathtaking beauty of the road, 500 metres away. Named the Niagara in Sri Lanka, these falls are among the largest in the country. 80 metres high, they are 50 metres wide and are divided into two falls. The first name is «Maha Ella» (the big fall) and the second «Kuda Ella» (the small fall).

Perfectly visible from the perspective of Mlesna Tea Castle St. Clair, Devon Falls has 97 metres of high Falls in Sri Lanka. They hold their name from a certain Devon, an Englishman who was one of the forerunners of the introduction of coffee on the island.

At a height of about 63 meters, the magnificent Dunhinda Falls take their name from the fine mist formed by the water sprayed at the foot of the waterfall (in Sinhalese, dun means mist or smoke). They come from the Badulu Oya River which flows through Badulla. The viewing platform at the foot of the falls can be reached by a trail of about one and a half kilometres from the main road (Mahiyangana Road, B36). The trail offers a pleasant walk, and allows to observe monkeys, birds, butterflies, deer...

From Rakwana, head towards Dalween Estate Superintendent's Bungalow. Situated in the heart of a tea plantation, these falls are over 30 metres high and give a picturesque look to the landscape. The top of the falls has been barricaded and is inaccessible since a mini hydroelectric plant with a small reservoir was installed there, splitting the flow of the falls into two separate streams. The falls are located about 2.5km northeast of Rakwana, off the main road. A 4WD vehicle is recommended to get there.

During the dry season, this waterfall, 100 m high, can reduce itself to a simple water net, or even disappear completely.

These falls are the biggest in Sri Lanka with their 263 meters height! They have their source in the Kuda Oya River. Located in the middle of a pine forest, they are shaped like a horse's tail and descend steeply down a vertical rock face. From April to December you can take a short hike along the trail to a viewpoint of the falls. The falls are more impressive after the rainy season, from March to May. At the foot of the falls, there are natural pools for swimming.