Despite its small size Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world. Nearly 16% of the animals and 23% of plants that are found in this small island are endemic to country.

Of the ninety-one species of mammals found in Sri Lanka Asian elephants, sloth bear, leopards, sambar and wild buffaloes engages the majority of the attention of wildlife enthusiast. Yet the rarest mammals of Sri Lanka are the red slender Loris, Toque Macaque, and Purple-faced Langur, who according to IUCN clarifications are endangered due to habitat loss.

Meanwhile the ocean around Sri Lanka is home to large families of cetaceans including the mighty blue whales, sperm whales and lively dolphins. Altogether 26 species of cetaceans rule the waters surrounding the country, making it one of the best locations for whale and dolphin watching.

Sri Lanka has one of the richest diversity of amphibians in the world, containing over 106 species of amphibians of over 90 of which are endemic. The country has long claimed to have the highest amphibian species density in the world with a85% of endemicity ratio in Amphibians, especially in the Sinharaja rainforest.

Despite the mighty elephants and rare amphibians found in the country birds are the glory of the Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Boasting nearly 433 bird species of which 233 are resident Sri Lanka holds 20 endemic species while another 80 species have developed distinct Sri Lankan races, compared to their cousins in Indian mainland.

This diversity of Lanka’s wildlife is celebrated and conserved at many wildlife sanctuaries found around the country. With a history of protection and compassion extended to all the living beings, Sri Lanka’s first animal sanctuary had been recorded as far as third century BC with the arrival of Arhant Mahinda in the country and the introduction of Buddhism.

Today there are five large national parks in the country including the Yala National Park, Kumana, Willpattu, Galoya and Udawalawa wildlife sanctuary. Among the smaller wildlife sanctuaries are the Maduru Oya, Bundala, Horton Plains and Wasgamuwa National Parks.

The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in the central highlands of the countrycomprises a fine display of local and foreign flora of Sri Lanka including the rarest of palm and orchid varieties.

The Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala and AthAthuruSevana in Udawalawaprovide a refuge to many abandoned and injured elephants of various ages and sizes, making them one of the largest tamed elephant herds in the world.

A taste of the exotic

Poised above the equator, south-east of the subcontinent, Sri Lanka is often described as ‘India lite’. And it offers the perfect introduction to this part of the world. There’s enough of a culture difference to make you feel like you’re somewhere properly exotic, and yet everything is so easy. The food is fantastic, English is widely spoken, and the island’s bijoux size means you can fit a lot into a small amount of time.

Palm-lined beaches

The main tourist zone runs along the south-west coast of the island, from Negombo to Galle. Here, football pitch-sized swathes of sand are washed by the Indian Ocean and pinned down by skyscraper palms. In parts, rivers and lagoons run in to the sea, providing the ideal conditions for watersports like kayaking and paddle boarding.

Temples and tea

Elsewhere, more than 2,000 years of history have left their mark on Sri Lanka. An island that’s smaller than Scotland, it packs an astonishing amount into its borders. One minute you can be sipping a cup of traditional brew at a tea plantation, the next wandering around a vast ancient city or intricate temple.

The magnificent beaches of Pasikuda and Kalkuda flank Batticaloa as two beautiful consorts protecting a dowager queen. Batticaloa is situated in the east coast of Sri Lanka with a great lagoon and a beach. On moonlit nights a melodious sound emanated from the picturesque lagoon is attributed to its singing fish.Fascinating facets of culture include the small community of descendents of Portuguese soldiers who still cling on to a fast vanishing dialect of Creole Portuguese that is said to be similar to Medieval Portuguese. The curved coves of the beach of Pasikuda resembles the shiny edge of a serrated sickle.

The white sand is composed of granules so fine, it gives you the sensation of walking on a warm wooly surface.The longer, darker hued Kalkuda Bay is one of those whimsical picture perfect scenes with sailing boats, coconut palms and azure water that tells you “come wade in” with a naughty wink.Pasikuda, Kalkuda and Baticaloa offer safe swimming and snorkeling with clean beaches. The small number of visitors makes keeping them clean a given, which you will find out when you travel to Sri Lanka.The Dutch made their first footstep in Sri Lanka here in 1602. The Dutch fort built in 1665 near the Batticoloa Lagoon houses government offices at present. The 6m thick walls of the fort now encloses the government offices still referred to as the “Kachcheri” a Dutch word that has been corrupted in pronunciation denoting an office of some sort. Excavations on the site of the Dutch fort have found evidence of a Buddhist Stupa and Shatra traced to 1st century BC.

The ancient edifices of St Joseph’s Convent, St Michael’s College compete for attention with the Methodist Church built in 1838.The Hindu temple of Anipandi Sitivigniswara Alayar with its ornate tower entrance is the most impressive of the Hindu shrines.The descendants of the Portuguese and other foreign mercenaries who speak Creole Portuguese are today carpenters, barbers and fisherman assimilated. They have intermarried yet have preserved such customs as celebrating Christmas and dancing the Kafringa and carry names such as De Lima, Ragel, Barthelot, Andrado and Sela. Kafringa is a type of music that is cherished by the Portuguese descendants of Batticaloa quite popular with many in Sri Lanka with its strange combination of la bamba and calypso. You will hear it often at dinner time at some of the Sri Lanka beach hotels. The bands in the luxury hotels of Sri Lanka will play Kafringa if requested. Baticaloa is definitely worth a visit during your Sri Lanka tour.

Anuradhapura is one of the island’s most famous ancient cities, firmly in place in any tours in Sri Lanka.The ancient ruins predating the Christian era puts Anuradhapura in the pantheon of human history along with Athens, Alexandria and Patalipurhra. It depicts the trajectory of the Sinhalese civilization from the time it was founded in 4th century BC.The Mahavamsa, the historical chronicle affirms that the city was founded in 380 BC. The capital city of Sinhala Kings of Sri Lanka suffered, survived, was razed to the ground and was rebuilt as most other cities whose prosperity and the envy of rulers in its proximity was a recipe for recurring disasters and innovative engineering in reconstruction.The past grandeur is narrated by a fascinating collection of ancient ruins some of which have been painstakingly restored. The remote past of a majestic capital and a monastic city of benevolent kings, despotic monarchs, retreating rulers and heroic conquerors reach out to you from Sri Lanka history.The Dagoba – Thuparamaya was built by King Devanam Piya Tissa in 3rd century BC to enshrine the clavicle of the Buddha, considered a sacred relic that was gifted to the King by the Mauryan Missionary Emperor Asoka. The city was conquered and sacked by Pandyan kings in the 9th century. The destruction in AD 993 by an invading Indian King brought an end to the city as the capital of Sri Lanka. Close to Anuradhapura is Mihintale, the oldest and the first wildlife sanctuary of all mankind. The story goes that King Devanam Piyatissa who was a deer hunt when he found Arahant Mahinda and by royal edict declared the entire area as a protected reserve a tradition that continues to this day. Other than Mihintale, there are more than 14 protected wild life parks you can visit on your Sri Lanka trip.

Those of the Islamic faith believe it to be the footprint of Adam, the first man, who stood there on one leg for a year, in repentance after being banished from the Garden of Eden. To Hindus it is the footprint of the Lord Shiva, and they call it "Shivanadi Paadam". Eastern Christians believe the depression to have been caused by the knee of St. Thomas, the Apostle of Christ who came to preach in India and the East, as he knelt down in repentance for his doubting the divinity of Christ. Nowhere in the world do the four major faiths mingle in this manner, and it is from the springs at Adam's Peak or "Sri Paada" (the sacred footprint) as referred to by Buddhists, that the four main rivers of the country begin their flow to the sea, meandering through mountain and valley. Not without reason has Sri Lanka also been referred to by travel writers of the past as "this other Eden".

This beautiful island country is the land of astonishing diversity highly acclaimed as one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Asia. Being so small in size, it is truly blessed by many fascinating attractions that no other island in this world offers to its visitors. It is endowed with charming natural beauty, sun kissed beaches, rich culture and heritage, wildlife parks, museums, art galleries, colorful festivals, world famous gems, etc. More of all the world class hospitality, amiable climate, mouth watering cuisines and easy accessibility have truly made Sri Lanka a great tourists destination and tourist's paradise.

Deep-Sea Fishing As the waves plummet the sides of the boat and the sea birds call above your head, the ocean’s scent and the thrill of the chase is exhilarating. Shark, Marlin, Tuna, the big names in deep-water game fishing roam Sri Lanka’s deep seas. Closer to shore the calmer waters teem with a variety of species, and the hospitable local fishermen are only too willing to invite visitors to join them on their daily or nightly excursions off the coastline.

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The ocean around Sri Lanka whispers of tales bygone, ones of regal maritime visits, of bandits and pirates and journeys of explorers and spice merchants.  As you plunge into the warm waters and dive below, these stories come to life. The crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean with a visibility of 20 meters (65ft)  provide perfect conditions for diving.  With wrecks as dated as the 18th Century dotting the seas, deep reefs and reef walls provide enthralling explorations for scuba divers. For the less adventurous on-shore coral reefs are ideal for snorkelling. The abundant marine life found around the island is surpassed only at Hikkaduwa in the southern coast where the reef is thought to contain more species of fish than the Great Barrier Reef.