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Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is located on the south west coast of Sri Lanka, south from Mount Lavinia Hotel. It is primarily a tourist destination, and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel and enjoy the sun. You can also ride in a glass bottomed boat to view the coral gardens. The town is arranged around the Galle-Colombo main road. It is a busy road with vehicles travelling at high speed; pedestrians and tourists are advised to exercise caution when crossing. The town has a plethora of tailors who will custom make shirts, pants, and shorts. It has become the place to go in Sri Lanka to have a Hawaiian shirt fitted and sewn. The area also has a reputation for offering a vibrant nightlife.

Moonstone factory - Meetiyagoda

Sri Lanka is famous for its precious gems, and moonstone, though belonging to the semi-precious category, is an important component of the gem business. Meetiyagoda, located between Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa, is one of the few places where they are found in such high concentrations. It is believed by the villagers that this piece of land, around an acre in extent, is blessed by the moon. The moonstone is grey and feels cool and smooth to the touch when polished and has a glow like that of the moon. The finest are bluish in colour and there are quite a few of them in these mines. At Meetiyagoda, you can see or even go down into the deep, narrow shafts from which the stones are mined. The small visitor centre will provide information related to this stone while the large shop in the premises sells moonstones as well as other stones.

Muthurajawela Bird Sanctuary
The name Muthurajawela in English means "Swamp of Royal Treasure". Treasures of kings are believed to be buried in the area. Muthurajawela Marsh is situated towards the southern part of Negombo. The boundaries span from Negombo lagoon which also helps to create a coastal eco-system, and Kelaniya River situated at the northern tip of Colombo. Muthurajawela is in close proximity to Colombo. Muthurajawela Marsh is said to be the island's largest saline peat bog. It is believed to have originated about 7,000 years ago. There are some residuals which extend up to 500 years into the past. Muthurajawela is home to a staggering numbers of species of flora and fauna; 192 flora and 209 fauna, in addition to 102 species of birds, have been discovered here. Some indigenous flora and fauna species have also been found in Muthurajawela marsh. Visitors may see water birds such as herons, egrets in abundance in the lagoon and the marsh. It is also a residence for 40 different species of fish, of which 15 fall under the category of indigenous fauna. The nocturnal Slender Loris, which is believed to be endangered, can be seen here occasionally.

Muthurajawela marsh was declared a sanctuary by the government in 1996 due to its vast biodiversity. Visitors may be assisted by the Muthurajawela Marsh Centre. The centre educates people about the importance of Muthurajawela. The staff at Muthurajawela Marsh Centre is available everyday except Monday; from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm. Visitors can make use of a well trained guide. Also a boat ride will be given for visitors through the marsh and lagoon. Early mornings or evenings are the best times to visit Muthurajawela.
Other Locations You Can Visit

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura, founded in the 4th Century BCE, is the cradle of Buddhist civilisation in Sri Lanka. The city is one of the archaeological wonders of the world. It is home to the 2,300-year-old sacred bo tree, the Sri Maha Bodhiya. It is also the location of the largest stupas of the ancient world - the Ruwanweliseya, the Jethawanaramaya and the Abhayagiriya. The Jethawanaramaya was the third tallest building in the ancient world, next to the two largest pyramids of Egypt. The remains of royal palaces, temples, statues as well as ancient man-made reservoirs are scattered across a 250 square kilometre area. If you enjoy ancient culture and archeology, Anuradhapura is a city you must visit. It is a five hour drive from the hotel.

Polonnaruwa

The ancient sacred city of Polonnaruwa was the capital of Sri Lanka in the 11th and 12th Centuries CE. The Gal Viharaya (Stone Temple), royal palaces, royal baths and the vast artificial Parakrama Samudraya reservoir (Sea of Parakrama) are some of the many archaeological and cultural attractions of Polonnaruwa.

Sigiriya

The spectacular Sigiriya (Lion Rock) rock fortress was built in the 5th Century CE, by King Kashyapa. It is a wonder of ancient engineering, art and culture. The palace complex at the foot of the rock still has the remains of four indoor swimming pools where the king's 500 concubines bathed. The palace structure was built with complex water arteries in the walls that provided natural air conditioning in the hot climate. The walls of the Sigiriya rock still retain the world famous frescoes of the king's concubines, who originated from all parts of the world. You can visit Sigiriya on a day trip from the hotel and return in the night.

Dambulla Cave Temple
The caves' history dates back to the 1st Century BCE, when King Walagamba, defeated at Anuradhapura, took refuge in one. There are five caves containing 150 Buddhist statues. Many of the paintings in the temple date back to the 19th Century CE. You can visit Dambulla on a day trip from the hotel and can also combine it with a visit to Sigiriya.