On your way to Yala stop over at Hikkaduwa beach, Sri Lanka

"Hikkaduwa was exactly what I had expected. Beachfront bars, restaurants and colourful shops " - ARJUN THOMAS of the Indian dialy, The Hindu, recently visited Sri Lanka.


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“Paradise” is still the most common word used by tourists to describe the lush island of golden beaches and brilliant blue waters. My friends and I decided that it was time to unleash our tropical side and experience for ourselves the much-talked-about magic of Sri Lanka and what better time to enjoy the sun and sand than during the famous Hikkaduwa Beach Festival!


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The island kept up its promise of being a friendly nation right from the Bandaranayake International airport with its courteous and smiling immigration officers to the locals of the villages and cities.


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The exchange rate is a definite ‘upper’ with a dollar (that I got for 48 Indian rupees) going for 114 Sri Lankan! But don’t be fooled. Sri Lanka is an expensive country and the feeling of being rich didn’t last long!


Photo by 3Neus/License

The drive to Colombo took longer than the said 40 minutes with bouts of traffic congesting the already bustling streets. However, the city of Colombo was a treat! It is clean, with tree-lined wide roads, great shops and restaurants. The apartment we stayed in overlooked the ocean and was set in the middle of a residential area neighbouring a deliciously stylish restaurant, café and lifestyle boutique. Continued..

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Where to stay if you're going to Yala, Sri Lanka

Ayubowan! - Hello!

If you're headed to Yala National Park, which is located 290km from Colombo on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, then you're going to need a place to stay.

Below is a list of hotels and lodges I compiled. Feel free to browse through the rest of my website for information on Yala and Sri Lanka.

Yala Village Hotel
Awaken to sounds of the ocean, music of the birds or trumpet of an elephant walking across your back yard. All our chalets provide absolute privacy with maximum interaction with the untamed beauty of Mother Nature. You have the choice of a wide array of themed chalets, i.e. deer, monkey, peacock etc.

Price: Single Rooms from $130 USD/Day per person - All inclusive! Chalets from $117 USD/Day per person - All inclusive!
Click here for the hotel's website.


Governors Camp Yala
Governors Camp Yala is a 7 acre, Secure, Jungle Resort comprising of twin cadjan pavilions, located about 7 kms away from the Yala National Park entrance and 400 mtrs away from the sea.

YALA is among the oldest and best known of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Covering about 1297 km² or 129,700 Hectares, it is the largest agglomeration of protected areas in the country. The multifarious ecosystems ranging from Moist Monsoon Forest, to Dry Monsoon Forests, Semi Deciduous Forests, Thorn forests, Grasslands, Fresh water, Marine wetlands, Sandy beaches possesses a large number of important plant species and smaller animals.

Price: Rs. 12,500/- per night for 12 pax. Each additional pax with be charged at Rs. 1200/-. Can accommodate 24 pax.(Bed sheets, pillow cases and towels to be brought by the guests.)
Click here for the hotel's website.

Tissamaharama Resort

A rejuvenating retreat from the daily rigors of urban living, with an extraordinary and refreshing array of features and scenically located by the ancient ‘Tissa Wewa”, the Tissamaharama Resort comprise 50 rooms, a main dining restaurant, spacious pool area, volleyball court and tennis courts. It is also strategically located close to many places of religious and cultural interest such as much visited Shrine in Kataragama, the great pilgrim shrine, which is dedicated to Skanda, a popular Hindu deity.

Those interested in walking on the “wild side” of life, will never forget the Tissamaharama Resort, which is a mere 30-minutes drive to “Yala National Safari Park”.

53 rooms (including superior rooms, suites)

Price: All inclusive at only $65 per person/night.

Tissamaharama Resort is managed by Ceylon Hotels Corp. Click here for more information.

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