6 days in Sri Lanka

For my well-deserved fall break, I went to Sri Lanka with a friend of mine from high school and college. We stayed in central and western Sri Lanka for 6 days, and should you decide to ever go to Sri Lanka, here are some great destinations that you should visit.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is about two hours east of the international airport in Colombo. It was originally built to protect many orphaned and weak wild elephants. The institution has been questioned at times in regards to their treatment to the elephants, but it is still a famous tourist destination. The orphanage has a daily schedule of the elephants, which involves milk-feeding and bathing in the river. Around the orphanage, one could find places that offer elephant riding or sell elephant dung paper (which is apparently a highly praised gift).

The Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, a metropolis in the Central Province, and it is famous for storing the relic of the Buddha's tooth. Throughout history, the tooth moved around the country, for the tooth was viewed as a proof of the kings' governance. Because Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, the tooth is supposedly still stored there. A World Heritage Site, the Temple of the Tooth not only offers a glimpse to the nation's culture but also provides a general understanding of the history regarding colonialism. The museums, which one can enter with the general admissions ticket, are worth a visit as well.

Nuwara Eliya is a small tea town located 80 km south of Kandy. The altitude is quite high (around 1800 m), so make sure to pack long sleeves and jackets for cool evenings. Nuwara Eliya used to be called Little England because it was a hill retreat destination for many British colonialists and tea planters. Tourists, both domestic and international, come to Nuwara Eliya for its tea and landscape. Some popular destinations include Mackwoods Tea Factory, Horton Plains National Park, and the Victoria Park.

Little Adam's Peak is a popular hiking destination in a town called Ella for novice or easy-going hikers. The walk to the top takes about 30 minutes, and there are many plantations and waterfalls to admire along the way. The weather was not fantastic when I climbed Little Adam's Peak (in fact, it started pouring when we came back). Yet, the scenery was breathtaking! Because it is such a short and easy hike, do not miss out on it if you go to Ella.

Your trip to Sri Lanka will be incomplete without stopping in Galle, a coastal city in the south. Because of its Dutch-influenced architecture, the city center of Galle appears quite exotic (and definitely not like a typical Sri Lankan town like Ella, for example). In addition, there is a strong presence of different religions such as Islam, Catholicism, and Hinduism. I spent a day in Galle walking along the beach, taking photos of the famous lighthouse, eating a lot of seafood, and lastly, snorkeling. Definitely worth a visit - and it is very close from the Colombo airport too.

I would recommend Sri Lanka to anyone who wants a break from packed schedules. I found it healing to not check my phone constantly and take time for just myself. Because the country moves rather slowly, I learned how to be comfortable with not doing something constantly. If the idea of drinking a cup of tea in silence while appreciating the nature sounds appealing, Sri Lanka is the destination for you.