Sri Lanka Hill Country Holidays

The region can be reached from Sri Lanka’s southern coast, however, it is the historic city of Kandy, known as the capital of the Highlands, which most travellers pass through on their way to the hills. Kandy has a long and distinguished histor...

The region can be reached from Sri Lanka’s southern coast, however, it is the historic city of Kandy, known as the capital of the Highlands, which most travellers pass through on their way to the hills. Kandy has a long and distinguished history. It was the seat of the venerated Kandyan kings and the kingdom they ruled over resisted Portuguese, Dutch and British occupation for centuries. Today it has retained its position as a major cultural and commercial centre and also remains an important place of Buddhist pilgrimage. Additionally, Kandy is home to Peradeniya, one of Asia’s finest botanical gardens, as well as the Udawattakele Forest Reserve which was once used as a pleasure garden by the Kandyan kings.

From Kandy routes south head to hill country – slowly ascending through forest, passing rural communities, vegetable farms abundant with leeks, beetroot, carrot and cabbage, metal-roofed tea factories towering over the surrounding plantations and Victorian bungalows framed by well-tended gardens. Many of these estate bungalows have been converted into charming hotels with access to scenic walking trails offering spectacular views and excellent birdwatching, including the famed Horton Plains National Park which is affectionately known as the ‘roof of the island’. Twisting roads also snake down to the coast with popular beach towns and national parks such as Yala, Bundela and Udawalawe all within a day’s drive.