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Indulge in a melting pot of cultures – meet the coastal communities of Sri Lanka’s south. Foreigners have fallen in love with this part of the world over and over again, leaving a wealth of fables behind that their descendants tell with more than a twinkle in the eye. Swanee Hotel lies in Beruwala, a charming fishing village made famous by an ancient legend. According to folklore the rock coffin of the mysterious saint Sheikh Ashareth floated ashore at Beruwala some 1,000 years ago, and it wasn’t a coincidence. While many tourists ponder the obscurity of this myth, it has been established with some certainty that Beruwala was the first Moorish settlement on the island, having been founded in the 8th century A.D. The Moors set up the Kachchimalai Mosque, the oldest Muslim shrine in all of Sri Lanka. Today, many Sri Lankan Moors specialize in gem trading and live in Beruwala’s "China Fort" district. Ladies who wish to add a dash of glamour to their trip can go wild with moonstone shopping at Meetiyagoda. Moonstones are semi- precious gems with a milky bluish sparkle. These gems can only be found in Sri Lanka, in a solitary quarter-acre block of land in the village of Meetiyagoda, to be more specific. Art enthusiasts seeking a serene afternoon filled with surreal eye-candy can always call on Bevis Bawa’s Garden of Brief. Revere in the landscape artist’s inimitable private oasis and enjoy tranquil Japanese lawns, statue-capped gateways, a lush bamboo hedge and exquisite ponds flanked by intriguing art works. Then, as you adjourn to Ambalangoda, lose yourself in the tales of the past as you come up-close with famous devil dancers, wooden mask carvings, puppets inspired by celebrated legends and traditional handicrafts displayed in the local museum. Next, marvel at Bentota’s Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya temple, which is known for its stone inscriptions, intricate carvings, pillars and ponds constructed some 600 to 900 years ago. As you venture further south, savor the famous Kudawella blowhole on the rocky Unawatuna beach, a rare geological formation shooting huge columns of water up into the sky during the monsoon season. Continue your breathtaking journey along the shores of Weligama, where you can catch a glimpse of stilt fishermen whose silhouettes provide a bizarre sight against the sunset on the shimmering horizon. |
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