New York Times, in its travel section of the 10th Sunday issue has nominated Sri Lanka as the ‘Best Destination’ to visit in the year 2010.
‘The 31 Places to go in 2010’ was a travel guide to all their readers and NYT has described Sri Lanka as the top place to visit over the popular destinations like Thailand, India and Costa Rica etc.
 |
| Unawatuna Beach |
‘Patagonia Wine Country’ in the beautiful Argentine Valley became the second, while Seoul in South Korea was recommended as the third best place to visit. ‘Mysore’ in India and Copenhagen in Denmark followed by Koh Kood in Thailand, Damascus in Syria and Cesme in Turkey secured the fourth to seven slots in the list.
Antarctica was too named as a hot spot of travellers in the NYT list. But it has clearly stated that this would be the last years that Antarctica may open for mass tourism. Not because the ice is melting too fast (though it is), but because of restrictions that would severely curtail travel around the fragile continent.
This is the extract from the New York Times recommendation on Sri Lanka as the top travel destination in 2010.
For a quarter century, Sri Lanka seems to have been plagued by misfortune, including a brutal civil war between the Sinhalese-dominated government and a separatist Tamil group. But the conflict finally ended last May, ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop-shaped island off India’s coast, rich in natural beauty and cultural splendors.
The island, with a population of just 20 million, feels like one big tropical zoo: elephants roam freely, water buffaloes idle in paddy fields and monkeys swing from trees. And then there’s the pristine coastline. The miles of sugary white sand flanked by bamboo groves that were off-limits to most visitors until recently are a happy, if unintended byproduct of the war.
Among the most scenic, if difficult stretches to reach, is Nilaveli Beach in the Tamil north. While a few military checkpoints remain, vacationers can lounge on poolside hammocks under palm trees or snorkel in its crystal-clear waters. Or they can order cocktails at the Nilaveli Beach Hotel (www.tangerinehotels.com/nilavelibeach), a collection of recently renovated bungalows with private terraces.
 |
| Nilaveli Beach Hotel |
An international airport in Matara, on the island’s southern shore, is under construction, which will make the gorgeous beaches near the seaside village of Galle easier to get to. Decimated by the tsunami in 2004, the surrounding coastline is now teeming with stylish guesthouses and boutique hotels.
Unawatuna, a crescent-shaped beach a few miles south of Galle, may be furthest along. Higher-end hotels there include Thambapanni Retreat (www.thambapanni.biz), which features four-poster beds, yoga and an ayurvedic spa.
The Sun House (www.thesunhouse.com), in Galle, looks like a place where the Queen of England might stay, with its mango courtyard and colonial décor. One stylish place tucked within Galle’s city walls is the Galle Fort Hotel (www.galleforthotel.com), a refurbished gem merchant’s house run by a couple of Aussies. |
E-mail
