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The National Geographic Adventure in an exclusive report has categorized Sri Lanka as the second best place to visit. Sri Lanka is ranked at second place out of 25 countries, accrediting the country as the "Wonder of the World."
In its list of "Best New Trips for 2010", National Geographic said, "after the tsunami of 2004 and resolution of a decades-long civil war, Sri Lanka is finally starting to look like its old self, a peaceful destination where surf lineups are nonexistence despite world-class waves and centuries old tea estates are lined with mountain bike-ready trails."
"The silver lining of the civil war is that the land and wildlife have remained untouched," said Lisa Bolder, the Trip coordinator for Access Trips.
The other destinations include Bhutan, Bolivia, Bostwana, Canada (British Columbia & Manitoba), Chile & Argentina, Costa Rica, France, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Montserrat, Nepal, New Zealand, Peru, Slovakia, Tanzania & Kenya, U.S.A (California, Colorado, Idaho & Montana).
The commentators, Times Travel Writer Jil Crawshow and Editor of Wandertrust Magazine describe Sri Lanka as ‘definitely a best place to visit’.
Referring to the first world traveller Marco Polo’s description of his ‘favourite island’, as the ‘Jade Pendant in the Indian Ocean’, the commentators state that Sri Lanka is exactly what it is and that it has got ‘basically everything for a tourist’. Observing that in Sri Lanka a tourist may have a ‘beach to yourself’, they add that the country has hundreds of miles of ‘amazingly undiscovered beaches and coral marine life’. ‘It is arguably one of the greatest islands for beaches’, they add.
They report that Sri Lanka has a wonderful history and culture in a really small space and state that Sigiriya is a place not to be missed because of its scenic beauty. You don’t get to number two without some must-see sights’, they add.
Stating that Sri Lankan wildlife is a ‘major highlight’, they refer to the availability of elephants and leopards, making a special reference to the Pinnawala Elephant Sanctuary. Pinnawala is now the largest herd in captivity with 65 elephants. It opened with seven elephants in 1975. They also comment on the ‘lovely food’ and point out, ‘if anyone wants to taste spicy curry then, definitely, Sri Lanka is the place to go’. (www.priu.gov.lk)
The New York Times in January named Sri Lanka the No. 1 travel destination in 2010 noting that there is no better time to travel to Sri Lanka's unspoiled beaches, mountainous terrain and wildlife parks.
Also in January, the luxury-living website DailyCandy.com said, "really, there's only one downside to Sri Lanka: Eventually you have to leave."
Sri Lanka Embassy
Kuwait
April 5th, 2010
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