COLUMBUS LATEST NEWSLETTER MAY 2023

COLUMBUS turned 32 in April 2023 - so proud that so many of us have been part of The Columbus family for decades and decades. This is clearly reflected in their customer handling expertise and extraordinary service delivery. We thought of sharing a bit of this expertise with all of you-our valued clientele who we cherish.

A UNIQUE MEET UP PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN TOURISM

The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) the Apex Body representing inbound tourism in Sri Lanka organised ‘Sancharaka Udawa 2023’ tourism products meet mart on 19th and 20th of May 2023. Excellent forum to showcase new products!. Link to video

DID YOU KNOW THERE WERE HIDDEN ROCK POOLS CLOSE TO ELLA TO EXPLORE?

Nil Diya Pokuna Cave is a popular attraction located in Ella, Sri Lanka. The cave is also known as the "Blue Water Cave" due to the presence of a clear blue water pond inside the cave. The cave is believed to have been used by Buddhist monks as a meditation center in ancient times, and it is considered a sacred site by the local community. The cave features several interesting rock formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, and the pond is fed by an underground spring.

DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE YATAGALA TEMPLE

The Yatagala Temple is a sacred site wrapped in tranquility and offers a rewarding insight into the island’s Buddhist heritage. It is believed that this ancient rock temple dates back over 2,000 years and was built during the time King Devanampiya Tissa ruled the Kingdom of Anuradhapura. Built around and within giant boulder-like rock formations many of which conceal ancient caves that were used by monks for more than 1,500 years, the climb up to this hallowed temple is part of the experience. At the top, you will be treated to scenic views of thriving paddy fields, soaring palm trees and small villages. Inside the Image House of the temple, is a statue of a reclining Buddha, which is 9 meters in length.

TAKE A VIRGIN WHITE TEA ESTATE TOUR

White tea is now scientifically proven to be even more beneficial to health than green tea is… as it is filled with even more antioxidants! Whether or not you have toured a Hill Country tea factory on your holiday, visiting the Handunugoda Tea Estate in Galle is a special experience. In southern Sri Lanka lies the Handunugoda Tea Estate, perhaps the closest tea plantation in the world to the sea. However, this is not the only characteristic that makes the Handunugoda Tea Estate special. The estate is known as the ‘Virgin White’ Tea Estate as it produces a white tea that is completely untouched by human hands. The process of Virgin White tea plucking follows an ancient Chinese ritual.

GO DEEP SEA FISHING & SCUBA DIVING THIS SUMMER

Surrounded by the Indian Ocean and filled with fresh water reservoir inland, Sri Lanka is the hidden paradise for extreme anglers. With a shoreline of 1,140 miles and a continental shelf of 10,000 square miles, the seas around Sri Lanka is one of the most challenging marine game fishing locations while The outfalls of 103 major river basins and hundreds of estuaries, lagoons and coastal lakes all around the country are yet to be fully explored by sporting anglers. As the waves plummet the sides of the boat and the sea birds call above your head, the ocean’s scent and the thrill of the chase is exhilarating. Also, don’t forget to go to Trincomalee for best diving in Sri Lanka. It offers a different experience to the divers through multiple diving sites in the region. The nearby Pigeon Island marine life sanctuary has diverse coral reefs, fishes, anemone, and nudibranch. Close to the coast, you can also check out the shipwreck Irakkandy to add an extra punch to your dive!

OUR WAY OF SHOWING YOU VILLAGE LIFE - HEEL OYA TREKKING

Heeloya is a rural, remote agricultural village in the Kandy district with a unique attraction of understanding how justice was meted out in the good old days. The proceedings of hearing a case by the village headman and the location are still intact. The main livelihood of the village community is paddy cultivation, home gardening, livestock, and spices. Villagers engage in toddy tapping, handicrafts, beekeeping, traditional dances, etc., as supplementary income sources. A very traditional village, it is unique in that it identifies itself with practicing even to this day some of the local customs in daily life. Tourists are encouraged to work and become part of the village life by engaging in plucking fruits and vegetables for a meal to be prepared according to the local taste. They would also get an opportunity to watch some of the other aspects of this village being the Heeloya waterfall, local species, and herbs. Visitors to Heeloya can get a feel of life in a typical village in addition to trekking and sightseeing and a culinary experience in true Sri Lankan style!

*Source: Columbus Tours Sri Lanka, No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka. info@columbustourssrilanka.com

A famous love story in the Colonial Era of Ceylon featuring a British Governor and a Dancer

Sir Thomas Maitland was assigned to Ceylon as the British Governor Governor from 1805–1811.

Governor Maitland constructed his country residence on a breathtaking beachfront property at “Galkissa” (Mount Lavinia) Maitland fell in love with a native gypsy dancer named Lavinia (Lovinia) Aponsuwa a beautiful mestizo girl of mixed Portuguese and Sinhala Rodi ancestry. 

He saw the local mestizo dancer Lovina for the first time and was smitten by her smile and charms and soon found himself obsessed by her beauty. 

It is rumored that Maitland picked a scenic location on the beach-side hill about 10 km (6 miles) south of Colombo after spotting Lavinia bathing in the sea. 

During the construction phase he constructed a secret tunnel to Lavinia’s house. 

As it was unconventional for an unmarried British Officer to be seen associating with a local dancing girl, Sir Thomas and his lover met in secret. 

Later, the British Foreign Office sent Sir Thomas Maitland on a “routine” transfer as Governor General in 1811 to the Meditaranian island of Malta where he lived and died as a bachelor. 

Around the year 1920, the tunnel was sealed up and the Sinhalese village that surrounded the Governor’s mansion developed into a modern bustling city of “Galkissa” (originated from the Sinhala word “GalVissa” or ten boulders) was renamed "Mount Lavinia ” in honor the of mestizo dancing girl Lavinia or Lovinia. 

Little is known of Lavinia but Governor Maitland passed a law permitting lower-caste women in Ceylon such as his lover, to cover the upper torso of their bodies. 

Later, the mansion was made into to a hotel and aptly named “Mount Lavinia ” (in memory of “Lavinia”). 

This enchanting British Colonial heritage hotel, located on a breathtaking beachfront, is a living legacy to the secret love story between the Sir Thomas Maitland, and the beautiful dancer, Lovina.

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
info@columbustourssrilanka.com
(+94)2682634, 2669080, 2687719 , 2682067, 2684225​

Website: https://columbustourssrilanka.com/

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Legends of Ceylon Tea

James Taylor hailing from Scotland was the pioneer of Ceylon Tea. Arriving in Ceylon in 1852 as a 17-year-old, he was billeted at Loolecondera Estate in Galaha, a coffee plantation in the Kandy District.

However coffee plantations were all but decimated within a couple of years. 

Taylor’s tea planting initiative enabled a new industry to hastily replace an old one. 

From an initial export of a mere 23 pounds of tea production on Loolecondera, exports rose rapidly to more than 20,000 tons in 1890. 

So too did the glowing reputation of Ceylon Tea, as the industry continued to expand heavily, moving into the 20th century. 

James passed away in 1892 and was laid to rest at the Mahaiyawa cemetery in Kandy. Sir Thomas Lipton is also deeply associated in the origins of Ceylon Tea… 

Lipton’s Seat is one of Sri Lanka's most impressive viewpoints in the country's central highlands. 

At the top, after a steady climb to 2000 metres above sea level, one is rewarded with views out over the undulating hills of central Sri Lanka, across a patchwork of tea estates, out to Udawalawe National Park in the south. 

One has to attempt this climb if your itinerary encompasses the central highlands! It's from this spot that over a century ago, Sir Thomas Lipton viewed his burgeoning empire. 

In 2018, all that remains of Lipton is a statue of him reclining on a bench, arm outstretched at an awkward right angles holding what must have been a tea cup. 

This spot is significant and called "Lipton's Seat"

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
info@columbustourssrilanka.com
(+94)2682634, 2669080, 2687719 , 2682067, 2684225​

Website: https://columbustourssrilanka.com/

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

The Indigenous Veddah tribes of Sri Lanka

The Veddahs are the last indigenous tribe still in existence, dating back to the 6th century BC. 

Veddahs or ‘Forest People’ are unfortunately slowly becoming extinct. 

However a visit into their natural habitat can be incorporated into our itineraries off the beaten path. 

It’s interesting to note they existed in the forests hunting small animals using bows and arrows, and smoking beehives for bee honey. 

Legends show the origins of the Veddahs as descendants of Prince Vijaya, the first king of Sri Lanka. However archaeological studies prove they could date as far back as the Stone Age. 

After thousands of years as free-range inhabitants, the Veddahs started to conform. Today, the remaining Veddahs live in reservations in certain jungles of Sri Lanka.

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
info@columbustourssrilanka.com
(+94)2682634, 2669080, 2687719 , 2682067, 2684225​

Website: https://columbustourssrilanka.com/

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Hello and Welcome back to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka opened its doors to the world on 21st Jan 2021 under a special travel protocol. The first 4 weeks saw 4500 tourists visit our paradise island.

Click for CNN video

Several prestigious airlines including Sri Lankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Oman Airways, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, as well as charter flight loads of tourists, now operate into our international airports, enhancing good connectivity into Sri Lanka from all parts of the globe. UL / EK / QR

Columbus has begun receiving clients under the special protocols and our very first set of clients arrived on 7th Feb 2021 on Emirates, and were warmly welcomed and received by our PPE clad chauffeur guide Ananda at BIA and driven to their beach hotel for a relaxing holiday.

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
info@columbustourssrilanka.com
(+94)2682634, 2669080, 2687719 , 2682067, 2684225​

Website: https://columbustourssrilanka.com/

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Our Foodie pick this month The Dutch Burgher “Lamprais”

From 1658 until 1796, Sri Lanka was under Dutch rule. 

The Dutch Burghers (an ethnic group of mixed Dutch, Portuguese Burghers and Sri Lankan descent) came up with this mouth watering delicacy! 

Derived from the Dutch word lomprijst, which loosely translated means a packet of food, this succulent dish is a firm favorite and a must have, during your visit to Sri Lanka. 

It consists of a three meat curry, including beef, pork and chicken, ash plantain, aubergine, onion sambol, blachang, meatballs and rice boiled in stock, all of which is wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in an oven.

The rice is made by frying rice with onions and spices in butter or ghee and then cooking it in a meat stock. 

Over the years, the traditional recipe has been tweaked slightly to make it more flavoursome.

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
info@columbustourssrilanka.com
(+94)2682634, 2669080, 2687719 , 2682067, 2684225​

Website: https://columbustourssrilanka.com/

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au