What to see .......  
 


When you are done with all other visits, just go for a walk through the naturally landscaped surroundings that leads to the near by village, with an awesome view of paddy fields and vegetable cultivations. A little further down you can admire the man made irrigational tanks, filled with lotus and other wild flowers, swaying in melodious harmony to the music of the birds.

Apart from the classical, religious and cultural visits, Kassapa also offers guided tours.

Bird watching is one of the main attractions of the area. One can observe about 150 species of birds of all colures and varieties. While you watch the roaming Peacocks, our guide will tell you tales of ancient times where birds of the land played an important role in day to day life.

Biking is another event which you should not miss. We rent out mountain bikes at a very reasonable rate, which gives you the opportunity to discover the countryside. More than a sport, biking is always a fun ride as well. Carefully planned maps of biking tracks are always available at the reception. You can always ask for a guide with whom you could see much more of the surrounding areas.

A few places of interest:

  
     
 

Sigiriya - 8 Kms

  
 
     
 

Sigiriya , also known as the ‘Lions Rock’ was the ancient kingdom of King Kassapa in the 5th century AD. It is world famous today for its historical frescoes and for its wonderful water gardens. Sigiriya is considered as a world heritage site by UNESCO. While climbing up you will find a cave filled with frescoes, on the peak you find the rock kingdom with its ruins of its ancient palace. Enjoy the panoramic view over looking the thick forest which is abundant with wild elephants.

 

     
     

Dambulla Rock Temple - 18 Kms
     

One of the most visited and venerated temples in Sri Lanka , built in the 1st century BC. Famed for its wall paintings and its hundreds of Buddha statues added subsequently in each era of Sri Lanka ’s rich history. The temple is also known as the Golden Rock Temple .

 
Anuradhapura 65 KMS
 

Visit the countries oldest city dated back to the 5th century BC, walk through the ruins and discover the ancient remains of an old civilization, adorned with beautiful man made lakes. The area is plenty of species of birds and monkeys. It’s in Anuradhapura where you can see the most historical tree in the world. It belongs to the 3rd century BC. The Bo tree is venerated by thousands of Buddhist all over the world.


      Mihintale, 16 Kms from Anuradhapura.
     

On your return don’t forget to stop at Mihintale, where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. When you climb the 1800 steps to the peak of the mountain, you can observe a serene view of the ancient remains of temples and dwellings of monks belonging to the same era.      
                                       

  
Ritigala, 25 Kms.    

A famous archeological site known as a ‘forest hermitage complex’ situated about 18 kilometers from Habarana, once it was a monastery for Buddhist monks. The area is a well protected nature reserve where wild life is plenty. It is abundant in wild elephants, leopards, bears and a large number of birds. When visiting you will discover the ruined lodgings of monks, ancient Ayurveda centers, water tanks and natural caves with Brahmin inscriptions from the 2nd and 3rd century BC.

 
   

       Aukana, 40 Kms.

This marvelous site belonging to the 5th century is situated near the magnificent man made lake called “Kala wewa” ,Built by King Dathusena.  Aukana is known for its 14 meter high Buddha statue which is one of the finest in Sri Lanka. It is carved out of a single rock face and is a superb example of ancient craftsmanship. You can admire the beautiful country side too that surrounds this statue while in the area. Aukana and Saseruwa can also be visited on the way to Anuradhapura.

  
Plonnaruwa 45 kms  

Polonnaruwa is undoubtedly one of the major tourist attractions of the Sri Lankan cultural triangle. This marvelous ruin is now covered by the jungle and is beautifully located, along side the huge man made tank named Parakrama Samudra. The tank was named after the king who commissioned it and developed Polonnaruwa as the medieval capital of the Island in the 12th century. It is also one of the renowned archeological sites funded by UNESCO.

Today you can visit the well preserved Hindu and Buddhist monuments that belongs to the same era, giving evidence of the proud local history. Do not forget to spend a few moments at the Gal Vihara temple, where you can see the marvelous Buddha statues carved in a single rock.
   
  Medirigiriya Vatadage 40kms  
Vatadage is a unique architectural building which completely housed the ancient Stupa (temple dome). These buildings were constructed in the very early periods as the Stupas in this time were quite small.  Medirigirya is built on a small rock and belongs to the 2nd century BC. Among the ancient remains you will find the well preserved Buddha statues carved out of stone, along with ponds, hospitals, bath rooms and stone inscriptions as well.
  
National Parks
  

Minneriya 12 Kms
Kaudulla 28 Kms
Eco 10 Kms

This is an excellent ride in the jungles around Habarana. These highly protected national parks are full of evergreen fauna and flora, famous for large herds of elephants, sometimes this goes up to about  200 or and even more in a single herd. Generally Minnerlya is best visited from the end of April to mid October, KauduIIa from October to December and Echo Park from November to May.

Jeeps are available for jungle safaris.