The Most Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

 All kinds of tourists are allured towards this country as it is a hub of many activities and history and a beautiful country. The best places visit in the Sri Lanka are Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and hundreds of others. All time of year thousands of adventurous  activities keep happening here so it will never be a boring destination. Travel destinations in Sri Lanka have everything that will capture the eyes and soul of the Traveler. 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is an important landmark chosen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a protected area. The places selected are usually in a historical location with cultural and anthropological importance. Sri Lanka is home to eight such sites – six cultural and two natural. Keep reading to find out what they are, 

01. Ancient City of Sigiriya

          

The rocky outcrop of Sigiriya holds the ancient remains of King Kassapa’s palace from the 5th century AD. The top is reachable by stairs built on the side of the mountain, and features the Lion Rock, as well as the remains of the palace and fortress. Ascend to the top for a remarkable 360-degree view of the jungle below. Sigiriya was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

02. Sacred City of Kandy

 Kandy, a mountain city in Sri Lanka, was home to Sinhalese kings from 1592 to 1815. It’s also the site of Sri Dalada Maligawa, also called the Temple of the Tooth; here, a special container holds a tooth of the Buddha. Over the years, the relic came to be very important politically, with some believing that the holder of the sacred tooth was the one who would have power over the Buddhist population. Kandy was appointed the status of World Heritage Site in 1988, mainly due to the Temple of the Tooth.

03. Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, distinguished for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient civilization. According to Mahawamsa, the great chronicle of the Sinhalese, the city of Anuradhapura was named after a minister called Anuradha who found this area as a village settlement by the Malwatu Oya in the second half of the 6th century BC. In the 4th century BC, King Pandukabhaya made Anuradhapura the capital of his kingdom. The city is also home to a hugely sacred Bodhi tree, believed to be a descendant of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha was illuminated. Anuradhapura became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

04. Old Town of Galle

The fort has a colorful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The entire fort has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

05. Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is part of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, along with Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. After the destruction of Anuradhapura in the 1st century, it became the capital of Sri Lanka. The remains include Brahminic constructions from the Cholas civilization, as well as the garden city that was built in the 12th century. This site was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

06. Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sinharaja is a Rain Forest and a biodiversity hotspot which is located in south west lowland wet zone within Sabaragamu and Southern provinces of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja rain forest is the country’s last viable area of primary tropical rain forest. It covers an area of 11,000 Ha of primary and secondary forests. This narrow strip of rolling site comprises of a series of ridges and valleys. More than 60% of the trees are endemic to Sinharaja Forest and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of butterflies & mammals and also many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. This is one of the main reasons that UNESCO declared Sinharaja Forest as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1988 under the name of Sinharaja Forest Reserve. In 1936 Sinharaja Forest was first recognized as being the only considerable patch of virgin tropical rain forest in the Island.

07. Dambulla Cave Temple

The Golden Dambulla Cave Temple has been a pilgrimage destination for the past 22 centuries. It’s also the largest and best-preserved cave temple on the island. The Dambulla Cave Temple was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 in order to preserve the magnificent wall paintings and more than 150 statues in and around the temple.

08. Central Highlands

The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka include Horton Plains National Park, the Knuckles Conservation Forest and the Peak Wilderness Protected Area. At more than 2,000m (6,562ft) above sea level, this natural World Heritage Site joined the others in 2010. There are plenty of hiking trails in the Central Highlands, and it’s a biodiverse haven.

 The Best Supermoto Bikes World 

Biker Rate d's Best Supermoto Bikes.

1.  KTM 690 SMC R 
2. Husqvarna 701 Supermoto
3. Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP
4. KTM Duke 690
5. Aprilia SXV 550 

Here's full run-down of each of these great bikes:

1. KTM 690 SMC R

KTM 690 SMC R Key Specs

• Engine - Liquid- cooled 1- cylinder, 4 stroke 
• Max power output - 72bhp
• Displacement - 690 cc
• Seat height - 890 mm
• Weight - 147 kg
• Price - £9599

One of the latest model for 2019. The larger 13.5L fuel tank acts as a load bearing part of the chassis and allows more fun. SMC R has a new LC4 engine with higher power, torque, and fuel consumption. Complete with two rider modes, sport and street, the SMC R features, cornering ABC, Supermoto ABC, angle sensitive traction control plus, motor slip regulation (MSR).  

           2. Husqvarna 701 Supermoto Key Specs

    Husqvarna 701 Supermoto Key Specs

• Engine - Single-cylinder, liquid- cooled, 4- stroke
• Max power output - 73bhp
•  Displacement - 690cc
•  Seat height - 890mm
•  Weight -135kg
•  Price - £8599

No change from the previous model, except for the more powerful KTM 690 Duke motor.   Built around a lightweight Chromium-Molybdenum trellis frame for precision handling, and a 13L fuel tank housed within a polyamide subframe for perfect weight distribution. The 701’s suspension features WP split fork front and rear shock absorbers with damping adjusters. A beast.

            3. Ducati Hypermotard 110 EVO SP 

    Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP Key Specs

• Engine: air-cooled twin-cylinder, 4-stroke
  
• Max power output: 94bhp
• Displacement: 1078cc
• Seat height: 875mm
• Weight: 178kg
• Price when new: £10500

Possibly a controversial entry but while the 1100 EVO SP might not be a ‘pure’ Supermoto to those who care to judge but it exudes all the character traits of a Supermoto; tall riding position, wide bars, grunty engine, and the overriding feeling that it’s as comfortable on one wheel as it is on two. If you want a Supermoto bike that’s capable of more than just a 50-mile blast, the 1100 is where it’s at.

         4. KTM Duke 690 

 KTM 690 Duke Key Specs

• Engine: liquid-cooled single-cylinder, 4-stroke
  
• Max power output: 72bhp
• Displacement: 690cc
• Seat height: 835mm
• Weight: 148.5kg
• Price: £8299

The much loved DUKE has had an upgrade this year, with a higher spec and a modernised look. With a Chromium-Molybdenum steel trellis frame for precision handling, LC4 engine and optimized air intakes and exhaust system which aid balance. KTM have included a dual-circuit ABS system, ergonomic seating a large 14L fuel tank. Show off with this bright orange rimmed KTM, you’re sure to be noticed on this monster. If you can’t stretch to a new one, search for the KTM Duke II, the older and original version, which is just as much fun.  

       5. Aprilia SXV 550       

   Aprilia SXV550 Key Specs

• Engine: V-twin, SOHC, 4-stroke
  
• Max power output: 70bhp
• Displacement: 549cc
• Seat height: 915mm
• Weight: 128kg
• Price when new: £7599

Unlike most supermotos, the SXV550 runs on 2 cylinders meaning less vibration, faster revving, and more top-end. The SXV550 has a lightweight, cast aluminium and steel trellis plus 48mm upside-down forks with full adjusters. The twin-engine makes this bike more powerful and a lot quieter than other supermotos. With ultra-cool bodywork and an RSV-like diamond-shaped rear light, it’s a great looking bike. There were pretty rare when new and a lot ended up being converted to race in the GP450 series but as a tool for a mental once a week blast, you won’t find much better.    

  

The Best Supermoto Bike for You

Riding a Supermoto can be a tad more complicated if you’re a shorter rider as they tend to have tall seat heights as standard. Don’t let the mid-size engined capacity of most Supermotos fool you. These are razor-sharp, unforgiving bikes, for experienced riders. Some will wheelie off the throttle in 3rd gear and as a general rule, you don’t have to ride them hard, instead, you need to learn how to tame them.

Keep in mind that the easiest way to tell whether or not a bike is right for you is by trying it out. So, visit your local dealer, sit on the bike and see which bike is the most suitable for your height and riding style.