Business Today

business-today-logo
SUBSCRIPTION
ADVERTISE
Menu
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 1996 to 1999
      • 1996
        • May 1996
        • June 1996
        • July 1996
        • August 1996
        • September 1996
        • October 1996
        • November 1996
        • December 1996
      • 1997
        • January 1997
        • FEBRUARY 1997
        • March 1997
        • April 1997
        • May 1997
        • June 1997
        • July 1997
        • August 1997
        • September 1997
        • October 1997
        • November 1997
        • December 1997
    • 2000 to 2009
      • 2006
        • January 2006
        • February 2006
        • March 2006
        • April 2006
        • May 2006
        • June 2006
        • July 2006
        • August 2006
        • September 2006
        • October 2006
        • November 2006
        • December 2006
      • 2007
        • January 2007
        • February 2007
        • March 2007
        • April 2007
        • May 2007
        • July 2007
        • June 2007
        • August 2007
        • September 2007
        • October 2007
        • November 2007
        • December 2007
      • 2008
        • January 2008
        • February 2008
        • March 2008
        • May 2008
        • April 2008
        • June 2008
        • July 2008
        • August 2008
        • September 2008
        • November 2008
        • October 2008
        • December 2008
      • 2009
        • January 2009
        • February 2009
        • March 2009
        • April 2009
        • May 2009
        • June 2009
        • July 2009
        • August 2009
        • September 2009
        • October 2009
        • November 2009
        • December 2009
    • 2010 to 2019
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • August 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • September 2018
        • October 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 2020 to 2025
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • April 2020
        • May 2020
        • June 2020
        • July 2020
        • August 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • April 2022
        • May 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
        • April 2023
        • May 2023
        • June 2023
        • July 2023
        • August 2023
        • September 2023
        • October 2023
        • November 2023
        • December 2023
      • 2024
        • January 2024
        • February 2024
        • March 2024
        • April 2024
        • May 2024
        • June 2024
        • July 2024
        • August 2024
        • September 2024
        • October 2024
        • November 2024
        • December 2024
      • 2025
        • January 2025
        • February 2025
        • March 2025
        • April 2025
        • May 2025
  • About Us
  • BT Awards
    • BT Top 40
      • Business Today Top 40 2021 – 2022
    • BT Top 30
      • Business Today Top 30 2015 – 2016
      • Business Today Top 30 2016 – 2017
      • Business Today Top 30 2017 – 2018
      • Business Today Top 30 2018 – 2019
    • BT Top 25
      • Business Today Top 25 2011 – 2012
      • Business Today Top 25 2012 – 2013
      • Business Today Top 25 2013 – 2014
      • Business Today Top 25 2014 – 2015
    • BT Top 20
      • Business Today Top 20 2009 – 2010
      • Business Today Top 20 2010 – 2011
    • BT Top 10
      • Business Today Top 10 2008 – 2009
      • Business Today Top 10 2007 – 2008
      • Business Today Top 10 2006 – 2007
      • Business Today Top 10 2005 – 2006
      • Business Today Top 10 2003 – 2004
      • Business Today Top 10 2000 – 2001
      • Business Today Top 10 1999 – 2000
      • Business Today Top 10 1997 – 1998
      • Business Today Top 10 1996 – 1997
      • Business Today Top 10 1995 – 1996
  • For Digital Subscription
Facebook Instagram
business-today-logo
Menu
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 1996 to 1999
      • 1996
        • May 1996
        • June 1996
        • July 1996
        • August 1996
        • September 1996
        • October 1996
        • November 1996
        • December 1996
      • 1997
        • January 1997
        • FEBRUARY 1997
        • March 1997
        • April 1997
        • May 1997
        • June 1997
        • July 1997
        • August 1997
        • September 1997
        • October 1997
        • November 1997
        • December 1997
    • 2000 to 2009
      • 2006
        • January 2006
        • February 2006
        • March 2006
        • April 2006
        • May 2006
        • June 2006
        • July 2006
        • August 2006
        • September 2006
        • October 2006
        • November 2006
        • December 2006
      • 2007
        • January 2007
        • February 2007
        • March 2007
        • April 2007
        • May 2007
        • July 2007
        • June 2007
        • August 2007
        • September 2007
        • October 2007
        • November 2007
        • December 2007
      • 2008
        • January 2008
        • February 2008
        • March 2008
        • May 2008
        • April 2008
        • June 2008
        • July 2008
        • August 2008
        • September 2008
        • November 2008
        • October 2008
        • December 2008
      • 2009
        • January 2009
        • February 2009
        • March 2009
        • April 2009
        • May 2009
        • June 2009
        • July 2009
        • August 2009
        • September 2009
        • October 2009
        • November 2009
        • December 2009
    • 2010 to 2019
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • August 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • September 2018
        • October 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 2020 to 2025
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • April 2020
        • May 2020
        • June 2020
        • July 2020
        • August 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • April 2022
        • May 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
        • April 2023
        • May 2023
        • June 2023
        • July 2023
        • August 2023
        • September 2023
        • October 2023
        • November 2023
        • December 2023
      • 2024
        • January 2024
        • February 2024
        • March 2024
        • April 2024
        • May 2024
        • June 2024
        • July 2024
        • August 2024
        • September 2024
        • October 2024
        • November 2024
        • December 2024
      • 2025
        • January 2025
        • February 2025
        • March 2025
        • April 2025
        • May 2025
  • About Us
  • BT Awards
    • BT Top 40
      • Business Today Top 40 2021 – 2022
    • BT Top 30
      • Business Today Top 30 2015 – 2016
      • Business Today Top 30 2016 – 2017
      • Business Today Top 30 2017 – 2018
      • Business Today Top 30 2018 – 2019
    • BT Top 25
      • Business Today Top 25 2011 – 2012
      • Business Today Top 25 2012 – 2013
      • Business Today Top 25 2013 – 2014
      • Business Today Top 25 2014 – 2015
    • BT Top 20
      • Business Today Top 20 2009 – 2010
      • Business Today Top 20 2010 – 2011
    • BT Top 10
      • Business Today Top 10 2008 – 2009
      • Business Today Top 10 2007 – 2008
      • Business Today Top 10 2006 – 2007
      • Business Today Top 10 2005 – 2006
      • Business Today Top 10 2003 – 2004
      • Business Today Top 10 2000 – 2001
      • Business Today Top 10 1999 – 2000
      • Business Today Top 10 1997 – 1998
      • Business Today Top 10 1996 – 1997
      • Business Today Top 10 1995 – 1996
  • For Digital Subscription
business-today-logo
Menu
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 1996 to 1999
      • 1996
        • May 1996
        • June 1996
        • July 1996
        • August 1996
        • September 1996
        • October 1996
        • November 1996
        • December 1996
      • 1997
        • January 1997
        • FEBRUARY 1997
        • March 1997
        • April 1997
        • May 1997
        • June 1997
        • July 1997
        • August 1997
        • September 1997
        • October 1997
        • November 1997
        • December 1997
    • 2000 to 2009
      • 2006
        • January 2006
        • February 2006
        • March 2006
        • April 2006
        • May 2006
        • June 2006
        • July 2006
        • August 2006
        • September 2006
        • October 2006
        • November 2006
        • December 2006
      • 2007
        • January 2007
        • February 2007
        • March 2007
        • April 2007
        • May 2007
        • July 2007
        • June 2007
        • August 2007
        • September 2007
        • October 2007
        • November 2007
        • December 2007
      • 2008
        • January 2008
        • February 2008
        • March 2008
        • May 2008
        • April 2008
        • June 2008
        • July 2008
        • August 2008
        • September 2008
        • November 2008
        • October 2008
        • December 2008
      • 2009
        • January 2009
        • February 2009
        • March 2009
        • April 2009
        • May 2009
        • June 2009
        • July 2009
        • August 2009
        • September 2009
        • October 2009
        • November 2009
        • December 2009
    • 2010 to 2019
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • August 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • September 2018
        • October 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 2020 to 2025
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • April 2020
        • May 2020
        • June 2020
        • July 2020
        • August 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • April 2022
        • May 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
        • April 2023
        • May 2023
        • June 2023
        • July 2023
        • August 2023
        • September 2023
        • October 2023
        • November 2023
        • December 2023
      • 2024
        • January 2024
        • February 2024
        • March 2024
        • April 2024
        • May 2024
        • June 2024
        • July 2024
        • August 2024
        • September 2024
        • October 2024
        • November 2024
        • December 2024
      • 2025
        • January 2025
        • February 2025
        • March 2025
        • April 2025
        • May 2025
  • About Us
  • BT Awards
    • BT Top 40
      • Business Today Top 40 2021 – 2022
    • BT Top 30
      • Business Today Top 30 2015 – 2016
      • Business Today Top 30 2016 – 2017
      • Business Today Top 30 2017 – 2018
      • Business Today Top 30 2018 – 2019
    • BT Top 25
      • Business Today Top 25 2011 – 2012
      • Business Today Top 25 2012 – 2013
      • Business Today Top 25 2013 – 2014
      • Business Today Top 25 2014 – 2015
    • BT Top 20
      • Business Today Top 20 2009 – 2010
      • Business Today Top 20 2010 – 2011
    • BT Top 10
      • Business Today Top 10 2008 – 2009
      • Business Today Top 10 2007 – 2008
      • Business Today Top 10 2006 – 2007
      • Business Today Top 10 2005 – 2006
      • Business Today Top 10 2003 – 2004
      • Business Today Top 10 2000 – 2001
      • Business Today Top 10 1999 – 2000
      • Business Today Top 10 1997 – 1998
      • Business Today Top 10 1996 – 1997
      • Business Today Top 10 1995 – 1996
  • For Digital Subscription

Lonely Planet: Best In Asia
Arugambay Sri Lanka
Number 8

by
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Share on Twitter
image_pdfDownload as PDF

Global travel authority Lonely Planet has revealed its 2018 Best in Asia list – an agenda-setting collection of the continent’s 10 best destinations to visit in the year ahead.


For this third annual Best in Asia list, Lonely Planet’s in-house Asia experts have named “eclectic” and “vibrant” Busan, South Korea, as the number one destination; while the jewelled architecture and ancient cities of Uzbekistan are in second place; and in third comes Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, “a supercity that somehow keeps getting cooler”.


“Asia is such a vast and diverse continent for anyone dreaming of an escape,” Lonely Planet’s Asia- Pacific Media Spokesperson, Chris Zeiher says. “Our experts have combed through thousands of recommendations to pick the best destinations to visit over the next 12 months”.


“From Nagasaki in Japan, to Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka,” Chris says, “this is a line-up to inspire a multitude of travellers – whether they’re based in Asia, or maybe they’ve already visited some of the region’s heavy-hitting destinations”.


1. Busan, South Korea
“A stunning confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine…Busan packs an eclectic offering of activities to suit all travellers: hike hills to Buddhist temples, settle into sizzling hot springs and feast on seafood…at the country’s largest fish market. Poised to steal the spotlight, Busan is East Asia’s Culture City for 2018 and will be at its most vibrant with…colourful events showcasing the country’s cultural heritage, from street art festivals to traditional dance shows”.


2. Uzbekistan
“Change is afoot in a country that has remained largely closed off to the wider world due to tight control following the end of the Soviet era. Uzbekistan has long held sway over travellers’ imaginations, with its dreamy mosaic-clad mosques and Silk Road lore…and in 2017 took huge strides in opening up to tourism, announcing visa-free and e-visa schemes, new air routes and extensions to its shiny high-speed rail line, making access to its arsenal of jewelled architecture and ancient cities easier than ever”.


3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
“The southern supercity of Ho Chi Minh City somehow keeps getting cooler. Aging apartment blocks are being colonised by vintage clothes stores and independent coffee shops, innovative breweries are fuelling one of the best craft beer scenes in Southeast Asia, and…eclectic venues are strengthening the local music scene. Add in long-standing attractions The War Remnants Museum and a pioneering street food scene…and this buzzing Asian megalopolis is in no danger of going out of style”.


4. Western Ghats, India
“The Western Ghats offer…an atmospheric mirror to Shimla and Darjeeling, with added jungle appeal… coffee, tea and spice plantations, charmingly dated colonial outposts, thundering waterfalls, and a steam-powered mountain railway. These rugged hills are UNESCO listed as one of the top spots for biodiversity in the world, protecting the neelakurinji flower, which blooms only once every 12 years and will be painting the hills in purple livery from August to October 2018”.


5. Nagasaki, Japan
“For most, Nagasaki is synonymous with the tragic atomic bombing of August 1945…but remarkably, the city has converted the catastrophe into a call for peace, exemplified by the tranquil Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum. However, Nagasaki’s identity transcends one violent act…visit a new foreign-trade museum housed in Japan’s oldest church, or pass the verdant harbour towards the hiking routes that snake through the surrounding volcanic hills”.


6. Chiang Mai, Thailand
“This former capital of the Lanna Kingdom feels plucked from the pages of history, where visitors browse stalls of antique jewellery…among archaic alleyways…yet despite this, a young, creative population has taken up residency in Chiang Mai bringing an exciting buzz…alongside majestic chedis (stupas) are cafés known for their latte art, mural-walled fusion cuisine restaurants and the newly-opened, award-winning MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum”.


7. Lumbini, Nepal
“For decades, Lumbini was somewhere travellers flashed through en route from India to Nepal, unaware they had passed within yards of the birthplace of the historical Buddha. Today, Lumbini is on the ascendancy…a new international airport is under construction offering a safer route into Nepal, and ever-more aweing temples are springing up”. Despite these developments, “the town’s cardinal draw will remain its tranquillity”.


8. Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Despite Sri Lanka emerging as one of the world’s hottest travel destinations, Arugam Bay, a surf town on the country’s east coast, has miraculously managed to retain its cool. While holidaymakers swarm the country’s ancient citadels and hiker-strewn hill stations, here you’ll find barefooted boarders sprawled outside vegan cafes and scrawled signs on hotel doors reading: ‘gone surfing, back soon’.


Renowned as a long-time surf haven, the town boasts breaks to satisfy all levels, along with a number of schools to get everyone hanging 10. If the turquoise swells can’t tug you in, Arugam Bay has authentically grown its on land offering, with an increase in beachside bars and makeshift music festivals; plus a handy proximity to Kumana National Park, home to leopards, elephants and crocodiles.


9. Sìchuãn Province, China
“Far-flung villages, towering skylines, giant pandas and fiery cuisine; Sìchuãn Province is a microcosm of modern China…gain perspective surveying the Lè Shãn Grand Buddha or climb Éméi Shãn to absolve a lifetime’s sins…ride the first section of the Sìchuãn-Tibet Railway to visit time-frozen Tibetan villages…or spot the mushrooming of luring brewpubs and boutique hotels in cosmopolitan Chéngdū.”


10. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
“New flight connections have made Komodo National Park more accessible than ever. Aside from laying eyes on the illustrious Komodo dragon, visitors to this cerulean-silhouetted archipelago can hike to hallowed viewpoints on Padar, sample laid-back beachside living on Kanawa and dive with a mind-boggling array of marine life in the reefs. A nature enthusiast’s nirvana”.

Related Posts

Seylan Home Loans Relaunched
August 2018

Seylan Home Loans Relaunched

Blue Ocean Group Wins The Most Number Of Accolades At Asia Property Awards 2018
August 2018

Blue Ocean Group Wins The Most Number Of Accolades At Asia Property Awards 2018

NLB Offers Over 4.1 Billion Rupees Cash Prizes During First Half Of 2018
August 2018

NLB Offers Over 4.1 Billion Rupees Cash Prizes During First Half Of 2018

business-today-logo

Location

20-2/1 Lauries Place Facing R A de Mel Mawatha Colombo 04.

Contact

+94 715 134 134

Email

info@btoptions.com

© 2023 BT Options. All Rights Reserved.