Gampaha town lies to the north of Colombo in a district of the same name that stretches from the golden, tourist-friendly beaches of Negombo to the lower reaches of the island’s rugged Hill Country. Separated from Colombo by the Kelaniya River, the region is famed for its almost ageless rural scene; plantations brimming with swaying coconut palms, prickly pineapples, aromatic spices and vast stretches of tranquil paddy land in between. Primarily forest land until 1826, Gampaha was discovered during the British colonial period when the Main Line railway between Colombo and Kandy was being constructed. It was the site of Asia’s first successful rubber tree plantation, and some of these trees can still be found in the city’s tranquil Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens today. Just as villages are sheathed in quiet simplicity, urban town centres are oppositely abuzz with activity as market traders come and go. Local eateries are numerous but most are basic and cater mainly to the local crowds. Conveniently located around an hour’s drive from the airport, this rural region is a favourite with travellers looking for peace and quiet that’s not too far off the beaten track.