S ri Lanka means 'Resplendent Island', and the name truly justifies this beautiful island nation. Its stunning landscape is filled with endless beauty and timeless ruins that allure travelers. Located at the tip of southern India in the Indian ocean, the tiny island is known as the 'Teardrop of India'. Home to Elephants, centuries-old temples, scenic train rides, lovely people, and delicious food, there is no lack of enjoyment on this island. From the vibrant capital, Colombo to a plethora of enchanting beaches, hill stations, national parks, and heritage sites, you'll not run out of attractions to explore in Sri Lanka. A mix of traditional values and the modern environment makes Sri Lanka one of the top destinations in the world.
Once you land at this beautiful destination in Asia, you will understand why it is described as "the finest island in the world." Sri Lanka is a destination for all types of travelers. The lovely beaches are for romantic couples to relax under the coconut palms. Brave hearts come here to play with the rolling surfs. The verdant rainforests invite the trekkers to find a way to reach the towering peaks. Many UNESCO world heritage sites allow you to explore the fascinating past of this island. So small in size but offering so much to experience, Sri Lanka is simply captivating. The most favorable thing is that Sri Lanka is not at all expensive. So you can enjoy a memorable vacation in Sri Lanka without emptying your pocket and enjoy the authentic charm of this pretty island.
This popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka is the largest temple complex in the country. Dambulla cave temple houses statues and paintings that date back to the 12th Century AD. There are five halls in the temple of different sizes, and each of the halls contains a calm and elegant statue of Buddha in different positions. The milky white temple located on a black rocky mountain creates an eye-catching contrast of color. You can enjoy the spectacular views of the surroundings from the top of the temple. The temple is easily accessible from both Colombo and Candy.
Yala National Park is a paradise for wildlife lovers and is among the top visiting places in Sri Lanka. Nowhere else can you experience wildlife in such a pure and vigorous way. Spot the mother elephant getting its kid bathed in the stream while others in the group are tossing their trunks or see leopards taking a nap on the branches of trees. You can also opt for a jungle safari or a nature walk in the park.
Yala National Park is also an excellent place for camping in Sri Lanka. If you like wildlife photography, don't miss the opportunity here. At night enjoy a barbeque party with your friends under the stars. It takes a few hours' drive for a day trip to Yala National Park from Colombo.
With a coastline extending more than 1600 km, there is much opportunity for watersports in Sri Lanka. Under the azure skies and amid slanting coconut trees, Arugam Bay is an ideal place for windsurfing, speed boating, and other adventure activities. Located about 320 Km from Colombo, Arugam Bay is famous for sunbathing, surfing, and sipping coconut water.
The gorgeous Galle Fort is among the most visited places in Sri Lanka. The calm environment, wide cobblestoned roads, and many cafes and restaurants in the area make for a fun holiday. The fascinating thing here is the sunset views behind the distant horizon. You can also explore several trinket shops and art galleries in the Galle.
Located inside the royal palace complex in Kandy, the Temple of Tooth houses the relics of the tooth of Lord Buddha. This is one of the most popular tourist places and pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka. This Buddhist temple is famous for its beautiful design and the interesting history behind it. The iconic temple in Sri Lanka is set up in serene and spectacular surroundings. Temple Of Tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha after the king of Kalinga in India transferred the tooth relic to Sri Lanka to protect it from the enemies. The temple is now listed among the UNESCO world heritage sites.
Located in Udawalawe, this national park is a must-visit place in Sri Lanka for wildlife lovers. It is the best place to enjoy the sight of elephants in Sri Lanka. You can also spot other animals in the park, such as peacocks, water buffalo, crocodiles, jackals, monkeys, and deer. For the best experience, you can go for an early morning safari in Udawalawe National Park.
Located in Sabaragamuwa, Adam’s Peak is among the famous tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Besides picturesque views, the peak has a spiritual significance. Travelers of different beliefs trek to this peak to view the footprint cast on a big stone. Buddhists believe it is the footprint of Lord Buddha, and according to Christians, it is Adam’s footprint. The best time to visit Adam’s Peak is during full moon night or before the sunrise to enjoy the spectacular views.
One of the best attractions in Sri Lanka, Nine Arch Bridge, is located in the charming hill station, Ella. Also known as the Bridge in the Sky, it is among the iconic sights in Sri Lanka. You can enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding area, which comprises lush greenery and tea plantations. The Nine Arch Bridge is unique for its construction. The Bridge is made up of cement, brick, and stone without steel. The best time to visit the place is during the sunrise.
USEFUL INFORMATION
All travelers, including business travelers and vacationers, must obtain Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit Sri Lanka.
You can apply for a Business Purpose Visa at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration and the Overseas Missions of Sri Lanka. Business Purpose Visas are granted to foreign nationals who come to Sri Lanka for a short period of time for business purposes. You can avail of both single and double journeys with a business visa.
A Sri Lankan Tourist Visa is issued to those who want to visit the country for excursions, sightseeing, holidaying, visiting relatives, or yoga training for a short period of time. For a Sri Lankan Visa, travelers need to have a passport with a minimum validity of six months, a return ticket, and adequate funds to maintain their livelihood in Sri Lanka.
BANKS & BUSINESS HOURS
Government Offices in Sri Lanka remain open from Monday to Friday, and the working hours are from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The working hours in banks are from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Some offices, banks, and shops are open on Saturday morning.
The closing hours of Restaurants and bars vary from place to place depending upon the local rules. Some of the major banks in Sri Lanka are Amana Bank, Bank of Ceylon, Bank of China Limited, etc.
Local Time: GMT + 8
Sri Lanka experiences a tropical climate. Like many other South-East Asian countries, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to mid-April, when lovely weather accompanies sightseeing in Sri Lanka.
The mountainous area that is part of Southern Sri Lanka has an altitude of 2500m with peaks, ridges, plateaus, valleys, basins, and cliffs. The rest of Sri Lanka is flat with small hills. These diverse characteristics strongly affect the climate of Sri Lanka.
The southwestern part experiences monsoon from April to September and dry season from December to March. The coastal regions of northeastern Sri Lanka see rain from October to January and dry weather from May to September.
It is prohibited to bring any item ridiculing any religious belief, injurious drugs or narcotic substances, and Pornographic or seditious materials to Sri Lanka.
While traveling on domestic flights, you cannot keep penknives and other sharp objects, batteries, liquids, matchboxes and lighters, and some electronic items in your cabin baggage. So please keep them in your check-in luggage.
TRAVELLERS' BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
The standard free allowance in the case of the government-owned Indian Airlines is 20 kg in Economy class, and for First Class, it is 30 kg. However, this may be different based on the airlines in private airlines.
DEPARTURE TAX IN AIRPORT
You need not pay any tax at the airport. It is included in your ticket price.
The national currency of Sri Lanka is Rupee, which is further divided into 100 cents. The denomination of the coin is 1, 2, 5, and 10 Rupees, and for note, it is 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 Rupees.
You can bring money to Sri Lanka in foreign currencies in the mode of traveler Cheques, Bank drafts, or currency notes. However, if the total sum exceeds US$ 15,000, you must declare it to the Customs of Sri Lanka.
Most hotels, restaurants, and other shops accept major credit cards such as American Express, Visa, and MasterCard.
Those traveling from Africa or Latin America should have a valid certificate of vaccination for Yellow fever and Meningitis before they visit Sri Lanka. It would help if you had up-to-date Hepatitis A, Polio, and Tetanus shots before your trip to Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and Chikungunya are common. So taking adequate protection against mosquitoes is recommended.
Also, pack sunscreens and other lotions for protection from the sun, sting relief creams, insect repellents, and water purifying tablets and medicines for stomach problems or indigestion for your Sri Lanka trip.
Tap water is not safe for drinking as it may not be purified. It is safe to drink bottled water unless you have a water filter or are sure that the water has been boiled. Don't take the ice in your drinks outside your hotel.
Avoid ice cream and other roadside foods, uncooked or half-cooked foods. Eat fruit or vegetables only that can be peeled.
In Sri Lanka, you will find two types of plug bases; either the UK (Type G) or India (Type D) in the hotels and other places. You may need to get an adapter for your devices.
The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamil. Most of the people in restaurants, shops, and other places can speak English that makes easy communication with travellers. Road signs are written both in English and Sinhalese across the country, with few exceptions.
Shopping makes for an interesting experience during the Sri Lanka tour. You will find both small shops and luxurious shopping centers in Sri Lanka. You can take a break to enjoy a small snack and drink at one of the roadside cafes while shopping for local handicraft products.
Handicraft shopping is a must to do when you are in Sri Lanka. You can look at Makara (a mythical animal, lion, swan, elephant, and lotus) most evident in brasswork (boxes, trays, lanterns, vases). Ornately carved and filigree silver jewelry, tea sets, etc., make for excellent souvenirs. Besides, lacquerware, ritual masks, batik, lace, handloom textiles, and wood carvings are popular things to buy in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is home to the widest variety of precious stones. As a result, it is among the world's major gem-producing countries. Blue sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, cat's eye, garnets, moonstones, aquamarines, and topazes are the items that shine in various shops across the market.
Don't forget to buy some Sri Lankan tea and sip a cup in a local tea shop. It is one of the great pleasures to take during a trip to Sri Lanka.
Though it has a distinct taste, Sri Lankan cuisine has some similarities to South Indian food. The main ingredients of Sri Lankan cuisine are coconuts and fish. Fish curry is a common dish, while coconut is used differently to enhance the taste.
In Sri Lanka, a meal is called "rice and curry". This term denotes almost all food in general. You will find a rich array of flavor combinations in Sri Lankan food. Some common flavors are bitter melon, sweet caramelized onion relishes, spicy scraped coconut, the burn of curry tamed by mild rice, and palm sugar-sweetened desserts.
There are different tastes to savor in Sri Lanka. Desserts are a part of the main meals in Sri Lanka. A popular dessert in Sri Lanka is Aluva. It is prepared from rice flour, sugar, milk, butter, and spices (cardamom and cloves). Another popular dessert in Sri Lanka is Watalappam. It is made from Coconut milk, jaggery, eggs, and spices (cardamom and cloves). This item is usually served at weddings.
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