Sri Lanka is known to the world as the “Pearl of the
Indian Ocean” for its picturesque wonders of the Sea surrounding Sri Lanka and
sparkle as a tempting wonder in Asia. Sri Lanka has become a captivated tourist
destination not just for it`s mesmerising tropical climate but also for
impeccable mountains and rivers, impressive rain forests, spectacular
historical places and the culture; not to mention the extraordinary Sri Lankan
cuisines. Sri Lanka offers an unforgettable journey for all kinds of travellers
within these iconic borders by giving the chance to spend a leisurely vacation
ultimately extending your experience to an exciting adventure.
Things to do
Visit Dalawella
Beach
If you’ve researched your trip to Sri Lanka on Instagram
at all you most definitely will have seen this swing. It used to just be a
swing used by locals hanging out this gorgeous stretch of coastline, but the
minute a few visiting tourists got some sick sunset shots on the swing and
posted them on the ‘gram, it’s been a top spot to visit in Sri Lanka.
Get cultured in Kandy
If you’re lucky enough to be in Sri Lanka in late July or
early August, then you need to experience the famous Esala Perahara Festival
(also known as the Festival of The Tooth Relic). It takes place in Kandy and is
the largest Buddhist celebration in the county, attracting up to a million
people over the ten-day festival period.
Think decorated elephants, fire jugglers, dancers,
drummers and fire breathers taking to the streets to form one spectacular and
super colourful parade.
Take to Kandy to Ella train
The most famous train ride in Sri Lanka is the train from
Kandy to Ella, that winds it’s was cross country and past hundreds of acres of
super green tea plantations. The train can be quite crowded with many people
hanging out the train doors and trying to squash into the train carriages and
standing for long periods.
Overcrowding aside, it’s one of the most beautiful train
rides in the world and ends in Ella, a picturesque town in Sri Lanka’s hill
country.
Go surfing in Weligama
In English Weligama translates to “Sandy Village” which
sums up this beautiful bay in the South of Sri Lanka perfectly. Weligama, and
nearby Midigama, is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to go surfing thanks to
perfect waves sets and a long, untouched coastline.
Beaches here are a little more wild than on the East
coast, whcih only adds to the charm of the area. It’s also famous for the
fishermen who stand on stilts in the water, and are probably some of the most
photographed people in Sri Lanka!
Weligama is also home to the Cape Weligama Hotel, one of
the most luxurious hotels in the country with the most beautiful half moon
swimming pool, perched on a hill and overlooking the ocean.
Visit historic Dambulla
Just a 20-minute drive from Sigiriya is the important
town if Dambulla, also part of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Dambulla is most
famous for The Golden Temple and the Dambulla Cave complex which tourists can
visit.
The temple and caves have been a sacred pilgrimage site
for over 22 centuries and according to UNESCO it’s the most well-preserved cave
temple in the country. The cost of tickets to visit is just $10 per person.
Hiking in Knuckles
Mountain Range
The Knuckles Mountain Range is one of the lesser known
places to visit in Sri Lanka, a factor that makes hiking here all the more
special. You will be lucky if you come across even one other tourist, with most
people visiting the area locals who consider this their little hidden gem.
The views are beyond spectacular driving up through the
mountains, past smaller hills, waterfalls, rivers and even tea plantations. It
can get very windy up here but the hiking is out of this world and the views
will honestly make you realise why Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful
countries in the world.
Climb Pidurangala Rock
Opposite Sigiriya is Pidurangala Rock, which I think is
the best place to hike for spectacular views of Sigiriya. You can also do a
relaxing boat trip in the area, across a lake filled with lily pads and with
gorgeous views of Sigiriya in the distance.
It only takes 30 minutes to hike up Pidurangala but the
views are spectacular and it’s worth the climbing over rocks and sweat it takes
to get put here!
Climb Sigiriya Rock
No visit to Sri Lanka would be complete without visiting
the country’s most famous rock fortress, Sigiriya. Whether you visit for
sunrise or sunset Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a view to behold.
The site itself is teeming with history, from the ancient
fortress at the top, to the famous Lion rock and the sprawling water gardens.
Do an elephant safari
By far one of the top things to do in Sri Lanka, going on
an elephant safari was always going to be top of this list. Sri Lanka takes
great pride in protecting their elephants, and killing one of these gorgeous
protected species carries the death penalty. There are currently between 2,500
and 4,000 wild elephants in Sri Lanka, with many now living in National Parks
as the country becomes more developed.
The best places to go on safari in Sri Lanka include
Kaudulla National Parl and Minneriya National Park in Central Sri Lanka and
Yala National Park down south. You can see up to 300 elephants, in herds of 15
to 20 at a time, walking with their young, bathing or eating their insanely
huge daily intake of grass!
Whale watching in Mirissa
Besides going on an elephant jeep safari, whale watching
off the coast of Mirissa was one of the most memorable experiences I had in Sri
Lanka. There aren’t too many places in the world where you are almost
guaranteed to see Blue Whales, the largest mammals on earth, just an hour out
to sea.
You’ll also spot dolphins, pilot whales and a whole range
of other marine life, if you’re lucky.
Take a plane ride
If you’re looking for a REALLY unique activity to do in
Sri Lanka, why jot sign up for a plane ride in a tiny Cessna plane, where the
pilot even lets the front passenger to have a chance at flying the plane!
Cinnamon Air and a few others companies offer domestic
flights within Sri Lanka, making it easier to get from places like Jaffna to
tourist hotspots such as the beach es down south or the cultural triangle in
the middle of the country. We flew from Jaffna to Sigiriya and it was one of
the coolest things I’ve ever done in Sri Lanka!
Find Sri Lanka’s best beaches
With over 800 miles, or 1300km, or uninterrupted
coastline, one of the absolute best things to do in Sri Lanka is to go on a
beach hopping adventure. Whether you go north or south, east or west, there are
secret beaches, fun beach bars, surf spots and coconut lined stretches of sand
in every direction.
Some of my favourite beaches can be found on the Southern
coast next to Mirissa and the quieter eastern beaches like Pasikuda, where
you’ll have miles and miles of remote sandy beaches all to yourself.
FOOD
From among a vast range of dishes to eat in Sri Lanka.Start off the list with Fish Ambul Thiyal (sour fish curry), the most popular among the various fish curries available. The most important ingredient here is the dried goraka, a small fruit that gives the fish its sour flavor. Kottu is Sri Lanka’s version of a hamburger. A type of roti known as the godamba roti is fried and chopped with a selection of ingredients handpicked by you. Kukul Mas Curry is the good old chicken curry you cannot go wrong with. It is infused with local spices and a generous dollop of coconut milk to thicken the gravy. Gotu Kola Mallung (Salad) is a native plant, and the salad is made by combining it with tomato, coconut, chilli and shallots.
HOTELS
The Long House
Tri
Taru
Fort Printers
FLIGHTS
The cheapest flight from India to Sri Lanka is from Chennai to Colombo, with airfares starting at INR 8591.2The most popular airlines flying from India to Sri Lanka are AirAsia India, US-Bangla Airlines, Qatar Airways ,Sri Lankan Air Lines,Go Air .The most popular
city destinations in Sri Lanka are Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Koggala
Best time to visit
- In a nutshell, the best time to visit the west and south coasts and hill country is from December to March, while the best weather on the east coast is from April/May to September.
- Visa
- Visas on arrival are available. You will have to provide the details of the trip beforehand. Also, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your expected date of departure. Yes, Visas on arrival are available.