Sri Lanka

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.
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• 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.