Travel Guide to Sri Lanka

About the Location

Home to timeless ruins, endless beaches, flavorful food and friendly locals, Sri Lanka is simply irresistible. To add to it, the natural beauty, culture and history of this country make it undeniably alluring.

Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

Here are a few must see places of Sri Lanka:

• Verdant and rugged landscapes

  With the trinity of Indian Ocean, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait surrounding the entire landmass covering the total area of 65,610 sq. km, Sri Lanka will surely make you fall in love with its beauty.

• Beautiful beaches with abundant seawater

  The various beaches in Sri Lanka include Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Negombo, Beruwala, Bentota, etc.

• Undisturbed nature

  Surrounded by water, Sri Lanka is the home to huge forestlands. Teak, mahogany, ironwood, ebony, and satinwood are few of the famous hardwood found there. Sri Lanka is also the home to some of the rarest water birds like spoonbills, ibis, pelicans and storks, along with their national bird, the Junglefowl.

  Considered to be the jewel of the Indian Ocean, the island country is located in the southeast of India enticing you with its crumbling, overgrown ruins and copious wildlife.

How to Reach?

If you are anticipating a trip in the near or distant future for things to do in Sri Lanka, then the one thing you would need to do is to know how to reach there. There are numerous ways to reach there:

• The easiest way to reach Sri Lanka is by air
• Bandaranaike International Airport and Colombo International Airport are the only airports of Sri Lanka
• Regular flights to and from the Island are available from Thiruvananthapuram, and Chennai operated by Indian Airlines
• You can also fly out to Colombo from other major metropolitan cities of India like Delhi or Mumbai
• Ferry services are also offered from Munnar in India to the jewel of Indian Ocean

Best Time to Visit

If you are thinking or planning to visit the tourist places in Sri Lanka, then it is worth bearing in mind that the climate of Sri Lanka is rather complicated with two separate monsoons forming the basic climate pattern of the country.

The best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to March, which is the ideal time to visit the west and south coasts and the hill country. Then the best time to visit the east coast of Sri Lanka is from April-May to September when they enjoy a moderate weather. Sri Lanka close to the Equator ensuring that the temperature of the region remain constant round the year.

What to Pack

p>The basic question that haunts the mind of any traveler visiting the country for the first time other than Sri Lanka points of interest is what to pack.

Travel light by packing light clothes of cotton to beat the heat and humidity of the area.

• Clothes

  Shorts and t-shirts accompanied with a fine and sturdy pair of sandals is all you need to explore the country. But we also advise you to pack a couple of light and long-sleeved tops as well because they can keep you safe from mosquitoes and other insects.

  You would need clothes that cover your shoulders and knees if you want to visit temples, as nothing offends the locals more than the sight of a skimpy figure loitering in the temple corridors.

  While carrying cotton is accordance with the climate of Sri Lanka, you should carry waterproofs and walking shoes to travel through the Hill country. 

• Accessories

  Picking up a cheap umbrella would be good to protect yourself from the rain and damaging effects of sun.

• Travel Insurance

  Whether you are travelling for leisure or business, it is essential to purchase travel insurance to get coverage. Ailments and accidents can arise during vacation as well, therefore, it is essential to purchase travel insurance which will come handy in case of unforeseen events like illness or accident, loss of baggage, etc.

Top Delicacies

A few of the delicious delicacies that are provided to the tourists on the jewel of the Indian Ocean are as follows:

• Rice and Curry:The Sri Lankans serve you with a generous helping of steamed rice, with a side curry of fish, chicken, or mutton, along with pickled vegetables or fruits.
• Kiribath:Generally served as breakfast, the dish is basically soft and porridge-like rice that is cooked at home with salted coconut milk till the grains melt.
• Kottu: It is a spicy fried concoct, shredded bread or roti served with vegetables or edibles meat, eggs, or cheese.
• Hoppers:It is a fermented batter generally made of the flour of rice, coconut milk along with a number of spices accompanied with red onions or spices.
• String Hoppers:It is a simple dough made of hot-water wheat flour or rice meal pressed in circles and steamed.
• Pittu:It is a grated coconut which is mixed with steamed rice.

Shopping List Essentials

If you are a shopaholic, there are various amazing places from where you can shop. Make sure you visit the following places and indulge in shopping spree like a local.

• Orchid House:From vivacious jewellery, clothing, tea and spices, here you would find so much that you will never leave with a small bag.
• Barefoot:Fancy clothing, colorful textiles, beautiful homeware—if these are enough to tickle you, Barefoot is the ideal place for you.
• Paradise Road:From a stylish range of home accessories to other amazing handicrafts, this is a must-visit store if you appreciate minimalism.
• Negombo:It is a paradise for home carved toys and souvenirs.

Healthcare Centers

Health care is provided around the island and every tourist stepping in country must save Sri Lanka’s emergency medical services number which is 110. If you have a travel insurance policy, you can contact the insurer who would help you in getting good medical treatment at leading hospitals.

Moreover, your travel insurers may also offer cashless treatment at networked hospitals in Sri Lanka, i.e., you can get treatment without paying medical expenses as expenditure would be paid the insurer. Check with your insurer for more info.

Basics of Local Communication

Expect these styles of greetings to be used in Sri Lanka:

• The older generation of Sri Lankans would clasp their palms together and say Namaste with a slight nod of the head
• The Sinhalese would greet you with an Ayubowan which means long life
• Tamils would similarly say Vanakkam meaning welcome and Kuhomadu asking if all is well
• In Sri Lanka while addressing people you should wait for the other party to use your first name as it is deemed highly inappropriate there to use someone’s first name in the first meeting

Sinhala, Tamil and English are official languages of the country. Learning these basic Sinhala and Tamil phrases will give you more smiles from Sri Lankans.

Sinhala