Sri Lanka

Overview

Sri Lanka ( Sinhala : ශ්‍රී ලංකා Śrī Laṃkā ; Tamil : இலங்கை Ilaṅkai ), formerly known as Ceylon , is an island in the Indian Ocean , just south of India . It is known for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Sri Lanka's cultural landscape includes the (mostly Buddhist) Sinhalese and the (mostly Hindu) Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.

The indigenous inhabitants of the island are the Vedda people. Groups ancestral to the modern Veddas most likely as far back as 40,000 years ago. Today, Vedda people are a tiny minority and their languages and culture are on the verge of extinction due to cultural assimilation.

Sri Lanka has more than 2,500 years of continuous written history, beginning with the historical epic Mahawansha , and was also mentioned in several ancient Indian texts. One of the most famous is the Ramayana , in which the island, which was referred to as Lanka, was the island fortress of the king Ravana, who captured the wife of Rama, an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Legend has it that Hanuman the monkey flew over to Lanka and destroyed the capital by setting it on fire, while Rama and his remaining troops later crossed over from the mainland by building a land bridge across the sea.

Sights and landscapes

Admission fees for foreigners to many of the tourist sites are up to ten times those for locals. And nowadays even the remotest Buddha statue or waterfall charges Rs 300 or more.

Experiences

From November to April you can surf on the western and southern coast. Best place for the beginners is Weligama on the southern coast. Arugam Bay is famous for surfing.

You can kitesurf on the eastern coast. The best place for the beginners is Kalpitiya (Sethawadi and Kappaladi lagoons), where you can find kite schools and the best conditions in Asia.

White water rafting is done in tropical rainforests, where the rowers use an inflatable raft which is sent down small waterfalls. Places like Kitulgala in Sabaragamuwa Province are famous for this outdoor activity.

Likewise Knuckles Mountain Range offers many guided hikes and campsites. Go to nearby Meermure if you are an individual traveller — at least two hikes and some climbing can be found here.

Around Adam's Peak many trails can be found, if you look properly — of course beside the peak itself. In addition, Delhousie (the base camp for Adam's Peak) connects to Gartmore Falls, which also have many trails, waterfalls and river pools in their proximity.

There are over 400 bird species in Sri Lanka, and over 30 of them are endemic. Bird watching is an excellent activity to take on during a visit to the island. The only requirement would be a binocular and a field guide which you can easily purchase from local bookshops and Plazas (When buying field guides, publications of Ceylon bird club and FOGSL (Field ornithology group Sri Lanka) are highly recommended.)

The best place for birdwatching is Kumana National Park , which is known for its multitude of vagrants and migrants. Places like Mannar and Chilaw are filled with migratory birds (mostly waders) during migrating seasons. If you want to see birds from deep forests, the best place for that is the Sinharaja Forest Reserve , the home to almost all the endemic birds of Sri Lanka. Another good place is Bundala National Park near Yala National Park .

This can be done from Mirissa with many companies providing whale watching tours from the harbour. Expect the seas to be heaving, the boat to be lurching, the whales to be few and far between with dozens of whale-watching boats chasing them down and stressing them out.

Sri Lanka has a history of over 2500 years and many ancient ruins can be seen around the country. If you like archaeology, sightseeing might be a great choice. The suggested places are in the Central Province , places such as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are the most famous for sightseeing.

Culture and food

Sri Lanka and South Indian food share a lot in common, and many local restaurants describe their menus as Sri Lankan & South Indian . There are several uniquely Sri Lankan dishes, though, such as the different types of hopper, devilled meat and/or fish, cuttlefish, etc., and the common fiery addition to any curry, pol sambol made of grated coconut, red chilli powder and lime juice.

The variety of Sri Lankan food is not very wide. Most places sell the same stuff, fried snacks, the same baked goods, kottu, roti, curry, and from time to time you will find a dosa place. Otherwise, there are Chinese and Western restaurants.

Planning your route

Sri Lanka has a strong public transport network linking nearly all tourist destinations, making independent travel very easy. Roads can be terrifying due to local driving traditions — see #Stay safe . Together with occasional massive crowds (especially on holidays), often lacking luggage space, buses may not seem like the most appealing way of travel for some. Yet, they offer great opportunities for interaction with locals, are cheap, plentiful and have different price points (express/local, public/private). Harassment of women travelling alone was frequent in the past, but Sri Lanka seems to have grown up since then.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.