It’s this sort of colonial attitude the island formerly known as Ceylon has shaken off so spectacularly, forging its own identity as a racially diverse nation comprising Sinhalese, Tamil, Moors, Malays and many more communities.
Sri Lanka is much more than just a tea-producing nation. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, boasting lush tropical rainforests, picturesque beaches, and historical sites containing striking remnants of its ancient and colonial heritage.
If you have two to three weeks to spare, you can see most of what Sri Lanka has to offer given its compact nature.
Start your trip from the capital Colombo, and stay in the classic Galle Face Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in the country. Within a couple of days you can sample all the culinary, shopping and nightlife attractions this city has to offer, as well as taking in a quick visit to the national museum and the iconic Gangaramaya Temple.
Once you’ve had your fill of this bustling and friendly city, the options are endless. You can take a trip down the south coast of the country and take in the breathtaking Dutch fort at Galle and relax at the beachside towns of Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna. If you travel further east from Galle, you will encounter the beautiful Yala National Park, a real opportunity to see much of the indigenous wildlife of Sri Lanka, including elephants, leopards and an array of reptiles and birds.
Travel east from Colombo to the hill country and visit Kandy, a bustling city that features the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This temple houses one of Sri Lanka’s most important relics, a tooth of Buddha.
From Kandy, take a trip south to Nuwara Eliya, a perpetually cool resort that still contains telling signs of its colonial past. Use Nuwara Eliya as a base to visit the stunning Horton Plains, essentially one huge plateau featuring some tiring yet rewarding hikes. All trails culminate with a breathtaking view at World’s End, an escarpment that has a steep drop for almost 880 meters.
No trip to Sri Lanka is complete unless you visit the ancient cities of Sri Lanka, the so-called Cultural Triangle of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. Rightfully recognized by UNESCO as one of its heritage sites, this triumvirate is a living and breathing testimony to Sri Lanka’s ancient and rich past.
Sri Lanka has so much more to offer though, so here are five tips to help you make the most of your trip to this beautiful country.
Visiting Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya must be top of your list of things to do when you first set foot in Sri Lanka. You only need to allow around three to four days to see all the sites and tourists are very well catered for thanks to the multitude of good hotels in the area.
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s oldest city and first capital, features an array of bell-shaped dagobas (Buddhist monuments) and temples, as well as the remains of Buddhist monks’ living quarters and three vast irrigation lakes.
Polonnaruwa used to be a magnificent walled city. Today it’s a fossil of what once stood. However, telling traces of its history still remains, such as a remarkable rock carving depicting a seated Buddha at the Gal Vihara, or Rock Shrine. Another well-preserved Buddha carving at the same site depicts him lying down, while a third shows him standing up with arms crossed.
Sigiriya features the remains of a palace on top of a 200-meter-high rock with a flat summit. A pair of remarkably well-preserved giant stone lion’s paws guard the stairs to the top. At the rock’s base you can still see the remnants of an ancient city, complete with moats and water gardens.
Finish off your mini-trip by visiting the Golden Temple of Dambulla, featuring numerous murals depicting the history of ancient Sri Lanka as well as many rock temples. Visitors have to climb 100 meters barefoot before reaching these fantastic sights.
There are many national parks in Sri Lanka where visitors can catch glimpses of the indigenous wildlife. Yala National Park is probably the most popular, but there are others, such as Galoya, Kumana, and Horton Plains.
Those with a bit of time should definitely consider checking out the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, around 45 kilometers east of Kandy. It does carry a hefty entrance fee and there have been concerns from conservationists and tourists about how the animals are treated, but it is worth any visitor’s consideration at least.
Sri Lanka has a plethora of beach areas where visitors can unwind. The most popular include those at the towns of Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna along the south coast. Both resorts offer an opportunity to party, relax with an Ayurvedic massage, or just simply lounge by the golden beaches.
There are other options though. North of Colombo is the fishing village of Negombo, while on the east coast is Trincomalee, apparently described by 18th century British admiral Horatio Nelson as having the finest harbor in the world. Both have safe beaches for tourists. Other notable mentions include Jaffna to the far north coast of the country, and Bentota, just over 60 kilometers south of Colombo.
If you have a bit of time to kill after visiting the Cultural Triangle, then there are more fine examples of heritage in Sri Lanka. Top of this list is Galle, a living monument to the country’s Dutch colonial era. It features a well-preserved sea fort, where locals look after their businesses and civil servants run ministerial offices in old colonial buildings. There are also fascinating landmarks such as an old lighthouse and Dutch Reformed Church.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a natural world heritage site in the south of the country featuring an extensive tropical rainforest. If you fancy taking a pilgrimage, then attempt to climb up the 2,240-meter high Adams Peak whose summit features the sacred Buddhist Sri Pada rock formation, believed to be the footprint of Buddha.
If you do not have time and prefer to spend most of your time in Colombo, then check out the national museum, housing an extensive collection of artifacts from the country’s ancient and colonial past.
If you’re after a bit of a city break, Sri Lankan capital Colombo can definitely satisfy your needs. It has great shopping facilities, lively nightspots, and a wide variety of beach side restaurants for that romantic touch.
There are plenty of clubs, pubs and bars to let your hair down. Notable mentions include Blue Elephant and White Horse. Otherwise, enjoy a meal at the classy and expensive Tintagel, the old residence of the world’s first woman prime minister, or the tasty seafood at Mt. Lavinia Hotel’s Seafood Cove beachside restaurant. Of course, there is a wide range of restaurants to cater to all tastes.
Then, visit the Crescat Shopping Center at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel for a modern shopping experience under one roof.
Wrap up your visit with a trip to one of the numerous spas in the city, and you have pretty much sampled everything Sri Lanka has to offer.
