Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Introduction

Wildlife, national parks, temples, monasteries, ancient cities, palaces, tea plantations and water gardens are only some of the delights that visitors here will get to enjoy. They can also enjoy the fantastic beaches, warm hospitality and handicrafts of this magnificent country. Accommodation is not expensive and the delicious local cuisine is reasonably priced.

There are two main weather patterns in this tropical island; wet and dry. The weather at the higher altitudes, where the tea plantations are usually located, is much cooler. The tropical climate allows for a wide range of activities to be enjoyed and this is also one of the main draws for tourists who enjoy being outdoors.

Over the years the European influence began to impact society in Sri Lanka with the arrival and rule of the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British. Today there are two main groups of people in Sri Lanka; the Sinhalese and the Tamil. The main religion on the island is Buddhism but many islanders are also Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Catholics.

Colombo, the capital, is a mixture of the old and the new. The streets are congested with cars, trishaws and bullock carts, but are lined with magnificent buildings with colonial styled architecture. This is a city of diversity as temples, mosques and churches lay close to each other.

Anuradhapura, about 200 kilometres from Colombo, is said to have been built around a cutting from the ‘Tree of Enlightenment’ under whose shade the Lord Buddha obtained enlightenment. This was the island’s first capital, founded in 4 BC, but the city was abandoned after more than 600 years. Many beautiful ruins and sites remain from this period including temples, palaces and the ancient monastery.

Kandy, the hill city of Sri Lanka, was once the home of the last Sinhalese king who surrendered power to the British. It is a popular holiday destination because of the cool climate but it is also where thousands of pilgrims come to pay respect to Lord Buddha at the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple (Temple of Tooth).

Popular beach destinations on the south of the island are Bentota, Beruweda, Mount Lavinia, Hikkaduwa and Galle. The east coast also has some marvellous beaches with many bays and sheltered coves making it perfect for swimming. Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalkudah, Nilaveli and Arugam Bay are among the better beaches.

There are four main national parks here; Ruhunu National Park at Yala, Wialattu National Park, Gal Oya National Park at Inginiyagala and Uda Walawe National Park at Udawalawe. There are also several other smaller national parks scattered all around Sri Lanka.