Sri Lanka

What to see

Colombo

The capital is a fusion of tradition and more contemporary styles. The military Fort dating from Dutch and Portuguese occupation forms the commercial centre but the parks and gardens full of seasonal flowers are the areas to stroll.

Kandy

The major city in Hill Country is a cultural haven for traditional customs, rituals and ways of life. Centred on an attractive lake, a warren of old shops and markets give way to rolling hills. Seek out the Temple of the Tooth and other celebrated temples before setting off on foot to explore the tea factories, colonial residences and pretty countryside.

Anuradhapura

Ancient capital city full of relics, carved Buddhas, dagobas and crumbling temples.

Galle

Colonial Dutch town within an old fort that’s full of history and atmosphere.

Jaffna

Northern city and the country’s Hindu-Tamil centre. Head here for the chance to see a different side to Sri Lanka amidst the battle-scarred streets, now full of colour, noise and hope.

Sigiriya

200m-tall mysterious rock fort ruin in the centre of the country, with stunning frescoes, and that affords visitors great views from its top.

Top experiences / sites of particular interest

Adam’s Peak

Sri Lanka’s holiest mountain and a pilgrimage site for more than 1000 years, this summit is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. Visit at sunset for the most superb views.

Unawatuna Beach

Stretch of glorious coastline close to Galle that has turtles nest on it and provides access to excellent diving off nearby reefs and wrecks.

Uppuveli Beach

Masses of empty, unspoiled sand in a less-visited part of the country.

Yala West National Park

Ideal for people looking to spot elephant and sambar deer.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Lush, Unesco-preserved rainforest park full of flora and fauna that has excellent trekking opportunities.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Conservation group that gives you the chance to see rescued elephants roaming free or bathing in the Maha Oya River.

When to go

Weather & Seasons: Sri Lanka’s climate is warm all year, except in the highland areas, where the temperatures are lower and the weather wetter. The country is hit by monsoon rains from May to August and October to January. The best times to visit the west and south coasts and Hill Country is December to March, but for the cities and east coast go between April and September.

Important Dates and Festivals: Festivals and events are based around the Buddhist and Hindu calendars. Esala Perahera is a season of events running from July to August and climaxes with the full moon of Esala – head to Kandy for the spectacular 10-day celebrations at this time. Full Moon day is celebrated every month and Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, features in October every year.

Getting there / around

Flights: There is an international airport in Colombo (CMB). Although there are a small number of internal flights.

Road & Rail: Your best bet is to get around on the reasonable rail and road network.

Potential itineraries

Substantially easier to get around than its neighbouring countries, Sri Lanka still demands that you take your time if you are to see all of it.

3/4 Weeks: You’ll need three to four weeks for Sri Lanka’s highlights; start in Colombo and head south along the coast to Galle. Drop in on Unawatuna Beach before turning inland and north to make your way towards Kandy via tea plantations, towering waterfalls and national parks. From Kandy it’s a simple ride back to the capital.

2/3 Weeks: To explore Sri Lanka’s ancient cities allow two to three weeks to stroll from the west coast inland to Dambulla and Sigiriya before pushing north to Anuradhapura via Minneriya National Park, home to Sri Lanka’s largest herds of elephant.

Top Tip: Take the train from Ella to Haputale to explore the picturesque tea plantations here.

Guides

Overall Country Guides:There are comprehensive country guidebooks for Sri Lanka available from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and Bradt. Insight also publishes an attractive, illustrated guide to Sri Lanka. For a condensed, pocket-sized introduction to the country pick up the Insight Step by Step guide to Sri Lanka or the guides to Sri Lanka from Berlitz and Luxe.

Nature Guides: Wildlife enthusiasts should pack the Birds of Sri Lanka from New Holland or Sri Lankan Wildlife from Bradt.

Maps

Overall Country Guides: ITMB produces a map combining Sri Lanka and South India.

Read More

Michael Ondaatje’s Running in the Family recounts a return to the country in the 1970s having spent many years growing up here in the ‘40s and ‘50s, and captures some of the quirks and oddities of life here.

More recently, Paul Theroux travelled through Sri Lanka whilst retracing his own footsteps in Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, covering the same ground he explored in The Great Railway Bazaar.

Local Dishes

Dine on spicy, coconut-infused curries and tuck into the rich fruit on offer, particularly the delicious durian. Drink the cider-like toddy, made from the sap of the palm tree, which when fermented becomes arrack, an alcoholic beverage of varying strength. The best mixer for arack is ginger ale. Alternatively stick to tea, which is a national obsession.

Sight & Sound

Film: Although the fledgling Sri Lankan film industry is yet to produce mainstream hits, the country itself has starred as the backdrop and setting for various features including Bridge on the River Kwai and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Language

Sinhala, Tamil and English are widely spoken.

Currency

Sri Lanka rupee (Rp) made up of 100 cents.

Visas

UK and US citizens require visas before entry to the country, although 30-day visas are available on arrival.

Health issues

Inoculations for hep A, hep B, rabies and typhoid are recommended. Malaria is also present in parts of the country.

Safety, FO travel advice

Sri Lanka has had a recent history of political turmoil, with a separatist guerrilla movement, the Tamil Tigers, periodically making attacks in the north and east. There have also been terror attacks in major cities meaning that visitors should be on their guard.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Sri Lankan country representatives can be found

in the UK at

and in the US at

There is a tourist board

in the UK at

For more information visit: www.srilankatourism.org, www.infolanka.com or www.travelsrilanka.com.