Mini Travel Guide: Sri Lanka

This is one of many Mini Travel Guides in which we get a taste of international puddle jumping.  This post is brought to us by the lovely Priyan!

Since 2008, I have visited Sri Lanka every year, sometimes making the trip twice a year. This year too, I have made the trip to Colombo, the beautiful capital of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka boasts of a rich heritage cradled in the Buddhist philosophy. The ruins of palaces and places of worship speak volumes of history and a colourful culture where hospitality and respect for elders reign supreme.

Modern Colombo is vibrant in every aspect. It’s a congested city and if you like a proper order in your life, Colombo is not the place for you. As you go higher into the mountain areas, you will see and feel the peace and serenity of this Paradise Island.

Must Go
Arugam Bay
Sri Lanka being an island has some beautiful beaches. However, Arugam bay is a must see. Situated in the east of the country, around 300 km from the capital city of Colombo. The beautiful sandy beach is a haven for swimmers and is also a great venue for surfers. Arugam Bay affords many beach resorts to choose from according to your taste and purse and most resorts come with Cabanas on the beach.

Sigiriya, Rock Fortress
The Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a must see in Sri Lanka. This is considered the Taj Mahal of Sri Lanka. Situated about 170 Km away from Colombo, this is a great tourist attraction. Every Sri Lankan has climbed this rock at least once in their life time to see the frescoes painted on the mirror wall. The top of the fortress housed a palace which was once home to King Kasyapa who it is said, killed his father to claim the throne.

The Sigiriya rock will amaze you with its astounding engineering and design and you have to climb to the top of the rock to see for yourself, the outstanding view. As you climb to the top of the rock, there is a certain extent of rock where one can see gigantic hornet’s nests built against the rock surface and visitors are expected to be extremely quiet so they would not upset the hornets. Sigiriya definitely is a historic and scenic beauty.

Must Do
Ride an Elephant
Elephants are in plenty in Sri Lanka, whether they be wild or tamed. One thing you Must Do is ride an elephant. There are elephant rides at the zoo and also at certain places that attract tourists. Elephants are usually found in the wild in herds in wild life parks. Many Buddhist temples own elephants and they are used in religious parades.

Water Skiing
Sri Lanka being an island, has some beautiful beaches and many hotels offer various water sports. Water skiing is an enjoyable sport available in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. If you love the ocean and are a sports enthusiast, you will enjoy the different water sports, the Banana boats the waterskiing, Para-sailing etc.

Must Eat
Lamprais
This is a rice dish available in Sri Lanka but of Dutch origin. Sri lanka was conquered by the Dutch in the 17th century and the country still bears the resemblance of the Dutch invasion. Lamprais came to stay in Sri Lanka as a delicious rice dish that many Sri Lankans enjoy. The dish consists of an aromatic rice such as Basmati, a meat curry, Ash Plantain, Egg plant, a boiled egg, a sambol and cutlet.

Iced Coffee
Iced Coffee is a delicious drink in Sri Lanka. Most restaurants and hotels serve iced coffee. It’s regular coffee and cream but with a little bit of vanilla added to it and iced. This is a hot commodity, specially because of the warm weather. An Iced Coffee will quench your thirst on a warm and sunny day. You should try this delicious coffee when in Sri Lanka. You can even request a scoop of ice cream in your iced coffee.

Tea
Ceylon Tea is world famous. Ceylon as Sri Lanka was originally known is home to some of the largest tea plantations in the world. Tea is Sri Lanka’s largest export commodity and a freshly brewed cup of Ceylon Tea is a definite must have if you ever visit this island nation.

Cultural Tips
Sri Lanka has many places of worship and there is much reverence given to a place of worship in this country. People take their religion seriously, whatever it may be. Skimpy clothing is definitely not allowed in places of worship, so ladies, remember to cover your arms and legs and wear a long skirt and top with sleeves. Guys too would be better off wearing long pants rather than shorts.

Sri Lankans are very hospitable and react sadly if their hospitality is rejected. Any family you visit will make sure to give you a cup of tea or a meal depending on the time of day and it’s good to accept this hospitality. Sri Lankans are very friendly by nature and most of them have a ready smile.

Travel on the Cheap
Sri Lanka has many modes of transportation available to visitors. The cheapest way to get about is to walk. However, the very warm weather may leave you very tired and thirsty after a short walk. Sri Lanka is a very small country and the capital city of Colombo is not a large city. You can get to most places in Colombo by foot. Please remember to keep to the side walks when walking as the roads are heavy with traffic and most drivers do not keep to traffic rules.

Buses are also a cheap way of getting around. Buses are usually very crowded during peak hours and it may be difficult to get on one. Most buses are over crowded and have people standing inside the bus. This situation is the same with trains.

I would not advise a tourist to take the bus or train but I would advise them to try the Tuk Tuk. The “Tuk Tuk” which is quite inexpensive and lots of fun. It’s a three wheeled vehicle that is covered and affords seating to about 3 people, but can even accommodate up to 5 individuals.

Thanks so much, Priyan!  Do any of you have Sri Lankan travel tips to share?