Unesco and Ramsar world heritage sites, a vibrant culture enriched with religious values, and welcoming people are just a few of the reasons why this island nation is loved by many!
WHAT TO EXPLORE IN SRI LANKA?
Are you planning your trip and wondering what to explore in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most exquisite settings for nature and love. Enjoying a holiday with friends and family amid the green mountains is more than a blessing. Sri Lanka is a perfect place to eradicate negativity and relax under the pleasant climate and ascetic mountains.
The island is famous for its unique scenic beauty, diversified reefs of pristine sandy beaches, and many eye-catching wildlife safaris. Pristine beaches, misty mountains, wildlife sceneries, lovely tea gardens, and adventure sports could give you a remarkable holiday experience.
Sri Lanka is also famous for its hospitality, biodiversity, waterfalls, tea gardens, and various cultures living together. Even though it is a small island, it has many destinations to explore. It is an ideal destination for beach lovers with its intoxicating beaches and exotic animal sanctuaries.
If you are still wondering what to explore in Sri Lanka, read on!
BIO-DIVERSITY
WILD SAFARI
Sri Lanka is a haven for wildlife lovers due to its abundance of leopards, Sri Lankan elephants, blue whales, and birdlife. The entire country is a compact area of tourism infrastructure. It is one of the best wildlife travel destinations in the world, with such a diverse climate supporting the growth and habitation of some of the world’s rare, endemic, and endangered species.
One of the prime attractions is Yala National Park, famous for its leopards and wild elephants. The Sri Lankan leopard, Kotiya, is endemic to the island. Still, a keen leopard lover can spot them quickly as they lay lazily in the park. The Yala National Park and some other famous sanctuaries are in southeast Sri Lanka. You can reach it by bus or private, which takes around four hours (Colombo to Yala National Park). The favorite time to visit is between February and June, as it is easier to spot animals due to lower water levels in the park.
Udawalawe National Park is another magnificent national park established in the 1970s, where tourists can experience wildlife sightings full of marshes, grasslands, and elephants. The park is on the border side of the Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces of Sri Lanka and is famous for its rich diversity. The elephants are a prominent sight in Udawalawa. Some prime attractions include animals like leopards, water buffaloes, wild boars, spotted deer, and rare species of birds. To see Sri Lankan Elephant herds, you must visit Udawalawe between October and January for a better experience.
If you are making a list of things to explore in Sri Lanka, a visit to a national park should be at the top of it.
BEACH LOVE
SANDY BEACHES
Sri Lanka, the pearl of the south Indian Ocean, is famous for its lonely, pristine beaches and luxury beach resorts.
Unawatuna is a famous beach in southern Sri Lanka. It is famous for coral reefs, surfing, and rope swings. The purple-faced langur, an endangered species living in the forests of Unawatuna, is a common sight. The tropical climate and warm temperatures create a fresh feeling for tourists coming for a unique vacation.
The prime time to visit here is between December and April, and you can travel via public bus or train from Colombo.
Hikkaduwa is another beach town in the southwest part of Sri Lanka, near the coastal city of Galle. There are many bars and beautiful restaurants here for tourists’ comfort. Sea surfing and diving are popular activities in this place for thrill-seeking tourists coming for fun and sports adventures. Hikkaduwa National Park is a coral sanctuary that shelters many sea turtles and colorful fishes. It is also one of three marine national parks in Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa Lake has vast wildlife, such as monitor lizards and seasonal birds.
Apart from these, there are many other beaches in Sri Lanka, such as Arugam Bay Beach, Negombo Beach, and Kalpitiya Beach. Together, they create an excellent experience for visitors. Exploring sandy beaches and rope swinging should be on your list of things to do in Sri Lanka.
TASTE
SRI LANKAN CUISINE
Steamed rice with curry is a prominent feature in Sri Lankan cuisine. Coconut and spices play a vital part in the country’s food culture. Milk rice is an ambassador of Sri Lankan food. Even though this cuisine has traces of Indian food culture and other neighboring countries, it has become unique to the island. It stands alone as a prominent cuisine of its own.
As an island, Sri Lanka is blessed with heavenly bounties from the Indian Ocean. The country exports about 18,000 mt of seafood per year to neighboring countries. The seafood industry of Sri Lanka has been showing continuous growth for the last many years. Seafood, which is in demand, includes shrimp, tuna, prawns, crab, and lobsters. Sri Lankan hotels and resorts offer guests a variety of local and international cuisines.
INDULGE
CEYLON TEA
Sri Lanka is a place that not only refreshes your body and mind but also refreshes your soul and spirit through its unique Ayurvedic Spa facilities. Sri Lanka is quite famous for various Ayurvedic Spa centers, which ensure deep nourishment for your skin and relaxation for your mind. Many Hotels provide Ayurvedic spa facilities, which leave a long-lasting, positive effect on your body, mind, and spirit. They offer highly traditional ways of treatment in a delicate and luxurious setting.
CULTURE
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Sri Lanka is a proud island with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites of cultural, natural, and Anthropological importance.
The sacred city of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. The mountain city of Kandy was home to many Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815. The high mountain ranges, lush green forests, beautiful colonial buildings, and Kandy Lake are some of the prime attractions of this city.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a world heritage site and an 8th Wonder of the World candidate. It is significant because of its architecture, irrigation technology, and extensive network of reservoirs.
The runic city of Anuradhapura is another famous religious and archaeological site renowned for its holy and sacred Buddhist temples and ruins of ancient civilizations. Apart from these, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the fortified town of Galle, and the Dambulla cave temples are some of the best-preserved destinations famous among visitors in Sri Lanka.
SPIRITUALITY
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
Sri Lanka is famous for its over 2500 years of rich Buddhist cultural heritage and Traditions. Many temples and monasteries in Sri Lanka offer pilgrims a remarkable religious experience. Buddhism is one of the foremost reasons that guides pilgrims to Sri Lanka every year. Many come here from around the world to see and observe the contemporary sacred practices of Buddhism. The island’s old-style engineering, model, and artistic creations bear the Buddhist trademark. Buddhist Stupas are dissipated everywhere throughout the island. There are some excellent Buddhist statues, such as Aukana and Buduruwagala.
Anuradhapura is a holy city with many stupas and temples worth visiting, including giant stupas and an ancient and blessed tree, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The Temple of Tooth in Kandy is another sacred site of Sri Lanka, which hosts the tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Thousands of Buddhist Monks practice spiritualism and religious customs in Sri Lankan temples. Temples in Sri Lanka have a strict dress code. Avoiding shorts and sleeveless dresses and removing shoes and caps are necessary before entering a temple.
WELLNESS
AYURVEDIC SPA
Sri Lanka is a place that not only refreshes your body and mind but also refreshes your soul and spirit through its unique Ayurvedic Spa facilities. Sri Lanka is famous for various Ayurvedic Spa centers ensuring deep intimacy and relaxation. Many Hotels provide Ayurvedic spa facilities, leaving a long-lasting, positive effect on your body, mind, and spirit. They offer highly traditional ways of treatment in a delicate, luxurious setting.
EXPLORE
TRAIN RIDE TO HILL COUNTRY
The train ride from Kandy to Ella is around an hour long and is one of the most scenic and memorable train journeys for a traveler in Sri Lanka. The tickets are highly affordable here and only cost a few dollars. You can buy tickets for various classes, i.e., from 1st class AC to 3rd class. There are online ticket booking facilities available. The train has a special compartment for those who enjoy the view. But any class is suitable for enjoying the rain ride.
On the route, you can enjoy beautiful hills with lush green forests, waterfalls, Endless Tea gardens, scenic views, and country life. At each station, one can enjoy fresh pieces of pineapple and mangoes served with chili and salt, snacks like wade and hot coffee, etc. You can be greeted by many local kids and village people running along the train tracks.
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